NUNAVUT - On Oct. 3, mothers gathered at locations across the territory to feed their babies in the annual Breastfeeding Challenge.

Sula Enuaraq, Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program's co-ordinator for Iqaluit, nurses her daughter Aaliyah Degrasse. Behind, Nunavut's territorial CPNP co-ordinator Vesselina Petkova enjoys one of the healthy snacks available at the event. - Gabriel Zarate/NNSL photo

Across Nunavut, 21 of the 25 communities registered to take part in the event. In Iqaluit, eight mothers gathered at the Public Health building.

"This is my first time taking part, but I've been breastfeeding forever," laughed Maani Brown.

Maani is presently breastfeeding her sixth child, most of whom were weaned only when their younger sibling arrived.

The Iqaluit co-ordinator of the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program was also a participant. Sula Enuaraq nursed her daughter Aaliyah Degrasse.

"I did this last year, but there wasn't as many last year. But this year it turned out pretty good," she said.

Enuaraq listed some of the health benefits of breastfeeding, both for babies and their mothers. Children who are breastfed get fewer infections than those on formula, and mothers who breastfeed are less likely to get breast cancer in later life.

She also pointed out that breastfeeding saves mothers a lot of money in Nunavut, where formula must be shipped up from the south.

Among the participating communities was Taloyoak, where roughly 14 mothers took part, according to community health worker Annie Buchan. The event consisted of eating healthy snacks and watching presentations about the benefits of breastfeeding, including a history of breastfeeding in Inuit culture.

"It's a traditional way for Inuit for thousands of years," Buchan said. "If we didn't have breastfeeding, we wouldn't be here."

Buchan said breastfeeding is beneficial to babies, provided the breastfeeding mothers maintain a proper diet.

"It's free and it's safest, so as long as they (mothers) eat healthy," she said. "We feel that it's a traditional way; it's a cheap and safe way and it's best for the baby."

The territorial co-ordinator of the program said breastfeeding fell out of fashion for a time in Canada with the introduction of baby formula.

"You rarely see a woman breastfeed in a mall in Montreal, for instance," said Vesselina Petkova.

Petkova said a study based out of Qikiqtani General Hospital found Nunavummiut mothers are much more likely to breastfeed than the national average.

The World Health Organization recommends babies be breastfed for at least six months, Petkova said.