Iqaluit sisters want to become ambassadors for Nunavut

Amoudla Kootoo, 24, wants to use the Miss Canada Globe pageant to raise awareness about mental health issues in Nunavut. (PHOTO BY MARANDA KOOTOO)

Nunavut will send at least two representatives to this year’s Miss Canada Globe national pageant, which aims to produce women ambassadors from each of the country’s provinces and territories.

Iqaluit sisters Amoudla and Maranda Kootoo will head to Toronto this summer to represent the territory in the pageant for the first time ever, with the hope of returning crowned as Miss Nunavut.

Since 2011, Iqaluit’s Malaya Qaunirq Chapman has represented the territory as Miss Nunavut, but through a different organization called Miss Canada International.

This pageant, run through Miss Canada Globe Productions, has been around since 2000, providing young women “with an opportunity to make their mark in today’s society.”

Maranda, 16, will compete in its Miss Teen Canada pageant, while Amoudla, 24, will take part in the Miss Canada category.

The latter accepts contestants aged 18 to 26. The winner goes on to represent Canada internationally.

But far from the glamour associated with pageants, Amoudla Kootoo wants to use the pageant to raise awareness about mental health issues facing her fellow Inuit.

“Being Nunavummiut, we see friends and loved ones struggling with it, and I want to be a strong voice for that,” said Kootoo, who works as a computer systems technician at Qikiqtaaluk Information Technology Corp.

As part of those efforts, Kootoo is planning to promote the work of the Kamatsiaqtut distress help line, which recently began operating 24 hours a day.

“It’s not just about winning a title,” Kootoo said. “It’s an amazing opportunity to show the younger generation that there are ways to raise awareness.”

The Miss Canada Globe pageant still values beauty — the summer competition will feature training on how to do hair and make-up, and include a swimsuit modelling segment.

The organization says its focus is on creating representatives for each of Canada’s regions, by helping women become confident public speakers and ambassadors for charitable organizations.

“In our pageant, we believe in beauty inside and out,” said its executive officer, Mias Pilar.

“They go on to become representatives for their area — they hold the title for a year, so they’ll do a lot of appearance and charitable work.”

The pageant imposes some rules: contestants cannot be married or have children, an issue that disqualified a few Nunavummiut women this year.

Pilar said it’s been a big challenge to recruit contestants from the northern territories, particularly Nunavut, but she hopes the participation of the Kootoo sisters will help draw some interest from other young women.

“We’re hoping this will be a good start to expanding the pageant into the territory,” she said. “And hopefully, the next Miss Canada Globe will be from Nunavut.”

Next, Kootoo has to raise $3,000 in sponsorship to help pay for trip to Toronto. She’s also working with the Iqaluit-based designer Rannva to design a traditional Inuit outfit to wear at the competition.