Nunavut’s Arnait Nipingit summit now online

Not enough women’s voices are heard throughout Nunavut, Donna Adams, president of the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council, said at last week’s Arnait Nipingit Women’s Leadership Summit in Iqaluit.

“We encourage you to support other women and speak. We don’t always hear those voices,” Adams told more than 100 women, echoing the Inuktitut meaning of Arnait Nipingit, which means “women’s voices” in Inuktitut.

But those that missed the conference will have a chance to hear Adams’ and other women’s voices.

Arnait Media Productions has created a blog on the website of Isuma TV, posting dozens of interviews, discussions and cultural presentations from the conference, which took place Sept. 13 to 17.

Marianne Issakiark of Arviat tells the camera about surviving a lifetime of abuse.

Issakiark said was abused throughout her childhood and into her adulthood.

“I thought it was OK. I almost died, and I lost two babies because of violence,” Issakiark said. “But I’m going to reclaim my life, because this abuse has to stop. It’s not a life to live. We have to form our groups and speak out.”

Also on camera, Mary Simon, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, speaks about the lack of mental health services available to Nunavut women.

And Charlotte Dee Lyall, a young woman from Cambridge Bay, gives an impressive seven-minute long throat-singing presentation.

The Arnait Nipingit gathering included seminars, workshops and presentations to help Nunavummiut women network and develop their leadership skills as well as speeches by federal health minister Leona Aglukkaq and Rona Ambrose, the federal minister of Status of Women Canada.

You can see for yourself what happened on Isuma TV.