V. RESEARCH APPROACH AND METHOD
5.1. D OCUMENT AND OFFICE CONSULTATION
This stage of prospective data gathering can be defined as “Preparatory Research”. It is divided into three main parts relating to the process of acquiring information. One concerns about general and theoretical information, the other concerns information on the Bruce Peninsula, Ojibway and tourism, and the last documents collected during field reconnaissance.
The first step covers general and theoretical information. Twenty articles were analysed on tourism planning issues44. Twenty-two other articles defined a bibliography for my theoretical term paper on "Eco-tourism and Protected areas: Issues on Sustainability"45.
a) Library opportunities by the University of Waterloo present a wide range of electronic as well as paper sources. In the present case, those resources are helpful at a conceptual level mostly.
Innovative approaches and methods related to case studies world-wide have allowed me to widen my perception of tourism and, particularly, eco-tourism. Publications from Canadian Schools and from the Heritage Resources Centre have made me aware of issues and solutions pertinent to nature protection in Canada. Concepts and ideas gathered during this stage sustain the theoretical framework of the present research.
44 Not included in this bibliography
45 Included in the bibliography of this Thesis
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b) The second step involves literature directly related to the Bruce Peninsula, the Ojibway people and the Chippewas of Nawash in the libraries of Waterloo and Owen Sound. Internet research is included at this point to complete rare library data.
If literature at the University of Waterloo is abundant concerning nature protection on Niagara Escarpment or on the Bruce Peninsula National Park, much less information has been found for any of the following subjects:
• First Nations and tourism in south-western Ontario. The tourism data base shows no directly related article. It seems like this type of research is concentrated outside of the province, particularly in British Columbia and in the North-Western territories. Most articles in fact were related to Australia or Oceania.
Internet research involves a collection of related-sites such as the ones on Aboriginal Tourism46 or the Cree Village Eco-lodge by James Bay47.
Results as a whole stressed the fact that research on aboriginal tourism is linked more to Australia, New Zealand, Africa or Indonesia than North America.
• Ojibway, Chippewas of Nawash. Very little is available on the subject. In the Library of the University of Waterloo, Ojibways are described as part of three or four old history books. Related findings include a picture book about Ojibway life at Red Lake Nation48 and an economic study on Cape Croker from 196649. The Library of Owen Sound contains however "The Illustrated History of the Chippewas of Nawash"50, a recent quality comic made after historical researches for court case by the Chippewas of Nawash themselves. In addition a few old books about the area mention Native Bands.
46 www.attc.ca or www.gnadjiwonki.on.ca
47 www.creevillage.com
48 Charles Brill (1992)
49 Lyon, N., A. (1966)
50 Polly Keeshig-Tobias (1996)
Many articles and book publications51 involve fisheries related issues, showing in that way the importance of this resource through the interest raised.
• Social issues related to tourism in the Bruce Peninsula. Here again the lack of data leaves the research field open…
c) The third step consists in field recognisance to key offices like the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Information of Tobermory, Parks Canada office and Nawash Band Office.
Office consultations during field recognisance provided a huge number of tourist guides, maps and publications useful to understand tourism and, generally speaking, life on the Peninsula. Information on Native populations and linked activities is however restricted to about two percent52 of the total information.
Data available on the research topic at Parks Canada includes the "Bruce Peninsula National Park Management Plan" and the "Ecosystem Conservation Plan - Fathom Five National Marine Park and Bruce Peninsula National Park".
Only one publication was found during my first visit to the Chippewas of Nawash Band Office, it is the "Cape Croker Indian Park 2001", a guide for visitors coming to the park.
Most of this information has been used for the construction of previous chapters and to define settings of the research (IV Study's environment description).
Preliminary investigations however, show a lack of existing data on the subject chosen for my research: the interactions among remote communities, protected areas and tourism. How do current tourist activities affect life at Cape Croker? In which direction should tourist development go?
What are the potentials for development of Native Community in relation to the World Biosphere status of the area? What about the scale and scope of current and future co-operation? Usual sources of information have proven to
51 S. S. Crawford (2001)
52 Approximate calculation from the place given for information on Natives in 2 tourist prospectus (The Beautiful Bruce Peninsula 2002 & Bruce Peninsula Day Trip Companion 2001)
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be almost useless to achieve my goals. The ability to answer those questions
"supposes that we passed from the initial contextual analysis which legitimised the choice of places to the actual observation of theses places and to the work within (each) chosen place(s)"53.
I hope the preparatory research has stressed well enough the necessity to gather additional information by field research. But prior to defining an appropriate field method and related techniques, it is necessary to answer these two questions:
What resources, skills and time does the project have to sustain field research and/or participation?
The skills of the researcher include good empirical and theoretical knowledge about tourism related issues, awareness of issues related to sustainable development of areas and societies with high constraints, neutral profile (neither Canadian nor Native) and, last but not least, high personal motivation. The proposal has received support from the Nawash Band, Parks Canada and the University of Waterloo.
Resources of the project are minimum. Funding is part of the grants given in Switzerland for an exchange in Canada. It allows the researcher to live, move and communicate. Resources shared by the Nawash band include room for meetings, free camping, shower, electricity and firewood.
Time available is directly linked to economical resources and the date that the research has to be completed for the degree program, which was about 9 month. However, course work also had to be completed in that period. It was initially decided to allow one month for field researches to be conduced, this to be followed by several months for analysis and writing.
What kind of cultural, social and political factors influence participation in my project? What will be the reaction of local people?
Early reconnaissance showed that particular historical and political settings of the area have raised suspicion and tensions among and within different groups. Most of the tensions seem to result from issues relating to resources such as land and fish. Thus, historical settings and tensions might affect willingness of individuals to participate or restrain information given.
53 Racine J.-B. (2002)