Organization talks climate, food mail

Even a power failure couldn't stop the Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada from pushing on with their annual general meeting in Iqaluit last week.

"We've lived like this before," one voice chuckled out of the darkness as the women continued with elections for new members, filling in ballots by the light of hand-held flashlights and a few emergency lights scattered around the room.

There were some tears at this Pauktuutit annual meeting as the women grappled with serious issues, but the overwhelming tone was celebratory.

The gathering marked the organization's 25 years of supporting Inuit women and children, and fighting for their rights and role in building healthy Inuit communities.

Pauktuutit's AGM in Iqaluit was held to coincide with other celebrations in the city to mark the 10th anniversary of the creation of Nunavut.

The meeting ended with a gala dinner at the Cadet Hall, attended by many of Nunavut's women leaders who have contributed to the struggle, and featuring fur fashions by local designers, throat singing and a performance by Iqaluit's own alt-rocker Lucy Idlout.

Idlout paid tribute to Pauktuutit, which helped her get a start as an artist, noted that her mother Leah had also been active in the organization, and ended with a performance of Lovely Irene, her moving tribute to a friend who suffered the trauma of spousal abuse.

But before the party came the work.

The Pauktuutit delegates took part in several workshops, including one on the federal government's duty to consult – and accommodate – aboriginal groups like the Inuit whenever proposed legislation or decisions may affect the lives or interests of those groups.

In another workshop, they began a gender-based analysis of the federal government's food-mail program.

They also heard regional reports and updates on the staff's work on issues including abuse prevention, health, sexual health, and society, environment and justice.

From it all they produced a series of six resolutions directing Pauktuutit staff to:

• push the federal government to recognize, respect and accommodate the "unique perspectives, circumstances, priorities and aspirations of Inuit women in Canada" in all its relevant decisions and actions;
• ensure the views of Inuit women are heard in research, decisions and actions related to climate change;
• form partnerships with federal, provincial and territorial governments on a pilot project to address childhood overweight and obesity issues;
• make sure that current educational tools and resources related to sexually transmitted infections, particularly HIV/AIDS, are meeting the needs of Inuit;
• cooperate with the Inuit Nunaani midwifery working group to make the results of its research project documenting traditional Inuit pregnancy and childbirth practices accessible to anyone who wants to see them;
• develop a health-awareness plan for Inuit living in areas where mineral extraction is already happening or planned, and cultural-sensitivity programs and campaigns for mining companies.

The delegates chose four new regional directors: Dawn Michelin from Makkovik (Nunatsiavut); Elaine Uppahuak-Prusky from Arviat (Kivalliq); Michelle Gillis from Cambridge Bay (Kitikmeot); and Geela Maniapik from Pangnirtung (Qikiqtaaluk South).

The board also appointed Rhoda Innuksuk as president at a meeting immediately following the AGM. Innuksuk had taken over as interim president the previous year, filling in for the end of Martha Greig's term after Greig had to step down due to family commitments.

Pauktuutit also chose Kuujjuaq-based throat-singer, drum dancer and performance artist Sylvia Cloutier as its Woman of the Year, recognizing her contributions to Inuit society through her art.

Cloutier, the daughter of climate change activist Sylvia Watt-Cloutier, accepted the award by phone from Kuujjuaq. She told the board she had started her work as an artist with Pauktuutit's support in 1995.