Inuvialuit perceptions of contaminants and communication processes in Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories
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Date
2015-01-08
Authors
Reinfort, Breanne
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Abstract
Since the relatively recent discovery of elevated concentrations of contaminants such as mercury and persistent organic pollutants in the Arctic, Inuvialuit have been receiving information about the potential impacts of these contaminants on the environment, wildlife, and human health. Almost 20 years of communication efforts have resulted in only a general awareness of contaminant issues, as the focus on perceptions of message content has overlooked the important impact of communication processes (methods, sources) on message reception, understanding, and acceptance. For this research, interviews, focus groups, and informal conversations were used to explore the myriad of contaminant perceptions and associations held by Inuvialuit in Sachs Harbour, NT, as contaminants were used as a case example to investigate perceptions of and recommendations for science communication. Concepts of respect, time, and relationships influenced the inter-related impressions of communication processes and research/researchers (the mediums), which in turn influenced perceptions of contaminants among participants. The medium is thus an important part of the message in scientific communication, and is implicated in the conduct of research and research communication in small, remote Arctic communities.
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Keywords
contaminants, communication, perceptions, Inuvialuit, Northwest Territories