Iqaluit (Mar 13/06) - The first International Womens Day was in 1911 and the battle for womens rights has been hard fought since. Now in 2006, is there anything left to fight for?

Susan Idlout sold hand-sewn baby clothes and holders at the arts and crafts fair on March 8, International Womens Day. Women gathered to celebrate and talk about the positives of life. - Jillian Dickens/NNSL photo

In short, yes, say three strong Inuit women.

Annie Natayok, president of Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women, says the big fight now is improving the social well-being of the family.

"When we talk about the well-being of the family, we are not talking about women alone," said Natayok through Thomas Tiktaq's translation. "We have to negotiate with males as well. We can only become perfect if the women and men work together."

Natayok says with the elders rapidly disappearing the family unit is threatened.

"Because if the mom and dad were having problems then the elders traditionally would counsel them to get back together," said Natayok.

"Now, the percentage of younger people separating is high."

A big plus is that the establishment of Nunavut has given women greater opportunities for their voices to be heard by the government.

She says using Inuit Quajimatuqangit principals "women have a voice."

Commissioner Ann Hanson says the weapon to fight domestic abuse, suicide, homelessness and the other brutal realities plaguing women and men in this territory is education.

"We must encourage young women to be educated because it is power, to be aware, involved in community events, volunteer and not to be shut out," she said. "Education is so much more available today than in the past so it should be taken advantage of."

Cooking/comedy show host Rebecca Veevee says the social feedback in communities is often negative.

"You hear that you are fat, you are ugly, you don't have an education, you are not speaking in your language," said Veevee. "Families and the community need to show more love."

She also speculates the sudden colonization in communities has led to jealousy.

"Life is not free as it used to be," said Veevee. "Now money is something to get."

She also stressed that she "didn't know" the cause or effect, but says acknowledging the problems is a good start.