Youth tackle tough issues at Inuit summit in Iqaluit
Open talk about suicide, identity, language and cultural survival
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, August 31, 2015
IQALUIT
Suicide prevention and forging a cultural identity in a capitalist world are top issues facing Inuit youth today, whether they are from Nunavut or Greenland.
Delegates at the 10th National Inuit Youth Summit discuss key issues during a week of meetings in Iqaluit. From left to right are Kivalliq representative Delilah Netser, Qikiqtani representative Becky Kilabuk, Kitikmeot representative Sarah Jancke and Nunatsiavut representative Heather Arnatok. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
The 10th National Inuit Youth Summit wrapped up in Iqaluit last week, with more than 70 Inuit youth attending from across the circumpolar North.
"We gathered together to discuss priorities that are important to Inuit youth," said Maatalii Okalik, an Iqaluit resident who was recently elected president of the National Inuit Youth Council.
Those priorities are broad, including education, language, culture, health, employment, politics, governance and more.
Suicide was one tough issue delegates took on, which was echoed by Greenland representatives. Rather than shy away from the subject, which hits close to home for many Nunavummiut, youth postponed one part of the event to open the floor up to even more discussion on tackling the issue.
"There are a number of reasons why individuals feel that is a last resort," said Okalik.
"There's a deep connection between our short history as a people in terms of our subsistence way of life to the way of life that we live today."
Strengthening language and culture was identified as a solution to how individuals see themselves, and so was allowing a space for dialogue.
"Removing the negative stigma around conversing around suicide was identified as a potential solution or a kickstart for a solution," said Okalik.
Inuit youth are keen on becoming educated and filling frontline service positions, she said.
Key to Inuit cultural identity is spending time on the land, but marrying that with a world where earning an income is a necessity represents a shift in lifestyle.
"The traditional activities associated with being on the land, the water or the ice, camping and hunting are integral to our identities as Inuit," said Okalik. "Because we live in this capital economy, in order to survive today we have to be working to get cash in order to pay for the necessities of life. There's a decline of accessibility to being on the land and that whole element of our being is missing or it's not full."
Youth identified during the summit that on-the-land programs and traditional activities would help revitalize that part of themselves and ensure a more wholesome identity, she said. Going to school or work while feeling strong as an individual becomes more meaningful.
Okalik said those programs should be more available in school.
She was inspired by the week of meetings and discussions between youth.
"It was a really invigorating experience," said Okalik. "As Inuit youth, it can often feel that when you're trying to be a role model, make healthy choices and find the avenues in your own capacity to positively influence the future of your community or region, it can be lonely.
"Meeting together in the summit reaffirms the reality that a large number of Inuit want to do the same thing, be contributing members to their community and society as a whole. It was very uplifting in that respect."
The next National Inuit Youth Summit will be held in 2017.
