Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance: an IPY television series using community engagement

Abstract

The three-part television broadcast Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance was an International Polar Year communications and outreach project concerning Inuit health and wellness. The goal of this project was to engage the Inuit public and others in “real-time” dialogue about health and wellness issues and health research, and to deliver key messages. It was aired live in the Inuit language (with English captions/sub-titles) from Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada, in May 2009 and simultaneously webcast. Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance used an Inuit communications model for remote communities that was developed in the Arctic in 1994 by the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation/Inuit Communications. In Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance more than 250 people were engaged through the use of a diverse range of methods, including content working groups, stakeholder input, music recordings, pre-recorded community programme videos, live and public screening of the broadcasts, live panels, live audiences, public phone-ins, Skype video-conferencing and real-time online chat, focus groups and e-mail. This article examines the project in light of the principles of “community engagement”, demonstrating that Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance exemplifies community engagement in a number of significant ways, including heavily involving community members in the selection of the health theme content of the televised programmes and through the formation of focus groups. Based on challenges encountered during the Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance project, the article offers recommendations for future projects.

• Inuit communications model
• community engagement
• indigenous health and wellness
• knowledge translation
• social change
• communications tools

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following individuals, groups and organizations for their contributions to the project: youth researcher/project assistant, Alex Stubbing; project assistant, Cynthia Pitsiulak; partners Inuit Communications, EnTheos Films, Qanuippitali? Inuit Health Survey, National Inuit Youth Council, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and several working groups and in-kind contributors; panelists, show moderator, studio audiences, community focus group members, youth virtual focus group members, technical team, videographers, community members, show participants and viewers. RMJ appreciates and acknowledges the contributions of University of Alaska Anchorage Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice students Robin Morales and Doreen Leavitt to the evaluation project. A list of programme credits is available at www.InuitWellness.ca along with the video products and reports stemming from the television series. Funding for Qanuqtuurniq—finding the balance was provided by: the Government of Canada; the Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Circumpolar Health Research; and sponsoring airlines First Air and Canadian North.