Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Oct 07/02) - The new president of the Status of Women Council admits she's a little overwhelmed by all the attention. Gerri Sharpe-Staples was only appointed to the women's advocacy group in June. One thing led to the next, and this month, she found herself in the president's chair.

The 32-year-old medical receptionist brings to the role the strength of two cultures -- her father was a miner from Nova Scotia, her mother an Inuk from Gjoa Haven.

Her parents divorced when she was still a toddler, and her father raised her in Gjoa Haven. Her maternal grandfather, Gideon Qitsualik, taught her Inuktitut and Inuit traditions.

A day before she was to leave for Yellowknife to attend high school, her father died in a boating accident. The tragedy didn't stop her from continuing with her education and she graduated from Grade 12 in 1987.

As a young adult, she spent time in Yellowknife and Norman Wells before she was enticed to move to Inuvik in 1991 by a job offer at her uncle's construction company. She's been in Inuvik ever since.

Last week, News/North caught up with Sharpe-Staples to talk about womanhood, motherhood and the status of women. Here's part of that conversation.

News/North: Why did you get involved in the Status of Women Council?

Gerri Sharpe-Staples: I'm involved so women can have a better life in the NWT, so children can too.

N/N: Was there any personal reason for getting involved?

GSS: My father was a violent man. The day he died, I promised myself that my children and I would not be in that kind of relationship and I kept that promise.

N/N: How did your father's death affect you as a 15-year-old growing up?

GSS: My father was God, he had ultimate control. When my father died, I had real mixed feelings -- both a sense of loss and joy, because I no longer lived in fear. For 10 years after he died, I had a sense of guilt for feeling that. When he was no longer there, I was able to do what I wanted to do and to have a normal life. That's when I discovered my independence. At age 15 that's what I thought.

N/N: What do you think now?

GSS: I missed out on my father. My children miss out on a grandparent. He absolutely loved children. So my children are aware of his good qualities.

N/N: You went from living in this controlled family environment, to going off to school on your own. How did you make the transition?

GSS: I had my grandfather still and I had other people around me from Gjoa Haven, so there was no lack of community support. I guess it wasn't an option (not) to continue on, it just did. It was unsaid that I would get my Grade 12 -- nothing was going to stop me from doing that.

N/N: What was your grandfather like?

GSS: The exact opposite from my father. He was patient, he listened, he taught, he to this day, still loves me for who I am.

N/N: Growing up in Gjoa Haven, did you ever feel disadvantaged as a female?

GSS: To tell you the truth, no. I have a very strong personality and I don't think the fact that I was a female ever entered my mind. I was who I am. 'Can't' has never been an option.

N/N: They say people who grow up in violent households often end up perpetuating the cycle as adults. How did you break that cycle?

GSS: I found my soulmate. I found a man who accepted who I am and allowed me to be who I am.

N/N: You and your husband have two children. Did you ever have any qualms about raising your children here?

GSS: People have told me that if I want better services for my children I should move South.

This is not an option. There's no reason why I can't obtain what I need for my children in the North.

That's why I'm as vocal as I am. I don't believe I should shield my children. I want them to be aware of what is going on and for them to see how lucky they are.

N/N: How are you passing on your culture to your children?

GSS: I speak in Inuktitut to my children and I try to maintain the community togetherness. Like at the Muskrat Jamboree, I take them to participate in that to show them how the community comes together, how it's a strong community. My children are always involved. If I get them involved now, they'll be involved as adults.

N/N: What do you see as the main problems facing women in the North today?

GSS: Family violence, economics, which would include child care as well as lack of opportunities in the nonrenewable resource sector, awareness, education. That's what we as a council were discussing and what we saw as obstacles.

N/N: What will you be focusing on as the president of the Status of Women Council?

GSS: Working as a team. And having a unified voice for the women in the NWT. We have great staff on hand with the and a group of dynamic women so I look forward to working as a team.