Vol. 3, Winter 2019 SULIQPITA Quarterly Newsletter by Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

Students from Nunavut Sivuniksavut performing at our Annual General Meeting

What is Suliqpita? Suliqpita means “what are we doing.” Suliqpita is our Message from seasonal newsletter where we provide updates on what we’ve been working on and what’s coming up. Our President

Thank you for being interested in Who We Are Pauktuutit! It has been a busy time, and though I have spent Pauktuutit is the national representative organization of Inuit much of the last few months in Ottawa, I enjoyed time with women in Canada. We foster greater awareness of the my family at home in Baker Lake, especially over the holi- needs of Inuit women, advocate for equality and social days. improvements, and encourage Inuit women’s participation in the community, regional and national life of Canada. With winter comes the newest edition of our newsletter about our work to support and represent all Inuit women in Canada. Over these past few months our team has grown along with our work. Welcome to our new staff members! @Pauktuutit pauktuutit.ca [email protected] We hope you enjoy the updates below.

Qujannamiik! @Pauktuutit 1 Nicholas Street, Suite 520 Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7 @pauktuutit Rebecca Kudloo T: 613-238-3977 President and Board Member for Kivalliq Region

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Updates from Rebecca

In October I attended the fall sitting of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly and the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. annual general meeting. While in Iqaluit, Parniga Akeeagok (Board member), Rose Mary Cooper (Political Advisor), and I also met with representatives from the Government of Nunavut, including Premier Joe Savikataaq; Minister of Education, David Joanasie; Elisapee Sheutiapik, Minister of Family Services; and Jeannie Ehaloak, Minister of Justice. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss sexual abuse in the workplace following public Susan Aglukark and President Kudloo at the ITK Child Sexual Abuse Forum comments by Iqaluit mayor, Madeleine Redfern, about sexual harassment by The second one was the Indigenous An outcome of this meeting was a Inuit leaders in Nunavut. We discussed Women’s Advisory Circle, and the last strong letter of support addressed to the safety for women in Nunavut and areas one was to give a presentation to SWC Minister of Indigenous-Crown Relations for potential collaboration. I was also staff on the Inuit experience of that states: able to share resources developed by colonization. It also included information “In order to ensure that federal policies Pauktuutit for Inuit women on the issue about Pauktuutit and some of our work. and programs are effective for of rights in the workplace. This busy schedule continued with a indigenous women and girls, Inuit At the ITK Child Sexual Abuse Forum reception for the launch of the Inuit recognize that the government can held on November 21, Susan Aglukark Development Corporation Association and should work with indigenous and I were on the agenda together and I (IDCA). The Association brings together women's organizations. It is in the gave a presentation centered around the many Inuit development spirit of this recognition that the my work with Mianiqsijit, a nonprofit corporations across Inuit Nunangat. At Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, community-based counselling program the reception I spoke with Clint Davis, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, in Baker Lake, Nunavut. This project Chief Executive Officer of North35 came into existence in 1989 when Eric Capital Partners about mutual interests Makivik Corporation, Nunatsiavut Dejaeger, a former Catholic priest, was including how the Inuit Women in Government, and Inuit Tapiriit accused and convicted of sexually Business Network may work with IDCA. Kanatami express support for assaulting a number of local children. engagement of Pauktuutit Inuit Later that same day, I spoke at the The ITK Board of Directors met in Women of Canada on all matters November and we approved the Inuit federal Status of Women’s (SWC) impacting Inuit women and girls.” Gender-Based Analysis Plus Forum on Tuberculosis Elimination Framework a panel titled, GBA+ and and discussed the newly proposed Culturally-Sensitive Decision-Making Indigenous child family and services where I focused on the importance of legislation. This was followed by a meaningful engagement and meeting of the Inuit-Crown Partnership collaboration with Inuit women to Committee for discussions on: Inuit develop policies and services that meet priorities on post-secondary education our needs. This was the first of three support; Inuit-specific early learning and SWC events I attended in November. child care funding; housing; food security; and the Arctic Policy Framework. 3

Pauktuutit, in partnership with Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network and the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, also planned and participated in Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week at the beginning of December. As mentioned earlier, President Kudloo was a guest speaker at this event.

As part of the CheckUp Project, a face-to-face research team meeting was held in Montreal at the end of January to determine the next steps for the project. This project is aimed at changing social norms around testing to decrease the burden of Sexually President Kudloo giving the closing oral submission to the National Inquiry on MMIWG Transmitted Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs) throughout Inuit Nunangat

and is funded by the Canadian December started with a kick-off event Institutes of Health Research. for Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Week, Participants included Pauktuutit’s health where I gave a short speech on the Health team and a core research team which need for Inuit-specific HIV/AIDS includes the University of awareness and public education. Saskatchewan, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, and the Nunavik Regional On December 11, I gave the closing Our Health department is continuing its Board of Health and Social Services. oral submission to the National Inquiry important work on the Inuusinni Together we are adapting Nunavik’s on MMIWG on behalf of Pauktuutit, Aqqusaaqtara – My Journey cancer successful and innovative CheckUp AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit project, funded by Jaguar Land Rover Project to ensure relevance and Women’s Association, Saturviit Inuit Canada and the Canadian Cancer success in other Inuit regions. Women’s Association of Nunavik, Society. The health team has engaged Ottawa Inuit Children’s Centre, and ChangeMakers to produce two Manitoba Inuit Association. The e-module learning tools to complement presentation began with a video by our existing cancer resources; one Skye Uvliq Cory (available for download targeted for Inuit cancer patients and On the Horizon from our website). Then, with Elder their families, and another for health Sarah Ponniuk, Elder Jeannie Okalik, care providers working with Inuit Jeannie Nayoumealuk, and some of our patients. In addition, Wisdom2Action We are excited to announce that our Board Members, Anita Pokiak, Parniga has been hired to develop a proposal to continue enhancing the Akeeagok, and Martha Flaherty, we lit communication strategy promoting the National Inuit Sexual Health Network the pink candles that have come to cancer project and its resources until and implementation of Tavva: The symbolize murdered and missing Inuit the end of the project. National Inuit Sexual Health Strategy women and girls. I then gave a speech was approved. This funding is for a focused on the messages that emerged five-year period and comes from from stories that Inuit families shared Indigenous Services Canada through with the Inquiry, along with our seven the First Nations and Inuit Health recommendations for Inuit-designed Branch. Our health team is currently and Inuit-delivered services. Please planning the next face-to-face meeting visit our website to read the of the Network and a professional presentation and report. development event. This edition of the newsletter comes a little later than planned because we want to update you on our Board meeting and Annual General Meeting that was held January 13 to 17. Please see the end of this report for more details. 4

In late November, we participated in a three-day international meeting for a On the Horizon Violence and Abuse discussion of the United Nations Permanent Forum, with over 60 Prevention Indigenous women’s organizations from South, Central and North America represented. Pauktuutit used this

unique opportunity to expand our The last quarter was a time for planning collaborative network with peer and designing current projects as well organizations at an international scale. The next phase of our as participating in new opportunities for We also participated in a two-day Believe-Ask-Connect project is being the Violence and Abuse Prevention National Inuit Suicide Prevention designed and will focus on providing department. Our study of gendered Strategy (NISPS) working group informative resources for Inuit women violence and shelter needs across Inuit meeting in Inuvik in early December. At moving to urban centres, along with Nunangat has been completed and is the meeting – chaired by ITK and helpful strategies to get to know one’s being finalized. This research report will hosted by the Inuvialuit Regional new community, stay safe and increase serve to inform community members, Corporation – discussions focused on awareness about women’s rights. local organizations and policy makers of the outcomes of the Prevention of Child We are finalizing the last steps before the key determinants of violence, and Sexual Abuse Forum held the previous the barriers that prevent more effective month and outlining next steps for a launching our role model campaign ‒ action on these specific issues. It will follow-up meeting. We also learned Pilimmaksarniq - Engaging Men and also share prevention and healing more about the Inuit Health Survey and Boys in Reducing Violence Against initiatives that are currently led by Inuit how we can contribute to it, as well as Women and Girls. Much of the fall was across Inuit Nunangat. development of future NISPS funding spent on strengthening existing partnerships and identifying strategic Our Access to Justice project that and implementation strategies for 2019 leaders in each of the four regions. This focuses on the Family Abuse and beyond. Pauktuutit is now a voting campaign will encourage community Intervention Act, in partnership with the member of the working group and are members to nominate peers who are Law Society of Nunavut is underway. looking forward to actively engaging inspiring because of the respect they The research design for year one has with the regions on this initiative. show to others and their efforts to been outlined and we look forward to create healthy relationships. This planning and collaborating with project aims to: acknowledge our communities for site visits over the everyday role models; motivate men, coming months. women and youth to speak up about gender-based violence; and promote Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit-informed approaches to living free from violence.

An offering and a cleansing in the public plaza of Barranco, Lima during the meeting for a discussion of the United Nations Permanent Forum 5

address the socio-economic barriers and Social Development Canada as a encountered by Inuit women in the result of the National Inuit Early Social and Economic resource extraction industry by Learning and Child Care framework. Development identifying the institutional practices that This national framework is the result of fail to address workplace sexual national consultations with Indigenous harassment and violence. We have women, families and communities and The last quarter has been very busy for been strengthening relations with was co-developed with Indigenous the Social and Economic Development existing regional partners in addition to peoples and organizations, including department. In November, the Inuit establishing partnerships with the Pauktuutit. Women in Business Network (IWBN) extraction industry and are formalizing completed and launched promotional an advisory committee. The next steps videos featuring urban Inuit include completing a literature review, businesswomen. The videos highlight through a gendered lens, that will On the Horizon the Network, its resources and the assess existing industry policies and many opportunities it provides to procedures, current legislation and members. Also, text and video relevant human rights codes to gain a We will be travelling to Iqaluit, Nunavut resources on the entrepreneurial use of more precise understanding of the in April to attend the Nunavut Mining Facebook and Etsy (available in both issue. Symposium and Trade Show where we English and Inuktitut) will be published will connect with governmental, soon. They provide useful instructions In early December, we also participated in a two-day Inuit early childhood community and industry leaders about and highlight the many marketing Pauktuutit’s previous and current work advantages of these digital retail development working group meeting in Ottawa that was organized by ITK. on Inuit women’s participation in the platforms in addition to providing useful extraction industry. instructions. All of the resources listed Detailed decisions were had on above can be found online at iwbn.ca. implementing Inuit-specific early learning and child care in Inuit We’ve also begun work on our Nunangat and urban areas as well as Addressing Sexual Harassment and early childhood development activities Violence in the Resource Extraction in the regions. Also discussed was the Industry project. This project seeks to allocation of funding by Employment

Left: Our Social and Economic Development team with members of the Women in Resource Development Corporation Right: Our Social and Economic Development team with Carolyn Michelin of the Labrador Correctional Facility 6

Board of Directors and Annual General Meeting

During the week of January 13, 2019, Many talented and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada held community-focused women from meetings attended by members of its across Inuit Nunangat were Board of Directors, invited delegates nominated for Woman of the and guests, and members of the public. Year, with the award ultimately Special guests were The Honourable being given to Audrey Qamanirq Carolyn Bennett, Minister of of Arctic Bay, Nunavut. For over Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Natan 20 years, she has worked to bring Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit back traditional Inuit knowledge Kanatami and informative presentations like sewing, hunting, and how to were given by various individuals and use traditional tools. She has organizations including Inspire Nunavut done this while balancing work, and Employment and Social family responsibilities, and Development Canada. volunteering with community-based Though we had many serious committees in addition to being a discussions, we also took a little time to Elections were held for two Board translator and interpreter. She has share country food and play some positions. A warm welcome and helped dozens of Inuit girls and women games. The AGM ended with a congratulations are extended to Annie learn valuable sewing skills including celebration of Inuit culture with a Buchan (Kitikmeot Region) and Gerri how to make traditional clothing like fashion show featuring the modern Sharpe (Yellowknife) on joining kamiit, sealskin parkas, and mittens. designs of Martha Kyak, owner and Pauktuutit’s Board of Directors. She has also run programs for young designer of InukChic, and a lively and Resolutions from this year’s AGM will men to hunt and provide char and seal engaging performance by the students be made available on our website to elders. Congratulations, Audrey! of Nunavut Sivuniksavut. shortly.

Right above: President Kudloo and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami’s President, Natan Obed Bottom left The Pauktuutit Board of Directors with The Honourable Carolyn Bennett Bottom right: A model wearing an InukChic design