INUVIK
A stack of mugs, all shapes and sizes, sits in the middle of the table in the Inuvik Victim Services building. Scrawled on each mug is an inspirational quote, written by women who attended the first women's group weekly session.

Kat Scarf, left, outreach program co-ordinator for the Inuvik Justice Committee, and Ali McConnell, program co-ordinator, are spearheading a new women's group in Inuvik. The mugs they are holding with inspirational quotes written on them were the result of one of the first two meetings the group had in January. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

Organized through the Inuvik Justice Committee, the group is a space for women of all ages to come together, learn and share knowledge.

Group organizer Ali McConnell said she wanted to start the group because of a gap in after-hours activities for women in the community.

"The goal is to have a safe space for women to gather and share knowledge," said McConnell.

Inspired by a successful women's group in Fort Good Hope run by Doris Manuel, McConnell said women in the community have been aching for a group like this where they can gather. Making the group all ages came at the request of women who joined the group earlier this month when it first started.

"We saw it as a good opportunity to share knowledge through generations and talk about the challenges they've faced in their lifetime," she said.

Kat Scarf, outreach program co-ordinator, said the lack of programs specifically for women in Inuvik was something residents here noticed, and were wanting.

"They see the other communities have women's groups and they wanted one of their own," said Scarf.

A big part of the group's philosophy is participants help shape what the group does for activities, said McConnell.

"It's what they want it to be," she said. "What type of programming is more fun? Programming you had a say in, or that you're told is good for you?"

It's simple, said McConnell. They wanted to provide a program that would help strengthen the relationship among women in the community and between women and their community.

At their first meeting, McConnell and Scarf opened up the floor to the women who came to find out what they would like to do each week. The mix of suggestions - from sewing, cooking and spa nights to learning First Aid and self defence - was indicative of the desire to learn and have fun with other women.

"It's important to give them a chance to gain knowledge they want that they might not be able to get otherwise," said McConnell. "I think elders bring a lot of knowledge and hold an important position in the community. They have a lot of valuable knowledge that younger generations can learn from."

For both women, Wednesday nights have quickly become one of their favourite nights of the week.

"It's really special to be in a room with women to share without judgment and to sew and cook."

The group meets Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Interagency Building behind the Catholic Church.