Nunavut will not declare intimate partner violence an epidemic
‘It feels like open season on Inuit women,’ says YWCA-Agvik executive director
Iqaluit residents walk in recognition of Red Dress Day on May 5. Carrying a picture of her late mother is Della Ootoova, who was murdered in Iqaluit in 2008. Holding her hand is Sherri Robertson, executive director of YWCA-Agvik Nunavut. Robertson is calling on the territorial government to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic, followed by justice reform. (Photo by Daron Letts)
Nunavut will not follow the lead of other Canadian jurisdictions by declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic in the territory.
On May 27, Newfoundland and Labrador became the latest province or territory to make the declaration. It followed suit with Nova Scotia, which, in 2024, created a Ministers’ Table on Gender Based Violence that includes victims, families, community organizations and front-line workers.
“We are aware of and respect the decisions of other jurisdictions that they’re making in declaring gender-based violence an epidemic,” said Gwen Healey Akearok, Nunavut’s minister responsible for the status of women, in a phone interview Wednesday.
“Work has been underway for years and it’s guided by the voices of Inuit women and the organizations that represent them,” she said.
YWCA-Agvik executive director Sherri Robertson said she is “disappointed” the minister has chosen not to declare intimate partner violence an epidemic in Nunavut.
“I think it’s good to validate how big the problem is,” she said Thursday in a phone interview, while acknowledging words alone are not a solution. “It would only have meaning if it were accompanied by substantial systemic change.”
Close to 60 per cent of women in Nunavut have experienced physical or sexual assault, according to 2021 data from Statistics Canada.
Robertson said she wants to see the territorial government look at justice reform. Too many repeat offenders are serving too little time for violent crimes, she said.
“People hurt people because they’ve been hurt — I understand that,” Robertson said. “Systems are supposed to intercede and protect and they are not. It feels like open season on Inuit women. It feels very much like there’s literally no consequences.”
Back at the legislative assembly, Akearok said the formal declaration is not necessary because the territorial government is already acting. She says the GN has improved crisis response, shelter systems and victim support services.
It is also spending more than $4 million to support gender-based violence initiatives that focus on awareness campaigns and education.
As for documenting patterns of intimate partner violence, she said her department is on it.
“We’re working on tracking those trends and developing more comprehensive analysis with all of our partners,” she said.
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