New Social Media, Risk Communication, and Wildlife Health: Implications for Indigenous Communities of Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada

• Main Author: Odunuga, Babawale
• Other Authors: McLachlan, Stephane (Environment and Geography)
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Chronic wasting disease (CWD); Environmental justice; Infectious disease; New Social Media (NSM); Risk Communication; Wildlife
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1993/23693

The study involved Indigenous communities of Saskatchewan and Alberta which are adversely impacted by industrial activities in their traditional territory. The overall goal of this study is: the assessment of social media in risk studies among Indigenous communities of western Canada. The methods used were: interviews, focus group discussion (FGD), and net-mapping. Results showed that the majority of youths communicated around risk using new social media (NSM) in event of risk outbreak, while Indigenous Elders, communicated face-to-face and via cell-phone. Results also showed that youths use Traditional Knowledge learnt from the Elders to understand Chronic wasting disease (CWD) risk, interpret, communicate and mobilize around mitigation. The study concluded that the use of NSM is becoming increasingly important for scoping information around wildlife decline and emergency in these Indigenous communities.