 | Database |
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This discussion will deal with the development of databases for each of the Regional Management organizatons in NICSN as parallel to the existing database provided to KRG through the University of Laval http://http://www.nunivaat.org/. |
 | Re: Database |
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Hi Michael, The database portion of the NICSN proposal is one of the most exciting aspects of this work... It will provide community-based researchers to develop new skills in data collection and the use of spreadsheets and database applications... It will also provide evidence which more and more funders are demanding... Data collection is already taking place on an ad hoc basis by a number of KO departments... The Keewaytinook Internet High School (KiHS) collects stats for its enrolment and INAC has indicated that it will require more aggregate data in the future... KO Tele-medicine (KOTM) has built a balanced score as part of its Change Management project which includes both qualitative and quantitative data... I believe that KO Education collects data about elementary school enrolment at the community level... Other departments might be doing so as well... Brian |
 | Re: Database Indicators |
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Here is the list of DRAFT indicators. It will be interesting to see what the communities see as priorities. Many of the research projects that we are involved in see the communities initiating and leading the data collection process and owning the data and results. SECTION 1 SECTION 2 MENTAL HEALTH ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SECTION 3 SECTION 4 SECTION 5 SECTION 6 |
 | Re: Database Indicators |
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Thanks for getting this one started Franz ... I was just speaking with Brian W. about this topic just this morning. I am wondering if one of the first steps in the work being planned for the database development is to find out what data is presently being collected in each of the communities. For example, under Band membership, each community annually provides INAC with their membership lists so INAC can post their annual information updates. The same with leadership ... this is all a requirement for their funding. Then in education, some communities are already collecting data, ie. student records and such. Sometimes all this is being done via paper. In Health, there is all that health record information. It is one thing to come up with a bunch of indicators but I think if we can be collecting data that is of use to the community today then the local community Knowledge Managers will have a much better chance of getting local buy-in to this work. As well, I also think that a lot of the information from the indicators can be obtained by having a locally-owned and managed database that tracks local community members and their environment. Brian |
 | Re: Database Indicators |
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You are right, we should be concentrating on a knowledge base first before we start a vast database collection tool. Data collection for funding is static information most times collected in spreadsheet whether paper or software, depending on the individuals skill level. This data is forwarded to another database where funding decision makers can analyze then archive, this information is most accurate and requires more work for the data collectors, any discrepancies will be questioned. A knowledge base on the other hand is shared among interested parties, any indicators that may raise confidentiality issues can be set aside such as justice and health information. This knowledge base can be used as a base for more specific information, population in a community can become population by age groups in a community. If we gradually build this database, the first users of the knowledge base will become trainers of the database in their communities for future data entry workers. |
| Re: Database Indicators |
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As others are saying the value of this kind of thing very much depends on the use and the initial use should be at the community level, so the first task is probably to do some community level observation of what is being used now, where the data/information is coming from (as BB said), what additionally might be used if it were available and so on... One or two community level reviews would be a great way to kick start something like this, and the set of indicators that Franz forwarded from my original set as a checklist at the local level might be one way to start. I've run across those kinds of studies for villages in Less Developed Countries but nothing for aboriginal communities here in Canada... doesn't mean there haven't been any just that I haven't seen any. MG |
| Re: Database Indicators |
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Michael ... Sorry, but I am puzzled on how the "set of indicators" can "kick start" this work? I think this will confuse everyone in that they will see it as something different from what they are doing today in collecting and presenting their data. I would think a simple discussion or online survey tool would give us a description of the information that is being collected today. This effort would help in the creation of the local knowledge database that Jordan references ... Brian |
| Re: Database Indicators |
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Brian, let me tell you what I was thinking here... The data that is used (or would be used) by the community is a mix of data that they collect themselves, data that they get from others (as you have described) and data that others are collecting that they could/would use if they could get access to it. So my thought is that we need to get an idea concerning the data that they are currently using (and its source) as you mentioned but also it would be useful to know what data they might use if it was available (the checklist). This is something that one would find out by spending time in the community or by interviewing or doing a survey as you mention. MG |