Communication and Developing Meaningful Research Relationships with Inuit Communities in Canada

Northern researchers are ever-aware of the growing expectations on them to ensure that northern communities are involved in, and benefit from, research. But what are researchers really being asked to do? How can community members participate meaningfully in research? What level of community involvement is appropriate in a given project? What are the best ways to communicate with local people? How can researchers initiate and maintain a meaningful relationship with community members?

This talk is an attempt to address these questions, and provide practical advice to assist researchers who plan to work with, or in the vicinity of, Canadian Inuit communities in the regions of Nunatsiavut (Labrador), Nunavik (northern Québec), Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories (NWT).

This talk will presents some core 'universal' themes in communication and relationship-building that apply to natural, physical, biological, and social scientists working in the Canadian North. A range of information is provided to help researchers tailor ideas to their specific project objectives, whether they are just beginning or they wish to improve ongoing community-researcher relationships.

This talk is to help researchers: - Understand some community concerns and expectations in relation to research projects; - Understand the benefits, opportunities and challenges associated with engaging Inuit communities in research; - Determine appropriate levels of community involvement in various research stages; - Initiate community contact and begin the process of negotiating a research relationship; - Clarify the research licensing processes and timelines and establish early contact with organizations responsible for research coordination, permitting, and licensing in each of the Canadian Inuit regions; and - Choose appropriate and effective means to communicate research results to communities.

Ultimately, this talk aims to improve the process of developing research relationships with Inuit communities in Canada.