Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Jan 17/00) - In a move designed to reflect the important role women play in hunting and harvesting in Inuit culture, Nunavut Tunngavik has put smiles on faces across the territory.

By purchasing 58 heavy-duty Singer sewing machines and giving them to the territory's hunters and trappers associations to distribute to women's groups, the land claim organization made good on a recommendation to step up the Nunavut Harvester Support Program and its appreciation of what women contribute to hunting.

That recommendation, along with a budget of $200,000 for the initiative, came out of a review of the NTI program conducted by the secretary managers of Nunavut's HTAs in 1998.

"This is one of the things we're doing, one of the ways we're trying to better recognize the ladies," said Gabriel Nirlungayuk, the manager of the program.

Purchased at a cost of $1,550 each, the number of sewing machines given to each community depended on its size. Smaller hamlets were given one, larger ones received two and the regional centres were given three.

A total of 45 Singers was originally purchased, but due to the positive feedback and the demand for more, Nirlungayuk ordered 13 more. They will also be handed out to the HTAs to distribute.

"We just received the sewing machines this week," said Sara Kigeak, the secretary-manager of Gjoa Haven's HTA.

"It's a good thing. It makes people think the ladies can be more involved. Mostly it's men's stuff and they should be helping everybody," said Kigeak.

While Gjoa Haven's HTA is still deciding exactly what to do with their machines, the Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association in Iqaluit delivered their quota last week.

Secretary-manager Sytukie Joamie, after delivering the machines to the Apex and Iqaluit Anglican Women's Auxiliary groups and the Qimaavik Women's Shelter, said he was surprised at just how appreciative the women were.

"We knew they would be happy, but not to that extent," said Joamie, of some women's reactions of kissing the delivery men and jumping up and down with glee.

He added that many of the same women had also applied to NTI for assistance to buy their own machines at a reduced rate.

"They said it's going to be very helpful when they're doing their projects," he said.

Trish Hughes-Wieczorek, the executive director of the Qimaavik Women's Shelter, said the donation would help them with their long-time goal of offering sewing programs to shelter clients.

"That makes a big difference to us. When we get donations like this, it's a real boost to the women," said Hughes-Wieczorek.

"They're used to feeling shamed by being here, so an unsolicited gift like this shows the shelter is serving its function," she said.

David Ell, the secretary-treasurer of Amarok added that similar funds would be established in future and women would also be able to access them to buy skins and material for tents.

"It's good for the hunters because they'll be able to have more for hunting and it's good for the ladies because they'll be able to have more equipment."