The National Voice of Inuit Women
Pauktuutit is the national representative organization of Inuit women in Canada and is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors from across Canada. We foster greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, advocate for equality and social improvements, and encourage Inuit women’s full participation in the community, regional and national life of Canada.
President’s Message
Tungasuritsi! It is my pleasure to present Pauktuutit’s official website. Pauktuutit has been advocating for the social, cultural, political and economic betterment of Inuit women, their families and communities since 1984 – a rich history I am proud to contribute to alongside our Board of Directors. I invite you to learn more about the realities of Inuit women and the work Pauktuutit does by reading about our mandate, advocacy, and department projects. By working with government, community leaders and Inuit organizations, we support Inuit women to reach their full potential in safe, happy communities. Nakurmiik! — Rebecca Kudloo
Latest News
Request for Proposals: Development of Visual Resources – Budgeting and Operational Costs
This project will further develop existing operations and resources of the Inuit Women in Business Network (IWBN), to be available in both languages, English and Inuktut, and made available across Inuit Nunangat and the rest of Canada. The project will also provide strategic direction on the organization’s broad economic development activities directly from Inuit women.
Request for Proposals: Understanding the Needs of Urban Inuit Women – A Focus on Child Wellbeing
The inital goals of the project have shifted with the onset of COVID-19. Several vulnerabilities have quickly become apparent for Inuit women and children living outside Inuit Nunangat. The pandemic has deepened pre-existing gendered inequalities and exposed vulnerabilities in social, political, and economic systems which compound one another. For example, the lack of available and affordable childcare, makes earning a livelihood difficult for Inuit women. Children not attending school because of COVID-19 require full-time attention, while home confinement exacerbates family tensions. The loss of income creates additional stress in an already difficult reality for Inuit women.
The National Voice of Inuit Women
Pauktuutit is the national representative organization of Inuit women in Canada and is governed by a 14-member Board of Directors from across Canada. We foster greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, advocate for equality and social improvements, and encourage Inuit women’s full participation in the community, regional and national life of Canada.
President’s Message
Tungasuritsi! It is my pleasure to present Pauktuutit’s official website.
Pauktuutit has been advocating for the social, cultural, political and economic betterment of Inuit women, their families and communities since 1984 – a rich history I am proud to contribute to alongside our Board of Directors.
I invite you to learn more about the realities of Inuit women and the work Pauktuutit does by reading about our mandate, advocacy, and department projects.
By working with government, community leaders and Inuit organizations, we support Inuit women to reach their full potential in safe, happy communities. Nakurmiik! — Rebecca Kudloo
Our COVID-19 resource page contains links to key information about COVID-19 that you can use.
Addressing Gendered Violence against Inuit Women:
A review of police policies and practices in Inuit Nunangat
Full Report & Recommendations
Pauktuutit Inuit Women Canada
and
Dr. Elizabeth Comack
Department of Sociology and Criminology
University of Manitoba
Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of Inuit Women in the Resource Extraction Industry:
A literature review
This literature review is an important component of a three-year project which addresses the economic security of Inuit women in the resource extraction industry. Funding for this research is provided by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Cannabis Prevalence and Interventions in Inuit Communities
A literature review
This report presents the findings of a scoping review conducted to inform a larger project with Inuit women, youth, and their partners that will develop an awareness and education campaign that encompasses a harm reduction approach to cannabis use.
Reproductive Health Rights
A Summary Report
Inuit have unique needs and experiences that differ from First Nations and Métis, so Inuit women are at a different starting point around reproductive and sexual health rights. Learning requires a distinct, unique, and Inuit-specific approach.
Latest News
Request for Proposals: Development of Visual Resources – Budgeting and Operational Costs
This project will further develop existing operations and resources of the Inuit Women in Business Network (IWBN), to be available in both languages, English and Inuktut, and made available across Inuit Nunangat and the rest of Canada. The project will also provide strategic direction on the organization’s broad economic development activities directly from Inuit women.
Request for Proposals: Understanding the Needs of Urban Inuit Women – A Focus on Child Wellbeing
The inital goals of the project have shifted with the onset of COVID-19. Several vulnerabilities have quickly become apparent for Inuit women and children living outside Inuit Nunangat. The pandemic has deepened pre-existing gendered inequalities and exposed vulnerabilities in social, political, and economic systems which compound one another. For example, the lack of available and affordable childcare, makes earning a livelihood difficult for Inuit women. Children not attending school because of COVID-19 require full-time attention, while home confinement exacerbates family tensions. The loss of income creates additional stress in an already difficult reality for Inuit women.
Request for Proposals: Cannabis in Our Communities: A Focus on Inuit Youth and Maternal Health and Well-being.
The proposed project is innovative and will reach and target a largely underserved population: Inuit. Pauktuutit is responding to the need for public education, awareness, harm reduction and prevention initiatives that align with the social context of Inuit knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours around cannabis consumption, and in the context of a shifting Northern health, social and economic environment.
Request for Proposals: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Supporting our Inuit Families and Communities
The research from the first phase of the project will be translated into culturally relevant and Inuit-specific key messages and multimedia resources for a FASD public awareness and anti-stigma campaign.
Abuse Prevention
Socio-Economic
Addressing a broad range of social, economic and political issues.
Rebecca Kudloo
President
Gerri Sharpe
Vice President
Charlotte Wolfrey
Secretary-Treasurer
Rebecca Kudloo
President
Rebecca Kudloo is the President of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada. She was born on the land outside Iglulik, Nunavut, and now lives in Baker Lake, Nunavut. Rebecca fluently speaks Inuktut and English and enjoys working with people of all ages. She was first elected as President in 2014 and previously served on the Pauktuutit Board as the Vice President and Regional Director for the Kivalliq region of Nunavut.
As President, she represents Pauktuutit on the Board of Directors of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada. Rebecca is also active on the international stage. She advised at the Preparatory Meeting in Norway before the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted, travelled to Greenland to discuss education, and is often s invited to the United Nations in New York to discuss Canada’s relationship with Inuit women.
Outside of her work with Pauktuutit, Rebecca has dedicated her life to education and community-based counselling for over 30 years. This included her work in the Department of Education of the Nunavut Government, from which she is now retired. Rebecca is also the co-founder and current Chair of Mianiqsijit, a community-based child sexual abuse and family violence counselling service in Baker Lake. She also has served on many boards and councils, including the National Crime Prevention Council; the Sexual Abuse Coalition of the NWT the NWT Status of Women Council, where she held the position of Vice President; and the Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council, where she served as the first Interim President.
When not representing Pauktuutit on the national stage, Rebecca is often spending time with her family and preparing country food.
Charlotte Wolfrey
Secretary-Treasurer
Charlotte Wolfrey (Pottle) was born on the land in the Rigolet area. Charlotte’s Inuit heritage is very important to her; she still practices her culture and lives from the animals and plants around her community. She moved away at age 11 to go to Residential School and lived away from home until 1980. Charlotte is most proud of being a wife, a mom and a grandmother
Charlotte is known mostly throughout Nunatsiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Canada for her work in advocacy for the rights of women and children as well as her dedication to speaking against family violence. Charlotte has always been involved in politics, especially at a community and regional level, serving many years on the Community Council and Labrador Inuit Association. She was AngajukKak (Mayor) of the community of Rigolet for five years and held many positions in management before running for AngajukKak.
Charlotte has served on regional, provincial, national and international committees, including Canadian Inuit Circumpolar Health Society, Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women and many local/regional groups and organizations. She has held a variety of senior management positions in health care and in municipal administration.
Charlotte was given the honour of receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, and in 2011 she was named Pauktuutit’s Inuit Woman of the Year. In 2012, Charlotte was selected as an Honorable Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Charlotte also served as a member of the National Family Advisory Circle that gives advice to the commissioners of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Women and Girls.
Currently, Charlotte is a Member of the Nunatsiavut Government. She sits on Pauktuutit’s Board of Directors as the Nunatsiavut Director and Secretary Treasurer.
Gerri Sharpe
Vice President
Gerri is the eldest daughter of Mauti Qitsualik, born in Yellowknife and who’s home town is Gjoa Haven. She has lived all across Canada, and now calls the NWT home.
Mother of two and grandmother of three, she has been an advocate for women and children in the NWT, serving on the Inuvik Transition House Board for over seven years. When living in Inuvik, Gerri spent many years on the Inuvik District Education Authority, the Beaufort Delta Education Council, five years with the NWT Human Rights Commission and many working groups.
Gerri is also an artist who works with seal skin, muskox wool and beads to create traditional clothing and art. She also spins her own qiviut from wool harvested from muskox.