The project demands intensive and sustained collaboration between the partners. We will meet the central challenge of meaningful communication in several ways: through face-to-face meetings and a variety of electronic media; through community-based mapping that enables each partner to develop a state-of-the environment profile of their territory, and to communicate and compare with others; and through participatory video enabling each partner to assemble the stories of their people about the challenges of resource use conflicts, livelihood maintenance, and protection of ecologies and cultural landscapes. The analytical knowledge, skills and information resources acquired by communities will improve the odds of survival for lifeways and socio-ecologies that are a precious legacy for diversity and environmental integrity.
An important challenge, given geographic distances and language differences, is to maintain channels for communication and palpable relationship-building. Initially, partners are sharing key documents about their issues and territories on INSTEAD’s website. An on-line discussion forum will supplement other forms of communication. One or more of the team researchers will be responsible to work with each partner community/organization to coordinate coverage of research axes and methods, and to secure comparative dialogue, analysis and mutual support. From each partner community, a local field coordinator/researcher will collaborate with the designated university researcher(s). We will provide field coordinator/researchers with training in community mapping, participatory video, and other methods and perspectives, which they will pass on to other partner community members. Training will be offered both in Montreal and in partner communities, as appropriate, with the assistance of research professionals/technicians, professors and graduate students.