Minister, Premier reflect on International Women’s Day
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk says women in leadership are strengthening the voices of girls in Nunavut
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk spoke about International Women’s Day in Nunavut’s legislative assembly Tuesday afternoon. (File photo)
Women in leadership are creating opportunities for gender equality and social change, says Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk.
Nakashuk, who is also the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, said during her minister’s statement at the legislative assembly Tuesday to address International Women’s Day.
She said the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council’s theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Ikajuqatigiiniq, meaning, helping one another.
“This recognizes the importance of community and the individual community members who foster care, love and resources in a time when help is needed,” Nakashuk said Tuesday in the legislative assembly.
The Family Services Department partnered with Qulliitt to hand out purple sealskin patches and posters to Nunavummiut to bring awareness to International Women’s Day.
“The diversity of women’s leadership … continues to positively impact and strengthen the voice of women and girls in Nunavut and creates further opportunities to build the foundation for greater action on gender equality,” she said.
Premier P.J. Akeeagok recognized Inuit women in politics, including Nunavut commissioner and former premier Eva Aariak, former commissioner and Order of Canada recipient Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, and the first woman to serve as Nunavut’s MP, Nancy Karetak-Lindell.
Akeeagok also included Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, MP Lori Idlout and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. President Aluki Kotierk.
“Our territory is no stranger to the multigenerational and intergenerational trauma affecting all Nunavummiut, particularly women and girls,” he said.
“We must do better. We must speak up against gender-based discrimination and violence, and together create a place where women and girls can thrive.”
We can certainly look around and see room for improvement in places, but if we move back and look into the deeper past we can see tremendous progress in the treatment of women in Nunavut. It was only about 100 years ago that ethnologists like Knud Rasmussen and Diamond Jenness recorded high levels of female infanticide among the Arctic peoples, babies left to die of exposure was very common as it was thought that males were simply more valuable in terms of their ability to provide for their families and communities. So, let us celebrate and be thankful for what has been achieved in those intervening years!
I love that it’s even mentioned that Canada’s Governor General is a woman, our MP is a woman, the NTI President is a woman, Nunavut’s Commissioner (and former Premier) is a woman, Order of Canada recipient is a woman… heck, even the Executive Director of the NAM is a woman, Deputy Ministers of Education, C&H, HR, Family Services are all women. Current Deputy Premier is a woman. Three quarters of the GN workforce is women.
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But of course… “We must do better.”
Feminism has always been concerned with gaining and redistributing power. That is not necessarily a bad thing or a cynical observation. But, at times it does seem the appetite for it has become insatiable to those who have had a taste.
A late Happy International Women’s Day to everyone, but especially to women everywhere.