Janine Lightfoot

What does winning this award mean to you?

It allows for a pause and reflection about how this work can impact my community even being as small we are in population. This award has allowed for opportunities to (re)connect with friends from across Inuit Nunangat and this brings me a lot of gratitude. It challenged me to do things that I was afraid of such as media interviews in both English and Inuktitut.

How has Pauktuutit’s work affected you?

Pauktuutit has provided critical insights into the realities of Inuit women and gender diverse inuqatiit who work in all areas of Inuit Nunangat, whether that is in governance, business, mining, schools, and advocacy.

How can winning this award affect your work going forward?

It was a great honour. I hope that it helps to inspire others to celebrate the knowledge and energy we have in our communities to support the reclamation of our language, culture and identity.

Do you have any advice to Inuit women who may hesitate to take a leap and chase their goals?

I often find myself reflecting on conversations that I have had with other Inuit women and gender diverse inuqatiit who work to foster healthier communities. Inuit women carry a lot in terms of responsibilities to family and community, and I hope that there are many who know that the work they do is important and I hope that it helps to uplift our communities.

About Janine:

Janine is a passionate advocate for revitalizing Inuit language and culture in an area deeply affected by language erosion. Janine holds a degree in Political Science and Native Studies and completed the Aurniarvik Program at the Pirurvik Centre in Iqaluit, where she resided and worked for several years, and whose work inspires Janine to find ways to incorporate Inuktut into all areas of her life.

In addition to her academic achievements, Janine’s efforts include initiating free weekly Inuktitut classes for learners, organizing enriching workshops centered around hunting, culture, and revitalization, and establishing a memorial bursary for high school students prioritizing Inuktitut, all done in loving memory of her Anaansiak, Clara Ford. Currently, Janine resides in Makkovik with her family, including their fierce and thoughtful 11-year-old, Panik Aaju Morgan, who dreams of becoming an astronaut.