Justice
Advancing Safety through Violence Prevention, Advocacy, Education and Inuit Justice
Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit experience disproportionately high rates of violence, while access to culturally safe prevention, protection, and justice services remains limited. These experiences are shaped by systemic, institutional, and structural factors, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism, housing and service gaps, and chronic underinvestment in Inuit communities. Pauktuutit advances Inuit-led solutions through research, advocacy, education, and policy development, working to strengthen prevention, support access to justice, and promote safety, accountability, and self-determination. Our work is grounded in the leadership and lived experiences of Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit.
Our Priority Areas
Violence Prevention
Ending gender-based violence against Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit requires Inuit-specific approaches that address both immediate safety needs and the systemic conditions that contribute to violence. Pauktuutit advances prevention, advocacy, and policy solutions grounded in Inuit experiences and leadership, including work to advance the Inuit-specific Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Pauktuutit also supports the implementation of the National Inuit Action Plan on Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People, developed in partnership with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. Our work promotes Inuit-led solutions, sustained investment, and systemic change to strengthen safety and wellbeing for Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit.
Justice – Inuit Justice Revitalization
Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit experience the impacts of systemic discrimination and overrepresentation within Canada’s justice and corrections systems, alongside persistent inequities in housing, access to services, and other social determinants of wellbeing. Pauktuutit’s Inuit Justice Revitalization work advances Inuit-led approaches to justice that centre Inuit knowledge, culture, healing, accountability, and community wellbeing. Through research, engagement, advocacy, and policy development, Pauktuutit works to strengthen understanding of Inuit justice, reduce reliance on incarceration, and support culturally grounded alternatives and greater Inuit leadership in justice systems. This work contributes to the Indigenous Justice Strategy and supports the revitalization of Indigenous legal traditions as called for in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 50, and advances Inuit self-determination in justice.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Pauktuutit develops resources and training materials to support understanding and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDA). These resources support greater awareness of Inuit rights and the importance of Inuit self-determination in areas including culture, language, health, education, justice, and environmental stewardship. Pauktuutit uses UNDRIP as an important framework for advocacy and for strengthening relationships between Inuit organizations and governments. This work supports efforts to advance Inuit rights and ensure government policies and practices reflect Inuit priorities and perspectives.
Education and Awareness Initiatives
Education and awareness are important tools for preventing violence and strengthening culturally safe responses to Inuit women, girls, and gender-diverse Inuit. Pauktuutit develops workshops and resources that support justice professionals, service providers, and communities to better understand Inuit experiences and respond to gender-based violence. The Saimaniik Justice and IPV workshop supports justice professionals in strengthening their responses to Inuit survivors, while the Engaging Young Men and Boys (EYMB) workshop promotes healthy relationships, accountability, and violence prevention. These initiatives support practical learning and community-based approaches to building safer and healthier relationships.
The Red Amautiit Project
The Red Amautiit Project honours the lives and legacies of Missing and Murdered Inuit Women, Girls, and gender-diverse Inuit while raising awareness of ongoing violence.
The amauti, a traditional Inuk woman’s parka designed with a hood for carrying babies, varies in style by region but remains an unmistakable symbol of Inuit women. This project features five handmade amautiit—four regionally distinct pieces and one honouring Elders and traditional knowledge—each was crafted by an Inuk seamstress from her region, reflecting the strength and cultural significance of Inuit women and communities.
