Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (May 03/99) - When the equivalent of the NWT Status of Women Council is up and running in Nunavut later this year, women can be sure that Geela Giroux will have played a strong hand in its formation.

And knowing Giroux's quiet, yet determined, strength, bringing women's issues to the forefront of the new territory will be done with relative ease.

Acting primarily as an advocate between various women's groups and the government in her new role as the senior advisor on women's issues in Nunavut, Giroux reports directly to Minister Donald Havioyak and deputy minister Peter Irniq (Ernerk) of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.

As well as advising her bosses on policy and on the Status of Women Act -- which was rolled over to Nunavut from the NWT and will be used until the legislature can amend it -- Giroux is responsible for offering advice on the formation of the council and has some ideas on what she would like to see that organization look like.

"It will be a predominantly Inuktitut- speaking council and it will focus on equality, rather than proving ourselves," said Giroux.

"What we want to have is harmony -- men and women working together -- not a division."

And while some feminists may balk, it's time to back off because the ideas for the council, and what it will offer, stem directly from Pauktuutit and the women's meeting held recently in Rankin Inlet.

One such idea, Giroux said, included a desire to see an interim council set up until the official council is ready to take over was expressed.

"They're very concerned there may be a loss of time. They want to see an interim council so their concerns don't have to sit for too long," said Giroux.

She further explained that Nunavut women were looking for better victim services, better education on issues of violence, more input from elders and youth, more Inuktitut education, more education in parenting skills and more healing programs that incorporated men.

"Nunavut women want to create more healing programs and healing services for both men and women. This will also give men the opportunity to have the equal services women have been getting."

While Giroux was unable to say exactly when the council or its interim counterpart would be established, she did say that it would be made up of women across the territory.

"There are lots of good, strong women in Nunavut that can represent us. I think this council will be different in that way -- it will be closer to home."