Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (Apr 05/00) - Joan Killulark attended a workshop in Inuvik late last year which left her feeling energized and ready to help people quit smoking.

Killulark, who is Baker Lake's community health representative, also sits as Pauktuutit's Aniqsaattiarniq -- Breathing Easy -- representative for the Kivalliq region. She'll now use her new-found strength to try and co-ordinate smoking cessation programs both in her own community and the entire region.

"When I meet other people doing the same kind of work, it encourages me," said Killulark.

"I got ideas from the other people there," she said, referring to the week-long training workshop in Inuvik.

She explained that by meeting with other representatives from Inuit regions across the country, it helped boost confidence and make better use of the resource kits that were first developed by Pauktuutit in 1997.

Designed by Inuit for Inuit, Aniqsaattiarniq was the first culturally-relevant and effective smoking cessation resource kit developed.

But, while it went much further than previous tools, many people felt they needed more help before they could effectively deliver the message.

That was the reason for the follow-up workshop said Catherine Carry, Aniqsaattiarniq's co-ordinator.

As well as focusing specifically on tobacco addiction and how to deal with it using concrete strategies, Carry said it resulted in a tobacco recovery resource being developed for community workers along with a tobacco recovery newsletter.

"Their mood at the end was extremely positive," said Carry, of the workshop participants.

"They left energized to work on the issue with tons of materials, everything they need to back them up," she added.

Pauktuutit also put into action a plan for aftercare, and in the months since the workshop ended, Carry has been phoning communities to check in and offer assistance.

Killulark said it all has helped make a difference.

Including hosting a phone-in radio show and making attempts at co-ordinating with CHRs in other Kivalliq communities, she said the issue was now on the front-burner.

"It's a slow process, but I think we're accomplishing something even if only one or two people quit smoking," said Killulark.

"A lot of people are telling me even if they quit only for a couple of weeks that they quit. That tells me people are really thinking about it."