Evaluating on-the-land camps with Indigenous youth, Elders and scientists in the Dehcho.

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Indigenous youth-focused, on-the-land (OTL) camps are being delivered with communities in the Dehcho region, which involve traditional activities led by various Elders and knowledge keepers, and hands-on science-based learning activities led by graduate students and scientists. This project will be conducted with Dehcho First Nations to help lead their OTL camps, while delivering a photovoice project with the youth participants and building an evaluation framework to assess camp programming. This project will explore: (R1) How do OTL camps in the NWT create a space for Indigenous youth to apply local Indigenous Knowledge and Western science to protect the Land? (R2) What are the concerns and priorities of local Indigenous youth regarding environmental and socio-cultural changes in the Dehcho? How can their concerns and priorities be addressed to build more resilient and sustainable LBE programming in the NWT more broadly? Using a Community-Based, Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) approach, this research is responsive to the practical concerns of partner communities through active collaboration and co-learning. This methodology values Indigenous Knowledges, worldviews, cultures and experiences. This research involves the use of mixed-methods and activities at five youth-focused, week-long camps (N=20-30 youth) with partners in the Dehcho region. Opportunities for additional camps are being explored. Four integrated methods will be used: (M1) Youth will participate in an immersive, iterative photovoice project, capturing photographs throughout the camp with daily focus groups. We will create photobooks and displays of their photographs and stories to share with their families and communities. (M2) Focus groups will be held at the beginning and end of the camps as an evaluative method for the youth to share their priorities and concerns for LBE. (M3) Participant observation will be used at the camps to understand the context and dynamics of LBE. (M4) Semi-structured interviews (N=20) will be conducted with 25 youth camp participants.

The purpose of this project was i) to explore how On-the-land camps in the NWT create a space for Indigenous youth to apply local Indigenous Knowledge and Western science to protect the Land, and ii) to determine what are the concerns and priorities of local Indigenous youth regarding environmental and socio-cultural changes in the Dehcho region, and how their concerns and priorities can be addressed to build more resilient and sustainable LBE programming in the NWT more broadly.

Dehcho region of Northwest Territories (picture courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehcho_Region ) Echaot'ı̨e Kų́ę́ (Fort Liard), Łı́ı́dlı̨ Kų́ę́ (Fort Simpson), Tthek'éhdélı̨ (Jean Marie River), Tthenáágó (Nahanni Butte), Sambaa Kʼe (place of trout), and Pedzéh Kı̨́ (Wrigley)