Gerri Sharpe shares lessons from her time at helm of Pauktuutit
Former president reflects on asking Pope Francis to acknowledge Inuit resiliency; securing a seat at federal discussion tables
Outgoing Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada president Gerri Sharpe says she’s learned during her two years in the role that the voices of Inuit women across the country are the same. “We have the same concerns, we have the same worries, we have the same achievements,” she said. (File photo by Madalyn Howitt)
When Gerri Sharpe reflects on her two-year tenure leading Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, a moment with Pope Francis in July 2022 in Iqaluit stands out in her memory.
“The biggest thing that I can say is shaking hands with the Pope and asking him not to forget my tattoos,” she said, speaking by phone from Yellowknife, where she lives.
Sharpe, who stepped down earlier this month from her role as Pauktuutit president, said she asked the Pope to “look at each and every one” of her tattoos and acknowledge that Inuit are resilient.
“We are trying to revitalize the art of tattooing in the traditional manner across Canada. Many, many women are taking up this practice and it speaks to collectively how they’re coming forward,” she said.
Pauktuutit just marked its 40th anniversary with a series of celebrations, including a community feast and an address from Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, coinciding with its annual general meeting in Ottawa earlier this month.
Sharpe said one of the organization’s biggest accomplishments has been to secure a seat at the discussion table alongside Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national organization representing Inuit, for federal decision-making on Inuit issues.
“We are the experts on Inuit women within Canada,” Sharpe said. “We are part of those discussions. We do not have a vote but we are at the table, we do get [to] comment.
“This is a huge achievement because what we do affects all women and gender-diverse Inuit across Canada. So this is all of Inuit Nunangat and all Inuit in urban centres. When we speak, we can speak with one voice to the concerns of women.”
Sharpe said she learned a lot in the role of president, particularly when it comes to overseeing a large staff. When she started, Pauktuutit had about 15 or 16 staff members, she said. Now, Pauktuutit has 50. When growth comes this quickly, you must have a plan, she said.
Sharpe also said she also learned a lot about the concerns of Inuit women across the country.
“The voices of Inuit women across Canada are the same,” she said.
“We have the same concerns, we have the same worries, we have the same achievements, and it makes us no different if we live in the Yukon or Nova Scotia.”
Sharpe said she plans to take a short break before focusing on her full-time job as a cultural safety officer for the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission in the Northwest Territories.
She shared that she hopes to see Pauktuutit continue its work improving access to traditional Inuit midwifery services across the country, engage more with urban Inuit and work on housing issues.
“My passion has always been to help Inuit and to help women, and that will never ever go away,” Sharpe said.
Nancy Etok will be interim president of Pauktuutit until an election is held in September.
How could the pope not forget tattoos? He is reminded of how sinful tattoos are. The Bible states it is a sin for tattoos.
No I don’t think you have that right. You may be mistaking the general forbidding of practices of idolatry and paganism and conceivably tattooing that may be associated with it. The Bible otherwise generally has the notion that the body should be treated like a temple and treated well.
Okay, but why should anyone care what the bible says about tattoos though?
It is the world’s best selling book and is entails a worldview arguably credited with being the foundation of Western civilization.
You do know the Bible was only made up right? It’s not real, The Church is the Roman Empire!
Foundation of Western civilization? You’re kidding, right? Have a look at the church’s record over the last 1,500 years and if you get your head out of your bible you will see how thoroughly destructive the “church” has been. And do not forget how they killed or banished everyone who came up with science, technology and a more developed society in the interest of keeping the pope and the all those priests on the receiving end of a free ride.
1500 years, lol, the Roman Empire was 27BC, get your head out and look at history, the church is the Empire, Christmas came a little later on in history timeline.
So yeah the church is just free tax money, why even go? everyone should boycott.
Maybe next Sunday?
Well that was a short stint
I like tattoos generally, but I think that reviving tattoos is not really about reviving a culture, it goes much deeper than that. Tattoos are superficial means of culture signalling, something akin to virtue signalling. So people shouldn’t take them too seriously, not even the pope.
I like tattoos generally, but they are hardly the same as cultural revival which goes much deeper than that. Tattoos are more a superficial means of culture signalling, something akin to virtue signalling. But that is identity politics nowadays, and even the pope should not take it too seriously.
Thanks for sharing your lessons, Gerri!