Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 14/02) - The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has united five of its divisions in order to better address Inuit social and cultural issues.

The QIA's Youth, Women, Elders, Health and Policy divisions merged to form the new Department of Social Policy on Oct. 4.

John MacDougall, director of social policy, said the move is part of QIA's attempts to streamline their operations to make them more efficient and effective.

"It was felt that it was a good idea to merge these departments because they all shared certain issues, certain concerns in common," he said.

All departments and employees will maintain their job responsibilities and budgets. The only difference, according to MacDougall, is there will be more "communication and integration" between each of the divisions.

"There will be more strategic planning and meeting where all of the departments are present, common goals will be identified, and we will adopt plans that involve everybody ... a general teamwork approach to social and cultural issues," said MacDougall.

Members of the new department were introduced at the QIA annual general meeting in Iqaluit on Oct. 8 and 9.

At the meeting, MacDougall said board members and social policy representatives were moved by the family member of a suicide victim who urged them to take action on suicide prevention.

"She was sharing her feelings and it was very moving. There was quite a bit of emotion attached to that."

The heartbreaking speech was followed by a moment of silence. MacDougall said he believes the QIA is edging towards the development of a new approach to suicide education and prevention, with the assistance of the new social policy department.

"The directors - many of whom are very traditional, some who are unilingual and very deep in Inuit culture - may be used to a different approach to suicide, not talking about it and accepting it.

"But I think our department is determined that the awareness has to be heightened to the maximum," he said.