Eastern Arctic to mark global campaign on elder abuse

Nunavut, like Nunavik, plans to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, said Louis Tapardjuk, the Nunavut minister responsible for culture, language, elders and youth.

“This day puts the spotlight on sharing information, learning more about the issue and discussing the prevention of elder abuse,” Tapardjuk said June 9 in the Nunavut legislature.

Tapardjuk urged Nunavummiut to take action against elder abuse and to “promote respect and honour towards the elderly not only once every year but in their everyday lives.”

“I have always believed that elders deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. The role of elders has been very important and crucial in our history to address social wellness issues,” Tapardjuk said, nothing that CLEY recently distributed posters to highlight the “Elders Support Phone Line,” where unilingual elders can receive counseling in Inuktitut.

Also on June 9 in the legislature, Moses Aupaluktuq, MLA for Baker Lake, called on the GN to make sure his community gets at least a full-time doctor to serve its growing— and aging— population.

“The community of Baker Lake is not only the fourth largest community in Nunavut, but it also has the highest proportion of elders across the territory,” Aupaluktuk told the legislature.

“Although we receive agency nurses, it’s evident that we need a resident, full-time medical practitioner,” Aupaluktuk said.