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Social Development / Women

An Association of Inuit Women of Nunavik

In August of 2005 14 Inuit women from Nunavik gathered together in Puvirnituq to share and exchange in their thoughts and concerns regarding the social situation in their communities. This event was able to occur because of the efforts of a McGill University law professor, Marie-Claude Premont, whose application for the proposal of an Inuit and southern Quebec women's gathering in Nunavik was accepted by the Claire L'Heureux Dubé Foundation.

This gathering, which was held at the Tuaparaat Camp 30 minutes by canoe south of Puvirnituq, provided a forum for 18 Inuit women and 8 southern Quebec women for the first time in years to be able to speak together on the issues they found important in their communities. There was a participant from each Nunavik community. During this forum, the women sat in a large meeting tent set up by the Nunavik Arctic Survival Training Centre, and spoke about child-rearing and education, Inuktitut language, the need for child advocy, the need for Inuit-specific healing workshops, on suicide and violence and ways to stop violence in the Inuit communities. Not only were issues of deep concern dicussed but positive events were brought up too such the individual efforts of women as the care-givers in their communities.

The women decided on making a manifesto on stopping violence in Nunavik. They also decided to start up an Inuit Women's Association of Nunavik, called Saturviit. Saturviit means those that give hope, and the board is currently composed of six members with Mary Palliser of Inukjuaq as President, Lizzie Tukai of Kuujjuaraapik as Vice-President, Naina Keatainak of Salluit as Secretary/Treasurer, Annie Hubloo Etok of Kangirsualujjuaq, and Uiviru Patsauq as board members.

Nunavik Inuit Women's Manifesto
[PDF - 10KB]