Refuse

This gathering, at the hamlet, showed no clear possibilities for the emergence of ethical space, practice or process, due to a lack of input from the local co-PI, the HTO, or a community advisory board like we had in Gjoa Haven.

I decided therefore to be participate in the workshops, but to withdraw my co-constitutive role of being a host, or to attend as Mx. Science, since there was no ground for me to position myself as such during this workshop.

"Like, I was, you had a right to be quiet, and you were going, “I'm not going to bail him out.” Because MX could have jumped up and done all sorts of stuff . But, she didn't. And, uh, that was cool. (...) Yeah. Things may not work out in this one, but I think it, I think it was a, it's a critical part of your, even though you disengaged from that particular one, there wasn't that much from, to disengage from in, in the end. (co-PI van Coeverden de Groot, 2023 post-workshop interview)"

Complete refusal would, however, lead me to break promises that were made with the BearWatch PI's and my supervisors, as well as with the principle of the school. Student involvement and science-based activities were expected by several teachers and pupils, and much resources had been expended to provide possibilities for the extended community to learn about the research that was done around their community.

Not only would my refusal to contribute to the workshop in Coral Harbour, have sabotaged it in unnecessary ways, it would also have distract from the point of not letting the principles of ethical engagement being co-opted.

"Claim Failure" instead.

Detour: Claim Failure