Section 2: Methodological Approach

Given the extensive work Proactive has undertaken in the NWT, the decision was made to approach communities and organizations in the Territory regarding their interest in partnering with this project. It was believed that experiences in the North differ quite significantly from those in the South and these stories need to be heard. Between November 2020 and March 2021, local Councils and Territorial organizations were contacted multiple times and, while some indicated a willingness to partner, for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19, the partnerships did not occur. Given travel restrictions and the impact of COVID-19, it was decided to wait until early Fall 2021 in order to travel to NWT and undertake the interviews in-person.

However, since the pandemic was still ongoing in September 2021, JUS suggested a change to the approach based on what was being done for another project. Given travel restrictions, lockdowns and the impact of the virus on some communities, travel to the planned communities was not possible. It was suggested that interviews could be done virtually. However, relationship building is viewed as being an important ethical aspect of Indigenous evaluation and is the foundation for Indigenous inquiry (Wilson, 2008; Kovach, 2009). Building meaningful, trusting relationships with Elders and other Indigenous community members requires large amounts of time (Bremner 2020). This was not possible as the interviewer needed to spend time in the community and could not do so. Therefore, it was decided that, if this were to be a community-based approach, someone from the community, who is known, trusted and respected should undertake the interviews. This would also ensure that the interviewer understood and would practise community protocols while listening to the stories.

Multiple individuals were contacted throughout October 2021 to identify an individual who was known throughout the Territories and had the expertise to undertake the interviews. The ideal candidate was identified and agreed to undertake the interviews with the ten Métis individuals. She was provided an overview of the project and in turn made suggestions regarding the interview instrument which was subsequently revised. This individual is a Chipewyan/Métis born and raised in the NWT, as was her mother, grandmother and the generations before. She is related to many people in the South Slave, along with the Chipewyan/Dene communities in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Along with learning Traditional Knowledge from her family and community members, she also has completed multiple certificates and degrees in Western educational institutions. She was the ideal person to undertake the interviews with individuals experiencing serious legal issues over the past three years.

The interviews with the ten individuals began in November 2021 and were completed in January 2022. The interviews took approximately one hour each and individuals interviewed received an honorarium for their time and as a token of appreciation. Three interviews were done in-person, while the remaining seven were conducted by phone.

All ten individuals identified as Métis. Of the ten individuals, two identified as ‘status Métis’Footnote 1 and one identified as ‘Dene Métis.’ Four of those interviewed were Elders. Seven of the individuals interviewed were female. Interviewees’ ages ranged from mid 30s to late 70s. Those interviewed lived in a number of small communities in the NWT. The communities have not been identified to protect the identity of the interviewees. Furthermore, the names used in reporting are not the actual names of the interviewees; they have been changed to protect their anonymity, as have some details of their stories.

The interviews with the five service providers took place between November 2021 and February 2022. They included an individual working in restorative justice, two individuals in different communities who work in victim services, a front line worker providing supports to individuals having complex needs and an individual working with victims of crime. The service providers were located in and worked in a number of communities in the NWT. Again, the names used in reporting are not the actual names of the interviewees; they have been changed to protect their anonymity, as have some details of their stories.

Limitations – Author’s note

The results from the individual interviews, while not generalizable to the whole population, do reflect incidents that these Indigenous individuals have experienced. Their experiences and perceptions represent their realities and may or may not reflect what other Indigenous people experience in the NWT. However, these are their stories, about their realities, their challenges and how they have been dealt with. We have witnessed many of these truths through our work in Canada’s North.

The importance of stories is reflected in the approach to this report. Stories are a powerful and culturally appropriate means of revealing reality. Therefore, the information is presented through story with a concluding section identifying the cross-cutting themes and implications.