Unequal exchange: western economic logic and Inuit/Qablunaat research relationships

Qualitative analysis, close reading, case study

This article looks at cultural and class differences through a close reading of conversations between the Inuk youth researcher and research assistant involved in the Nanisiniq Arviat History Project in Arviat, Nunavut. Different orientations to wealth and money are explored, among other themes such as the limitations of the written word and the dependence on email when communicating with research partners in remote areas. Overall this article calls for open and informed communication as an antidote to miscommunication and has important considerations for research relationships across cultural and class differences.

This article looks at ethical research relationships by doing a close reading of miscommunications that occurred across cultural and class differences between members of their research team. By doing so, the researchers involved model open and informed communication.

This article emphasizes that for researchers, knowing how to work and communicate in relation to class difference is just as important, if not more so, than knowing how to work and communicate cross-culturally.

Facebook messages and emails

This article provides important considerations for researchers who are working cross-culturally and across class differences.

"As much as, or perhaps even more, than knowing how to work and communicate cross-culturally, researchers and Inuit need to learn more about how to negotiate economic relationships in relation to class differences" (p. 149)

Arctic Research