Pauktuutit facts for kids
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| Formation | 1984 |
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| Type | National Aboriginal Organization |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network for Inuit women |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Region served
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Canada |
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Official language
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English, Inuktitut (syllabics) |
| Website | www.pauktuutit.ca |
Pauktuutit is an important organization in Canada that works for Inuit women. It officially started in 1984. Its main office is in Ottawa, which helps it be close to the Canadian government. Every Inuit woman in Canada is considered a member of Pauktuutit, and they do not need to pay to join.
The group works to make life better for Inuit women and children. It aims for social equality and improved living conditions. Pauktuutit also helps Inuit women have a bigger voice in Canadian politics. It works to keep Inuit culture strong and encourages Inuit women to be independent. One of its key concerns is making sure everyone has good housing.
Other groups that are similar include the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents all Inuit Canadians. There is also the Native Women's Association of Canada, which works for all Indigenous women. Pauktuutit sees this group as a friend and partner.
How Pauktuutit Started
For many years, in the 1970s, Inuit leaders focused on land rights and creating their own territories. Groups like Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) helped bring attention to Inuit culture and Indigenous rights. However, Inuit women felt that their everyday problems were not being heard.
In 1975, during a meeting in Nunavut, members of ITK talked about starting an organization just for Inuit women. It took a few more years, but in 1981, the idea got full support at the ITK's yearly meeting. At this meeting, people discussed big health and social issues in Northern communities that mostly affected Inuit women.
In traditional Inuit culture, women are often the main caregivers. They also keep important traditional knowledge (called Qaujimajatuqangit in Inuktitut), values, and history alive. This meant that many challenges in their communities often fell heavily on women. Because of this, Pauktuutit was created as a national group to speak up for Inuit women.
Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association had its first meeting in March 1983, in Iqaluit. The first board had fourteen elected members. They set up their main office in Ottawa to be closer to the Canadian government. This helped them better share Inuit issues. Pauktuutit became a non-profit organization in April 1984. Its first big annual meeting was in January 1985. Nearly 150 women attended, representing 53 communities across Nunatsiavut.
Since it began, Pauktuutit has continued to work on many important topics. These include preventing harm, improving justice, health, and helping all Inuit women and gender-diverse people. They also work on helping Inuit women grow their businesses and communities. In 2020, Pauktuutit members created The National Action Plan. This plan calls for an end to violence against Indigenous women. It was a response to a big report about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
In 2022, Pauktuutit made new goals. These include putting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) into action. They also want to provide safe places and temporary homes for Inuit women, gender-diverse people, and their children. Other goals include bringing back traditional midwifery to Inuit Nunangat. They also aim to create more chances for Inuit women to become leaders.
How Pauktuutit Works
Pauktuutit mainly focuses on speaking up for Inuit women and making people aware of their needs. Their yearly meetings are a chance for Inuit women from all over Nunangat to meet and connect. The group shares news and updates through its newsletter, Suliqpita.
Pauktuutit also creates helpful guides and information for communities. These resources cover important topics like safety in families and homes. They also provide information about residential schools, housing help, and health. These materials help with other community needs in Northern areas.
Pauktuutit also has a special group called the Women's Business Network. This network helps Inuit women in the workplace. It gives advice and resources for starting small businesses and working for themselves.
The organization is very active in politics. They work to create better laws for Inuit women. Pauktuutit members have worked with the Canadian government on making new policies. They also partner with other Inuit and Indigenous groups. These include ITK, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, and the movement for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
