by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services
NNSL (DEC 02/96) - The majority of Nunavut leaders want a government composed of as many women as men.
At a gathering of Nunavut leaders in Iqaluit last weekend, 18 of 25 participants voted in favor of two-member constituencies with one male and one female representative.
The Nunavut Implementation Committee organized the gathering to receive and share input on the shape Nunavut's first government should take.
The committee will use information gathered at the meeting to write a supplement to Footprints 2, the committee's second planning report on Nunavut.
"In Footprints 2 the make up of the legislative assembly was not included specifically because we wanted to hear more from the Nunavut leadership," explained committee executive director Simon Awa.
The supplementary report should be complete by January or February, he said.
None of the decisions made at the meeting are binding on either the committee or the three parties to the Nunavut Agreement --Nunavut Tunngavik, the GNWT and the federal government.
Awa added that a proposal to house the legislative assembly somewhere other than Nunavut's future capital has lost momentum.
"I think that has been put to rest," said Awa. "Because of cutbacks I think the original idea of NIC to have the assembly outside of Iqaluit is dead."
Igloolik had been lobbying hard to be home to legislative assembly.
Eeta Kanauk, who represented the Inuit women's organization, Pauktuutit, at the meetings, said the support for gender equity is very encouraging.
"It's very important for women everywhere. We felt if we were able to combine male and female points of view, then everyone's concerns all around would be taken into consideration."
In spite of the wide margin of approval, Awa said two-member constituencies with a male and female representative for each was one of the most contentious issues debated at the meeting.
"People still have different opinions. Some want the status quo, others want to try something new. This is something that has never been done before."
Kanauk cautioned that if gender equity is approved, women will need time to get used to what will be a new role for them.
"We're still in the process of trying to catch up and should be allowed the opportunity to grow and learn."