Prepared for Residents and Agencies of Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), Nunavut by Bryan S. R. Grimwood
This is a report by Bryan Grimwood about his visit to Qamani’tuaq (Baker Lake), NU in 2009. Bryan visited Qamani’tuaq for the second time between October 28 and November 10, 2009 to:
- Introduce Qamani’tuaq residents to a research project about human experiences and encounters along the Thelon River;
- Provide residents and community representatives with an opportunity to ask questions about the Thelon River project and comment on the research process;
- Ask for letters of support from community representatives and partners to be included in a research license application to the Nunavut Research Institute.
On his first visit in July 2008, Bryan helped other Carleton University researchers with their projects. During this second visit, Bryan came to meet with the community to begin a study that will continue until June 2011.
During Bryan’s visit, he met with many residents and community representatives, and discussed the research objectives. For example, Bryan received many comments, questions, and ideas about the study from teacher training and office administration students at the Arctic College. This meeting helped to clarify the steps in the research process. Also, an open-to-the-public meeting was held on November 5 at the Thomas Tapatai Community Library. Announcements on the radio were used to promote this event. Only a few people attended the meeting, but Bryan learned many lessons from them and will use this information to plan for future community workshops. Bryan learned other lessons about working and consulting with Qamani’tuaq residents during his observations at an Areva Community Liaison Board meeting on November 2.
After a meeting with the Baker Lake Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) Board on November 4, Bryan was given a letter of support from the HTO. Other letters of support have been provided by:
- The Baker Lake hamlet office;
- The Itsarnitaqarvik Inuit Heritage Centre;
- Community Service Librarian, Susan MacIsaac; and
- Northern researcher and author, David Pelly.
These have been included in a Nunavut research license application, which was submitted to the Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) on December 2, 2009.
The key outcomes of Bryan’s second visit to Qamani’tuaq, include:
- A clearer strategy for describing the research purpose and procedures;
- A contact list of research partners and potential research participants;
- Sharing of information about the research with the community;
- Receiving community feedback to use in the next stages of research;
- Learning the Inuktitut word, kangirjuaq, which is used by some Qamani’tuaq residents for the Thelon River;
- Receiving support letters from multiple community representatives and organizations.
During the next five of months, Bryan will be at his home in Ottawa communicating with and learning from people who travel the Thelon River by canoe. Information from these meetings will be shared with Qamani’tuaq residents during Bryan’s third visit, which is planned for May 2010. Bryan expects to secure an NRI research license soon, which will allow the research to formally begin. Plans for the May visit include:
- Sharing and compiling Thelon River photographs with residents;
- Traveling to and documenting important places along the Thelon River with hunters and fishers;
- Working with residents to document meaningful Thelon River experiences and encounters.
Bryan would like to thank the residents and representatives of Qamani’tuaq for their hospitality during his 2009 visit, and for sharing with him their questions, concerns, and ideas about the project. Bryan looks forward to continuing and building his research relationships within Qamani’tuaq.
