This project will use participatory action research (PAR) to investigate gambling in selected Aboriginal communities in Alberta. The two participating communities will conduct the research themselves, with the research team facilitating this process. The anticipated outcomes are: a) a better understanding of the socio-cultural nature of gambling and problem gambling in these communities; b) the development of a strategic action plan to address the issue of problem gambling in the community; and, c) communities that have been mobilized through this process to effectively implement the action plans.
Status (Complete):
This project successfully created research capabilities within two Aboriginal communities through collaboration with University of Lethbridge researchers from the Departments of Native Studies and Health Sciences. Both groups plan to continue with their own independent gambling research and treatment initiatives.
A poster presentation describing this investigation was on display at the Institute’s 2004 Research Reveals poster exhibitions in Edmonton, Calgary, and Lethbridge in October 2004. A conference presentation describing this research was presented at the European Gambling Conference in Sweden in July 2005.
Conference Presentations & Public Lectures:
June 30, 2005. Malmo Sweden. “Using participatory Action Research to Study Canadian Aboriginal Gambling”. 6th European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues.
November 4, 2005. Lethbridge, Alberta. “Aboriginal Casinos: Who’s Cashing In?” (Invited Panel Speaker). Royal Society of Canada & University of Lethbridge.
The Alberta Gaming Research Institute provides grant funding to support peer-endorsed academic investigations into many aspects of gambling research. The contents, recommendations, and findings of the associated research reports, posted on this website, represent the views of the researcher(s).
Last Updated: 03/07/06
