International Women’s Day a time for ‘striving to empower’ women, Qulliit president says

There are several opportunities to celebrate International Women’s Day Friday in Iqaluit.

Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council will present Nunavut’s 2023 Wise Woman and Outstanding Woman awards at 1 p.m. in the lobby of the legislative assembly.

There will also be a celebration from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Iqaluit’s Cadet Hall where people can stop in for mini-spa activities, craft sales, live music and food. There will also be a kids area.

This event is hosted by Qulliit, the Nunavut government, YWCA Agvik, Pauktuuutit Inuit Women of Canada and Nunavut’s law society. Representatives from theses organizations will be on hand to answer questions.

“These activities [will] provide a platform for women to share their experiences, celebrate their achievements and engage in meaningful conversations, especially about gender equality and women’s rights and how we can inspire each other how we can include each other,” said Amber Aglukark, president of Qulliit, in an interview with Nunatsiaq News.

Qulliit’s theme this year is Inspire Inclusion.

As an Inuk woman, Aglukark said she feels it is important to reach out to Inuit women or women from other groups who do not always feel included.

“It’s not just by providing support, it is about striving to empower these women … providing them an opportunity to be a voice in their communities,” she said.

Leadership can take on many forms, noted Aglukark, who was recently appointed to Iqaluit city council to fill a vacancy.

“How we inspire women to be leaders in the community, all depends on what they aspire to be, what their passions are,” she said.

In Ottawa on Friday, Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, the first Indigenous person to be the King’s representative in Canada, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the an event hosted by the Canadian Club of Ottawa and the Women Heads of Diplomatic mission at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre at 11:30 a.m.