Newswise — With funding announced today from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), University of Saskatchewan (U of S) researchers will launch a three-year project to better understand the political and economic roles that growing Aboriginal communities play in Canada's North.
The project is part of a $1.66-million investment for 16 U of S projects announced by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). In total, $136 million from SSHRC will support approximately 2,500 projects across Canada.
"These projects exemplify the outstanding research in social sciences and humanities at the U of S, and this project illustrates how research can potentially lead to policy development," said Karen Chad, U of S Acting Vice-President of Research.
"Social sciences and humanities research allows for better understanding of societal issues of the past and present and strengthens communities of the future. This funding allows our researchers and students to have an impact on the issues that are important to communities across Canada."
The project will explore how Aboriginal populations in northern Saskatchewan engage in political processes and examine the factors that explain these patterns of engagement.
"We hope our findings will provide greater understanding for governments and industry of Aboriginal political values and practices, bolstering efforts to ensure the inclusion of Aboriginal people in any development that affects their communities and lands," said project lead Bonita Beatty, assistant professor of native studies.The research team—made up of Beatty, political scientists Greg Poelzer and Loleen Berdahl, and Evelyn Peters, Canada Research Chair and faculty member of the new Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy—sees this project as a critical step towards sustainability and economic development in the North.
"Processes that lead to more effective Aboriginal participation in sustainable northern development and mainstream Canadian politics hold the promise of building an innovative and vibrant economic climate in northern Saskatchewan," says Poelzer.
Berdahl said the project is cutting edge in its survey techniques of remote, northern communities. "Aboriginal students, the future leaders of northern Saskatchewan, will play a key role in conducting the research," she said.Five graduate and undergraduate students will be involved in the project. A potential outcome could be the development of policy instruments in election law that address institutional barriers to voter participation.
Two U of S researchers each succeeded in two competitions:"¢ In one project, Bram Noble (geography) will research northern communities' strategic environmental assessment roles and stakes in Arctic oil and gas exploration and development. In another, he will attempt to advance the assessment of effects that development has on watersheds beyond the individual project to the watershed scale, and identify the arrangements necessary to support watershed-based cumulative effects assessment and management. "¢ Maureen Reed (School of Environment and Sustainability; geography and planning) will assess the effectiveness of governance arrangements in Canadian model forests and biosphere reserves in order to advance sustainability, resilience, and social innovation at the landscape scale. With the School, she will host a public and academic workshop related to accelerated resource development in northwestern Saskatchewan.
Other successful U of S projects include:"¢ Joel Bruneau (economics) will investigate the relationship between greenhouse gas intensity, international trade, and social institutions."¢ Marjorie Delbaere (management and marketing) will examine the influence that metaphors and analogies in direct-to-consumer drug advertisements have on consumer learning."¢ Erika Dyck (history) will complete a historical examination of eugenics and sexual sterilization in Saskatchewan and Alberta from 1920 to 1975."¢ Peter Li (sociology) will compare the economic outcomes of immigrants who participate in the immigrant enclave economy with those who participate in the mainstream economy in order to assess alternatives to economic integration of immigrants."¢ David Natcher (bioresource policy, business and economics) will provide empirical estimates of the economic spillover benefits that northern communities gain from participating in publicly funded research in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories."¢ Brent Nelson (English) will produce an extensive database of 17th century British and Scottish collections of rarities and curiosities. The study of these collections, which were precursors of modern museums, will advance the understanding of how this "culture of curiosity" informed the cultural and intellectual life of early modern England."¢ Wendy Roy (English) will examine changing cultural and social relations in Canada through popular Canadian women's sequel fiction— the Anne of Green Gables books, for example—of the early 20th century."¢ Bonnie Stelmach (educational administration) will explore the influence of stakeholder perceptions on the implementation of school community councils' policy in Saskatchewan."¢ Ulrich Teucher (psychology) will research how young adults make sense of having cancer."¢ James Waldram (psychology) will contribute to current theoretical and practical understandings of the processes and meanings of healing for Indigenous peoples—specifically Q'eqchi (Maya) of Belize—undergoing a transformation in their practices."¢ Zhenyu Wu (finance and management science) will analyze the problem specific to family businesses of motivating the more able children to take over the business rather than seek careers elsewhere.
About SSHRC: SSHRC is an independent federal government agency that funds university-based research and graduate training through national peer-review competitions. SSHRC also partners with public and private sector organizations to focus research and aid the development of better policies and practices in key areas of Canada's social, cultural and economic life.
About U of S: Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan is one of the leading medical doctoral universities in Canada. With 58 degrees, diplomas and certificates in over 100 areas of study, the University is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal, and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.
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