IGLULIK - About 40 women learned to make soap and flags, play guitar, paint and light a qulliq at Iglulik's inaugural women's gathering earlier this month.

Benedict Uttak, left, helps other women make flags at Iglulik's inaugural women's gathering held earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Maren Vsetula

Maren Vsetula, Iglulik's director of recreation, and two other women decided they wanted to help women build confidence and give them a time to be together. All three had similar positive experiences with women's gatherings in other parts of Canada, she added.

"We felt that gatherings like that can really empower women through confidence and self-esteem and just lift spirits a bit," she said.

About 40 adult women participated in the gathering at Ataguttaaluk High School on Aug. 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. Five workshops - how to paint, light a qulliq, make homemade soap, play guitar and make flags - were presented.

"It's also a chance for women to be exposed to different hobbies or skills that they may want to become more involved with," said Vsetula.

Vsetula described soap making as a nice, calming activity where women worked with different scents and flowers and went home with at least one piece of soap.

Kango Akittirq made a mint-scented soap.

"I really enjoyed it because we had to do a hands-on with that soap - cut it out, boil it and frost it," she said. "I enjoyed gathering with women, doing little activities."

Another popular activity was the qulliq lighting, where an elder volunteered to show how they are lit and how they should be tended.

Sarah Medill, an Iglulik resident in her early 30s, participated in that workshop.

"It was very good. A bit of a language barrier but I think it was really good to learn that sort of traditional skill," she said.

She added she will participate in subsequent gatherings.

"It just seemed it would be an interesting way to spend my afternoon and get a chance to meet more people in the community."

Vsetula said they were really happy with the turnout at the first gathering and are looking forward to holding one once a month featuring different activities.

"Everybody had a really positive time. It exceeded our expectations. We were really happy with the turnout," she said. "I was really happy with the way people got involved with the different activities we had there and it was just very positive, sort of heart-warming event."

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