Community Collaboration and Environmental Change Research in the Canadian Arctic

• Main Author: Pearce, T
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: FoR 1601 (Anthropology); FoR 0502 (Environmental Science and Management); Arctic; Climate change; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.arctichost.net/ICASS_VI/images/10.03.04.pdf

Research on climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, particularly those aiming to contribute to practical adaptation initiatives, requires active involvement and collaboration with community members. Arctic communities are already experiencing and adapting to environmental and socio-cultural changes, and researchers have practical and ethical obligations to engage communities who are the focus of the research. Furthermore, communities across the Canadian Arctic now require researchers to engage communities in collaborative research. This paper draws upon the experiences of researchers working with communities across the Canadian Arctic together with the expertise of Inuit organizations, northern research institutes, and community partners to outline key considerations for effectively engaging arctic communities in collaborative research. These considerations include: initiating early and ongoing communication with community, regional and national contacts; working with communities to develop a research proposal; facilitating opportunities for local involvement; and dissemination of research findings. Examples of each consideration are drawn from environmental change research conducted with communities in the Canadian Arctic.