Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

RANKIN INLET (Apr 06/99) - The standing of the Pauktuutit Women's Association's court case against the federal government was the top item on a full agenda completed during the association's annual general meeting (AGM) held earlier this month in Rankin Inlet.

Pauktuutit is seeking recognition from the federal government similar to that awarded to the Native Women's Association of Canada.

Pauktuutit executive director Tracy O'Hearn said the association wanted to give delegates the full background on the court challenge, along with current and accurate information.

Board members also wanted to receive direction from the delegates concerning the challenge.

"Pauktuutit feels the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) achieved federal government recognition as a result of its court action against the government of Canada to remedy what the NWAC perceived as gender-based discrimination in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Constitution of Canada," said O'Hearn.

Building upon O'Hearn's comments, association president Veronica Dewar, a Rankin Inlet native, said Pauktuutit is the only national aboriginal organization with exclusive and substantial expertise on the social, political, economic and health conditions, needs and priorities of Inuit women in Canada.

"The AGM went extremely well," said Dewar. "Delegates discussed many issues related to the association, including a reaffirmation of its mandate and looked at specific issues such as HIV/AIDS, child sexual abuse, residential schools, economic development and child care.

"A resolution was passed that Pauktuutit seek legal redress for its exclusion from national consultations and funding from the federal government. We will seek funding from the Court Challenges program to bring a gender-based discrimination case against the government for excluding Inuit women through their representative organization in its consultation process with aboriginal peoples in Canada."

Dewar said the association really doesn't see a change in the way it conducts its affairs or administers its policies because of the birth of Nunavut, although it was good timing for the AGM to be held.

"Pauktuutit functions at the national level and there will continue to be a need at that level for advocacy and lobbying for Inuit women. We feel there certainly may be different working partnerships or working relationships, but our delegates strongly confirmed the need for Pauktuutit to continue to advocate on their behalf.

"So, in a way, the timing of our AGM on the eve of Nunavut's birth was quite interesting to get such a strong reaffirmation. Pauktuutit has been working on many issues relating to Nunavut for several years now, so it's not something to have only just come up.

"We would like to take a second to thank the people of Rankin who were very warm in welcoming our delegates to their community. It was a wonderful experience for everyone."