SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Even if you've just met Dr. Pertice Moffitt, you feel like old friends. Sitting in her office at Aurora College, her bubbly demeanor makes any topic seem worthy of discussion.

However, when asked about her work preventing violence against women in the territory, she really comes alive - eyes dancing she is full of ideas and insight - and a normally sombre topic suddenly contains a glimmer of hope.

Dr. Pertice Moffitt was recently given one of five Wise Women awards by the Status of Women Council for her work as a community activist and champion for women's rights. Moffitt teaches at Aurora College. - Meagan Leonard/ NNSL photo

This past weekend, in conjunction with International Women's Day, Moffitt was one of five women honoured with a Wise Women Award from the Status of Women council for her work in the community.

Since 1992, nominees from across the territory have been given the award. Executive director Lorraine Phaneuf says it is meant to appreciate regular women who are actively improving their communities.

"Sometimes we have women who are well-known in the territory, but often it's women who have done lots of volunteer work in their communities, who have just led beautiful, healthy lives and have just been a complete asset to their community - you don't have to be Barbara Walters to win," she laughs.

Moffitt was a no-brainer, said Phaneuf, having been involved in social activism for most of her 25 years in Yellowknife. A member of the coalition against family violence, she takes part in annual events in the city including Take Back the Night and the Montreal Massacre vigil.

"She's done lots for the community, she's always the first one there to help out with workshops, presentations or to be standing there with her sign against violence against women," says Phaneuf. "But she's also done a lot of research around issues concerning women . that's the beauty of the awards, it's so diverse how women win."

Moffitt says her research is what directed her toward social activism. She has studied the integration of culture among women at the college, the health beliefs and practices of Tlicho women during pregnancy and most recently intimate partner violence - in many ways when it comes to speaking out, she says she didn't have a choice.

"As you're talking and doing that work, you start to develop this, 'gee you know we need to have more equality, we need to address these issues,'" Moffitt said. "It makes you realize you want to make a difference and you get kind of ignited with the idea of it."

Although there is still much work to be done, Moffitt says she is constantly inspired by the power and resilience women already possess and their natural ability to survive the darkest of situations.

"We need to walk that path a little bit to see that women are pretty strong. A lot of women can resist some of these things that are happening in the littlest ways," she said.

"We always want to come from a strength-based place, rather than a deficit and say, what is their resilience, what is their strength because if you're looking at things always from a deficit it makes you feel bad."

Looking forward, Moffitt says she is considering running for MLA where she says woman are grossly underrepresented in order to give a political voice to many of the issues she continues to fight for. She says often if you start by trying to address one small issue, it has a ripple effect through many others.

"We're not going to stop violence overnight, but maybe if we talk about it and try to figure out ways to make changes ... we know we need to work harder with mental health which influences violence, which influences quality of life so it's all these things," she says. "It's all related."

An inspiring figure to many, when asked who she admires, Moffitt answers without skipping a beat.

"My mother," she says firmly. "She was a very strong woman and I think when you have someone like that in your life - just very loving and who cared deeply about her community - I think we do influence our children very much."

Ultimately, Moffitt says having positive female role models, such as those recognized at the Wise Women awards, is what makes the difference.

"When you see these positive women role models, that does have a ripple effect, that just makes every other woman want to be like that woman," she says.

When asked how she feels about receiving the award, Moffitt's bubbly chattiness somewhat subsides, and her answer is humble.

"I think you receive the award on behalf of all the women," she said.

"It just brings tears to your eyes and it was really powerful - it makes all your work worthwhile."