IQALUIT, July 27, 2022 – Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada’s President Sharpe and board members understand that the intergenerational trauma caused by the Roman Catholic church has impacted Inuit women, families, and communities. To support former students and address Intergenerational impacts on families, aftercare is critical. Providing mental health support is essential, and our organization wants to focus on it in these difficult times.
In the path towards reconciliation on the healing journey impacted by the residential schools’ experiences, along with Pauktuutit’s mandate and mission to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women and gender-diverse people, Pauktuutit has partnered with Qaggiavuut to support local healing camp workshops in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Counselling and support services will be offered alongside cultural activities.
“Having the Pope come to Canada to take part in this penitential pilgrimage, to see us on our homelands, is part of our walk towards reconciliation. I look forward to the Pope’s commitment to the investigation of the past and assisting survivors.
This visit is the start, for the residential school survivors, day school students, our children, and our grandchildren. For this to be real, the leader needs to take responsibility, in this case, the Pope,” stated Gerri Sharpe, President of Pauktuutit.
Where and when: President Sharpe and staff will be in Iqaluit to support Inuit women, gender-diverse people, and their families before, during, and after the Pope’s visit. In partnership with Qaggiavuut, Pauktuutit wants to focus on survivors, and surviving families, by offering cultural workshops and counselling from Thursday, July 28 until Saturday, July 30, from 1 to 5 pm.
A camp outside the Qaggiavuut office will share drumming, throat singing, sealskin cleaning, qulliq making, storytelling, country food, and more. Find our tent at House 411 (Qaggiavuut) in Iqaluit.
Support is available:
- National Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
- Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program, Northern Region — 1-800-464-8106
- Hope for Wellness Helpline (English, French, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut): 1-855-242-3310
- Kamatsiaqut helpline / Embrace Life Council hotline: 1-800-265-3333
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
-30-
Media contact: Josée Levesque, 613-238-3977, Ext 271, or email communications@pauktuutit.ca.
Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada is the national non-profit organization representing all Inuit women in Canada. Its mission is to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women and to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural, and economic development.