Pauktuutit

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Meeting the Needs of Inuit Womenand their
Communities
Pauktuutits Vision Pauktuutits vision is to be
a dynamic, visible, influential organization,
supporting Inuit women and providing leadership,
voice and excellence for the betterment of Inuit
women, their families and communities.

• Jennifer Dickson, Executive Director
• Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
• Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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About Pauktuutit

• Pauktuutit Mission
• Pauktuutit works to foster greater awareness of
  the needs of Inuit women, to advocate for equity
  and social improvements, and to encourages the
  participation of Inuit women in the Community,
  regional and national life of Canada.

• Regions/Representatives on Pauktuutits Board
• North Qikitani (Baffin) ? South Qikitani
  (Baffin)
• Kitikmeot ? Kivalliq
• Inuvialuit ? Nunavik Hudson
• Nunavik Ungava ? Nunatsiavut
• Urban ? Youth

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Some Pauktuutit Activities
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Keepers of the Light
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Priority Areas for Action to 2010
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National Aboriginal Status
Pauktuutit Requires Formal Recognition as one of
Canadas National Aboriginal Organizations.

• Without the respect of NAO status, Pauktuutit is
  usually not offered a seat at national
  discussions and negotiations.
• Without consistent recognitionas an NAO,
  Pauktuutit work will always remain underfunded.
• With NAO status, Pauktuutit can bring
  Inuit-specific gender analysis to national
  discussions that address Aboriginal affairs.

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Health and Safety
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Domestic Violence

• Overcrowded housing fosters Violence.
• Some 3-bedroom homes are known to House as many
  as 20 people.
• House designs do not reflect Inuit needs.
• Poor conditions foster ill health and undermine
  the safety of Inuit women and their children.
• There are a few safe shelters and little in the
  way of alternative housing.
• There are increasing numbers of "hidden
  homeless" or "couch surfers" in northern
  communities women escaping violence.

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Past Present Work on Violence Abuse

• Taimainnut An Introduction to Basic Counselling
  Skills (1995).
• More Than They Say - Unreported crime in three
  Labrador communities (1995).
• Inuit Women - The Housing Crisis and Violence
  (1995).
• No More Secrets - child sexual abuse (1991
  2001).
• What To Do If You Are Abused and/or Battered -
  Safety Plan for Women (2000).
• AWAVE (Aboriginal Women Against Violence
  Everywhere).
• Inuit Healing in Contemporary Inuit Society -
  Analysis of Inuit healing (2004).
• Abuse Prevention Services in Inuit Communities -
  Report on Abuse in Inuit Communities (2004).
• 2006 - National Inuit Strategy for Abuse
  Prevention.
• Now Implementing the Strategy and Guide across
  the North

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Abuse Strategy Accomplishments

• Conducted in-depth interviews with service
  providers and Inuit healers and counsellors,
• Created a searchable database of about 600
  services and programs.
• Prepared three reports
• Inuit Healing in Contemporary Inuit Society,
• Abuse Prevention Services in Inuit Communities,
  and
• Applying Inuit Cultural Approaches in the
  Prevention of Family Violence and Abuse.
• Created a Network of committed agencies, groups
  and individuals, and
• Developed the means to support information
  sharing and increased collaboration.

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Strategic Priorities
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Inuit Childbirth and Midwifery

• Interviews conducted between October 1992 and
  January 1993.
• 75 interviews conducted in 10 communities in four
  Inuit regions.
• Interviews recorded in the regional dialect of
  the participant.
• Interviews are computer coded for qualitative
  analysis.
• A total of 516 births are described.
• Average number of births 7.2.
• Average age of interviewee 62.9 years.
• Average age at time of first birth 17.5 years.

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Midwife Strategy

• Key objectives of Pauktuutits midwife strategy
  is to
• Develop Inuit-specific protocols for the release
  and use of the collected knowledge.
• Integrate Inuit birthing knowledge into modern
  northern maternity care.
• Transfer the knowledge of Elders to Inuit youth.
• Promote healthy pregnancies and healthy
  lifestyles among young women.
• Ensure health professionals from the South become
  more sensitive to Inuit birthing heritage.
• Promote cultural pride in the heritage of Inuit
  midwifery.

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Global Issues

• Relevant international organizations and events
  where Pauktuutit has participated
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• The World Intellectual Property Organization.
• The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous
  Issues (UNPFII).
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
  Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
• The Organization of American States (OAS).
• Continental Network of Indigenous Women of the
  Americas.
• The International Union for Circumpolar Health.

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The Amauti Project
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The Amauti Workshop
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www.pauktuutit.ca

• Pauktuutits Internet site is a source of
  Inuit-specific resources on a wide range of
  topics and issues.

The Inuit Way A Guide to Inuit Culture
introduces Inuit culture past and present.
Keepers of the Light Inuit womens Action Plan
details Pauktuutits priority action areas.
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Thank You

• PAUKTUUTITInuit Women of Canada56 Sparks
  StreetSuite 400Ottawa, OntarioCANADAK1P
  5A9613-238-3977
• www.pauktuutit.ca
• Presented byJennifer DicksonExecutive
  Directorjdickson_at_pauktuutit.ca