Women's participatory research in the Kayahna Tribal area: Collective analysis of employment needs

Community-based participatory research: using group meetings, community dialogues, workshops, music, stories, drawings and photos.

This article looks at the community development and employment needs in the Kayahna Area Tribal Council region of northern Ontario. In particular, the study wanted to address the neglect of women’s development needs. The goals of the research were: "To develop a consolidated picture of the affairs of each community in the Kayahna area from the women's point of view" (p. 154) and "To enable Bands to identify and develop appropriate economic and social programs and projects through which women can become involved in solving their own problems and promoting the unique interests of women." (p. 154).

The research was initiated by the Band Council and women in the area. Its core is based on the women's collective control of the project, from design, data collection and analysis, to presentation. The women are the co-researchers in the project.

Indigenous women are the experts in the needs of their community. Too often the views and needs of the women are neglected in conventional research and community development projects. When the women are empowered, change is more likely to be meaningful, sustainable, and benefit the women and the community.

Survey data and interviews

The research would provide workshops for the women to train them as co-researchers. The final research report would establish a baseline for improving the conditions of the women and of the community.

"If the experience of the future is to be better than the past, then each community must have the capacity to define its own needs, have access to its own resources and generate solutions to its own problems." (p. 149).

"Innovative, creative and practical problem solving which builds on cultural, social and spiritual values can only come from within the community itself. It begins where the people and problems are. It permits the people to experiment (find out what works and what doesn't work) in achieving desired goals." (p. 149)

Community Development