Native American Recreation at Corps Projects: Results of Six Focus Groups

Abstract

Research is being conducted at the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), under the Recreation Research Program (RRP), to determine the existing and future ethnic group use of Corps of Engineers operating projects and to help identify their recreation preferences and needs. This information will be used by decision-makers in project planning and operations. During a 3-year period (fiscal years 1997-99), four ethnic minority groups will be studied: Native-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Hispanics. This research effort is in response to Executive Order 12862, "Setting Customer Service Standards," and Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations." Specific objectives of this research are to compare present Corps users to general population proportions; identify relevant information, policies, and studies (from the Corps and other agencies) on ethnic and nontraditional use of Corps projects; determine existing and future ethnic group use of Corps projects and determine recreation preferences and needs; evaluate existing and future needs of ethnic groups; and provide a summary of findings, along with guidance that incorporates considerations for ethnic users in planning and operations decisions. Little research has been done on recreation research among Native American groups (see McDonald and McAvoy 1997). Initial research, conducted under the RRP work unit "Ethnic Culture and Corps Recreation Participation," identified the need for primary source data on Native American recreational habits and preferences. In an extensive literature review, Gramann (1996) recommended that, in lieu of administering a traditional survey instrument, a series of focus groups would be more Natural Resources Technical Note REC-09 March 1998

Methodology for Recreation Data Acquisition and Evaluation for Ethnic Minority Visitors to Corps of Engineers Projects

“…To acquire this data, six focus groups were organized during the summer of 1997 in two Corps districts (Tulsa and Omaha) with high Native American visitation of their operating projects. This results of this research were initially presented in Dunn and Feather (1998). Two distinct recreational styles were observed depending on the tribe's level of acculturation to mainstream Anglo-American society.…”

“…From the list of recommendations made by all six focus groups, Dunn and Feather (1998) compiled the following summary of suggestions for making Corps facilities more Indian friendly and increasing Native American visitation to Corps projects:…”

“…Further practical guidance on the use of this data acquisition method appears in a later chapter on guidelines for project managers. Dunn and Feather (1998). To better convey the dynamics of the focus group approach to data acquisition, the meeting notes from the Anadarko focus groups are presented below.…”

“…All three meetings were facilitated and recorded by PMCL. The major findings and results of each focus group are presented in Dunn and Feather (1998). The Swift Bird focus group meeting was particularly heart-wrenching due to the extreme poverty of the group and the attitude of defeat which permeated the discussion.…”

“…The consensus of professionals in the field is that each target minority group should have its own focus group. Krueger (1988:92) This was the strategy employed for the six focus groups conducted with Native Americans in 1997 (Dunn and Feather 1998).…”