Research Priorities
In January 2005, the WKSS finalized new Priorities for Cumulative Effects Research and Monitoring in the Slave Geological Province. The tables in that document explain the factors and criteria that can be used to set priorities and the themes and questions that the WKSS may pursue for research and monitoring activities.
In 1994/95, prior to the official establishment of the Society, an inventory of existing information about the Slave Geological Province and surrounding area was done. This inventory of existing information was summarized in the first State of Knowledge Report published in 1999. The purpose of the inventory was to assist the Society's Management Board in establishing its Research Strategy by identifying gaps in research as well as avoiding duplication of existing studies. The Board approved the final strategy, including a broad set of research priorities, in May 1996. This document was intended to ensure the sum total of all the Study's research projects would provide a holistic picture of the Study area at the conclusion of the Study. It served as the basis for reviewing an initial suite of research proposals. At the same time the Board determined there was a need to further refine the Research Strategy and framework. A terms of reference was developed in July 1996 and a contract was let in September that year to comprehensively review techniques for defining research priorities in the context of the Study and existing research priorities. It was agreed that the Valued Ecosystem Component / Valued Socioeconomic Component approach would most closely meet the needs of the Study. The Partners were consulted regarding their priorities and a process was developed to refine and focus the existing research priorities into a research framework. Representatives of the Partners attended two workshops where they developed a set of research questions and attached priorities to them. These research questions were then ratified by the Board.
The initial Research Framework was finalized in February 1997, although the Board agreed that it would be a living document -- allowing it to be reviewed and revised from time to time. (see Research Framework: Final Report). The WKSS initial Research Questions (1996-2001) represented areas of concern to the Partners but not necessarily specific information gaps.
Where projects were scientific in nature, WKSS preferred to see parallel traditional knowledge research projects linked to them. However, this was not always possible because different communities have different priorities, traditional knowledge collection requires substantial time and resources from communities, and these resources may already have other demands placed on them. Because of these circumstances, WKSS suggested that during the community support acquisition phase of any WKSS proposal development process, researchers invite/encourage communities with an interest in the subject under investigation to develop a parallel traditional knowledge research project and work with them to ensure a sharing or linkage of information. If the communities priorities were on other subjects, WKSS would not require a parallel study but required the researcher to show a clear attempt to acquire community support and invite community participation.
The process of community consultation was intended to result in a proposal acceptable to both the researcher and the community. If a researcher was not sure how to approach any part of a proposal, they were encouraged to consult with their community partners to find mutually agreeable ways and means.
Research Questions 1996-2001
Traditional and Scientific Knowledge
Guiding Principles