September 29, 2006 Source: :
http://communications.lakeheadu.ca/news/?id=296 Lakehead Professor Leading Team
in Research of the Northern Social
Economy (Thunder Bay –
September 29, 2006) The largest Northern Social Science research grant has
been awarded to establish the Social Economy Research Network for Northern
Canada (SERNNoCa). Dr. Chris Southcott, a Professor of Sociology who is working with Yukon
College as the lead institution, received $1.75 million from the Social
Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to fund his work
as Principal Investigator with the Network. This Network will conduct research that is relevant and useful to
communities currently facing substantial social and economic challenges. The
term ‘social economy’ covers the economies of a range of organizations which
are in neither government nor the private for-profit sector. It includes
the traditional relationships in aboriginal communities, volunteer
organizations, cooperatives, community groups, non-governmental
organizations, non-profit groups, and charities. In addition to Dr. Southcott, there are four other Lakehead University
faculty members involved in the project: Dr. Bob Jickling, Faculty of
Education; Dr. Margaret Johnston, School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and
Tourism; Dr. Harvey Lemelin, School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and
Tourism; and Dr. Joanne Zamparo, School of Social Work. The research conducted as part of SERNNoCa will focus on four main areas:
profiling the social economy in northern Canada; Indigenous communities and
the social economy; resource regimes and the social economy in the north;
and the state and the social economy in the north. "The communities in Canada’s North are facing substantial challenges," Dr.
Southcott says. "This Network aims to help these communities with research
findings that are relevant to their social economy, and will help them deal
with changes in their economy." A coordinator for SERNNoCa is working at Yukon College’s Northern Research
Institute, in cooperation with the research institutes at Nunavut Arctic
College and Aurora College in the Northwest Territories. In addition to Dr.
Southcott’s work, social scientists from three other universities—Carleton,
Memorial, and the University of Northern British Columbia—will be involved
in the research projects. "Yukon College is pleased to be the lead institution for this important
northern research initiative," says Paul Driscoll, dean of Arts & Science at
Yukon College. "This role acknowledges the leadership capability of the
Northern Research Institute at the College." Members of the Media: Dr. Southcott is available for interview by calling
him directly at 807-343-8349. To connect with partnering institutions,
please call Marla Tomlinson at 807-343-8177. Background Information:
This proposal seeks to establish a social economy research network, or node,
for Northern Canada. It is built around the three Northern territorial
colleges and their respective research institutions and links researchers
working in the North with Northern students, community organizations, and
educational institutions. The network is structured around four main themes
and three sub-nodes – one based in each territory. In addition to research
seeking to conceptualize and inventory the social economy in the North, the
network will investigate the particular relationships that exist between the
social economy and indigenous cultures, resource regimes, and the state.
Working with community partners, the network will conduct research and
produce findings that will assist Northerners in the development of
effective alternative social and economic strategies for their future
development. Communities in Canada’s North are currently facing substantial social and
economic challenges. The social economy offers tools to help these
communities face these challenges. The creation of a network of university
and college-based researchers and representatives of community-based
organizations, operating as partners, to conduct research relevant to the
social economy in Canada’s North is therefore relevant and important to the
region. Northern governments, both Indigenous and public, need research in
this area in order to undertake realistic program development and especially
to develop realistic economic development policies. The network will be organized around four research themes. The first theme
is the conceptualizing, inventorying, and evaluating of the Northern social
economy. The other three themes are related to the specific realities
underlying the social economy of the North: dependence on resource use, the
predominant role of the state, and the significance of indigenous cultures
(Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004; Arctic Human Development Report,
2004). The remaining themes will be focused around these realities. Core
research will be conducted for each theme. In addition specific projects
have been developed to complement the core research. These projects will
evolve over time and new projects will be added along with additional
researchers and partners. The network will ensure several key outcomes. These include an increased
general awareness of the importance and potential of the social economy
related activities to the North, the enhancement of social economy capacity
in the region, a greater understanding of alternative forms of social and
economic development in the North, the improved performance of organizations
and enterprises in areas that are important to the social economy in
Canada’s North, new policy resources for governments relating to the social
economy, and better trained individuals to assist in the development of
social economy organizations.
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