RANKIN INLET - A group of 11 women from four Kivalliq communities gathered in Rankin Inlet earlier this month to take part in the Somebody's Daughter (Panigijaujut) program.

Tapisa Paniaq Siusangnark helps Marie Shimout, left, with her sewing during the Somebody's Daughter program on Siksilik Island near Rankin Inlet. - photo courtesy of Eugene Kabluitok

The 10-day camp was held on Siksilik Island, about 15 miles across the bay from Rankin.

The annual program, which promotes culture, traditional skills and emotional healing, is sponsored by the Kivalliq Inuit Association and has been highly regarded across the region for more than a decade.

The camp is only available to women who went through residential school or were affected by it (intergenerational victims).

The program is funded through the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

The female participants who attended the 2009 camp were Annie Amaujak, Lucy Pingushat, Eva Okatsiaq and Sarah Aulatjut of Arviat, Georgina Ipkarnerk and Sheila Niviatsiak of Chesterfield Inlet, Marie Shimout of Coral Harbour, and Rankin's Nellie Kusugak, Marlene Tulugak, Debra Taipana and Mary Tatty. Somebody's Daughter featured a top-flight group of elder instructors.

In charge of teaching traditional sewing skills were Alexina Nanordluk and Tapisa Siusangnark of Repulse Bay, along with Elizabeth Nibgoarsi and Hattie Alagalak of Arviat.

The camp's cooking duties were handled by Nancy Tesseor and Martha Otuk of Arviat, while Sam Shamee of Arviat was the maintainer and Rankin elder Simon Kowmuk handled guiding and hunting.

Single mom, Sarah Aulatjut, 33, of Arviat was excited to learn she had been accepted for Somebody's Daughter.

She said this was her first chance to attend the program, but, if she gets her way, it won't be the last.

"This was my second time to work on sewing kamiik," said Aulatjut.

"I tried sewing my first pair when my son was three years old, so this time I sewed for my mom.

"I really learned a lot during the program, not only in sewing but also in life issues.

"I feel like I am a better person for taking part in this."

Aulatjut said she's had psoriasis for about three years now, and that was the main reason she decided to take part in the program.

She said the program offered her a chance to help heal herself and look at where she's at in life.

"The doctors told me my psoriasis is from the stress in my life.

"So, I told my mom I would try my best to see where I'm at in life, and learn to sew at the same time.

"I was very impressed with the program and would recommend it to any woman in the Kivalliq who was thinking about taking it.

"I told my friends about it when I returned to Arviat, and also went on local radio to encourage other women to try and take part in it next year."

Aulatjut said she made new friends during the program and was very impressed by the instructors.

She said she hopes to get accepted back in the program next year.

"Somebody's Daughter was a very positive experience for me.

"I am going to try and go back next year and really hope they pick me."

Marlene Tulugak, 41, said she joined Somebody's Daughter because she wanted to learn how to sew traditional clothing, and clean and prepare skins properly.

She said she thoroughly enjoyed the camp.

"It was pretty much what I thought because we were notified of what to expect before it began," said Tulugak.

"It was really enjoyable and I learned a lot of different ways to take care of skins.

"It actually varies from community to community, and it was interesting to learn how someone from Repulse Bay or Arviat takes care of their caribou skins."

Tulugak said she enjoyed spending time with the elders and the other women in the program.

She said she learned a lot from both the elders and the other women.

"We learned from each other, and I'd highly recommend Somebody's Daughter to any woman thinking about applying to it. You really use what you learn when you go home, and I'm already working on making kamiik for my son.

"I've made mitts before, but this helped me learn how to prepare the sealskin for mitts and kamiik better.

"So, it's going to be a lot easier now and what I make will be a bit better too."