Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canadawww'pauktuutit'ca

1
Elders in theCanadian Arctic

• The Special Senate Committee on Aging Monday, May
  14th, 1230 p.m.

2
About Pauktuutit

• 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.

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

3
Inuit in Canada

• Approximately 47,000 Inuit live in Canada,
  primarily in six Arctic regions.
• Inuit live in 53 isolated and remote communities.
  
• One half of Inuit live in Nunavut. Up to 85 of
  Nunavuts population are Inuit.
• Many communities offer limited economic
  opportunities.
• The majority of Arctic Inuit speak or understand
  Inuktitut.
• 2001 census expected to be 60,000 by 2010

• The Six Inuit Regions

4
Inuit Demographics

• Inuit population growth rate 12 between 1996
  and 2001.
• The Inuit population is young. In 2001, 57 of
  Inuit were under 25 years of age.
• In 2001, 39 of Inuit were under the age of 15.
• Life expectancy is 10 years shorterthan southern
  Canada.
• Teen pregnancy rates are high.In 2000, the rate
  was up to four times higher than the rest of
  Canada.
• Inuit youth commit suicide at ratesthirteen
  times the national average.

5
Implications For Ageing Inuit

• promoting active living and well being
• housing and transportation needs
• financial security and retirement
• abuse and neglect
• health promotion and prevention and
• health care needs, including chronic diseases,
  medication use, mental health, palliative care,
  home care and caregiving.

6
Rapid Cultural Changes

• Nomadic way of life to a modern industrialized
  society
• Fewer Inuit now live solely off the land
• Many Inuit have become dependent on the limited
  job opportunities in the communities and
• Social assistance within a wage economy.
• Cash and goods that were brought into the
  household are considered more and more outside
  the realm of sharing.

7
Residential School Legacy for Seniors

• Canadas residential school experiences created a
  rift between elders and youth.
• It damaged the intergenerational exchange of
  traditional knowledge, cultural values, parenting
  skills and language that is crucial to healthy
  relationships and identity formation.
• Physical, sexual and mental abuse of pupils was
  also not uncommon in residential schools.
• Cultural repression, assimilation, and abuse
  combined to make that generation of Inuit feel
  ashamed.
• Although the residential school system
  essentially ended in the mid-1970s, it is often
  cited as a source of trauma that affects Inuit
  seniors health and mental well-being today.

8
Governance Social Organization

• Inuit Qaujimajatuqanginnit (IQ).
• holistic, dynamic, and accumulative approach to
  knowledge, teaching, and learning
• observing, doing, and experiencing, passed down
  between generations
• the exchange of goods and services, and the
  transmission of ideas, values, knowledge and
  skills occur within the context of kinship
  structures
• Elders are the only ones who have experienced
  this knowledge.
• Seniors/Elders as role models
• Sharing
• Relationship to Environment/Importance of
  Spirituality
• Equality and Consensus

9
Health Challenges

• Social determinants of health include
• acculturation,
• productivity, income,
• housing,
• education,
• food security,
• health care services, social safety net,
• quality of early childhood,
• addictions and
• the environment.

10
Food, Nutrition, Food Insecurity

• Access to a healthy diet is a major issue.
• The consumption of junk food is widespread.
• Poor diet contributes to heart disease, diabetes
  and tooth decay.
• The cost of nutritious food is prohibitive.
• Country food is a recommended alternative.

• Sample Prices in Pond Inlet, Nunavut (August
  2005)
• Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail (1.89 litres)
  41.99
• McCains orange juice (1 litre) 21.69
• Kool-Aid crystals (for 26 litres) 52.49

11
The Importance of Country Food
Table is adapted from the Canadian Arctic
Contaminants Assessment Report II Highlights,
pp. 73. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,
Ottawa, 2003. Information was gathered during the
fall and late winter and estimates the number of
days in a year each food was eaten.
12
Inuit Housing Crisis

• In 2001, more than half (53) ofInuit lived in
  crowded conditions.
• A substantial proportion of Inuit households
  contain more than one family.

• Poor conditions foster ill health and undermine
  the safety of Inuit Elders and children.
• House designs are culturally inappropriate and do
  not reflect Inuit needs.

13
Family Violence

• In Nunavut, only 29 of spousal abuse cases are
  reported.
• Nunavut has 6.5 times the national reported
  spousal abuse rate.
• 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 often depend on relatives to put them up
  for the short-term.
• Many must leave their communities to access a
  regional shelter in order to escape domestic
  violence.
• Inuit women may lose custody of their children
  when they leave abusive relationships.

14
Mental Wellness and Suicide

• Inuit youth commit suicide at rates many many
  times the national average.
• Issues related to violence and unresolved sexual
  abuse can be the root causes that can drive youth
  to take their lives.
• Suicide deaths in Nunavut and Nunavik have more
  than doubled in the past decade.

15
Substance Abuse

• Tobacco consumption is widespread.
• Passive smoke in the home and the high rates
  ofsmoking during pregnancy (62 in 2001)
  raisethe likelihood of Sudden Infant Death
  Syndrome (SIDS).
• Binge drinking is common.
• Reported alcohol use during pregnancy Nunavik
  - 25 - 30 of women surveyed Nunavut - 18 of
  women surveyed.
• Reliable data on FASD in the north is limited.
• Little help available for people trying to stop
  drinking.
• Problem drinking is not addressed even when women
  have had several FASD children.

16
Additional Problems

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Respiratory illnesses
• HIV/AIDS and STDs and
• Unintentional injuries.

• Health delivery systems vary among the 53 Inuit
  communities.
• Medical transportation costs to southern
  facilities are very high.
• Health professionals (doctors and dentists) often
  provide limited fly-in services to remote
  communities.

17
Pauktuutit as a Partner

• Non-Government Organizations can liaise between
  governments, agencies, and academic institution
  and community members.
• Aboriginal organizations are important links
  within the process of knowledge translation.

• NGOs often lack human and financial resources.
• Partnerships with Aboriginal organizations
  requires capacity-building.

18
Thank You

• PAUKTUUTITInuit Women of Canada
• 56 Sparks StreetSuite 400Ottawa, OntarioK1P
  5A9613-238-3977
• Jennifer Dickson
• Executive Director
• jdickson_at_pauktuutit.ca