The power of interaction
Coral kamik program provides traditional, social benefits
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
CORAL HARBOUR
Twenty participants took part in a kamiik-making program through the Community Justice Outreach program in Coral Harbour this past month.
The program was organized and run by Community Justice Outreach worker Ruth Eetuk-Pootoolik.
Community justice specialist Jessie Baxter of Rankin Inlet said funding for the program was provided by the Department of Culture and Heritage. Baxter said Eetuk-Pootoolik ran a kamiik-making program this past year that was so popular, she decided to run it again.
She said one of the justice committee members was actively involved in delivering the program, and was always on hand for support and guidance for the participants.
"The Community Justice Outreach worker, with support from the justice committee, runs many programs in the community that contribute to community wellness and crime prevention," said Baxter. "Ruth (Eetuk-Pootoolik) says these programs are successful because they give the participants a chance to get out of their homes, socialize with other women and develop their skills and selfconfidence. This gives them time to create a bond, share traditional knowledge and reconnect with their elders.
"The elders have a lot of knowledge and skills and are the best people to go to with questions and advice."
Eetuk-Pootoolik said the program had 16 participants in two groups of eight in 2014.
She said this year's program had one group of eight and a second group of 12.
"Every participant made their own pair of kamiik by the time the program ended," said Eetuk-Pootoolik.
"We had two elder instructors for the first group and hired three more elders to help with the second group.
"The program started in mid-September and ended in the final week of November.
"It's also a social gathering which really helps boost the women's motivation, and increases their self-confidence in developing their own skills."
Eetuk-Pootoolik said many of the women in the second group had never made a pair of kamiik before.
She said this year's program may have been expensive to run, but it was highly successful and made a positive impact on every participant.
"The program was fairly costly because we used ring seals for the leg part of the kamik and bearded seal, which is more difficult to find, for the sole parts.
"We also just finished a very successful elder's sewing program funded through Brighter Futures.
"The program got the elders out of their homes for three hours a day, which contributed to such a positive outcome.
"The social aspect of these programs cannot be overlooked because they can have such a positive effect on a participant who may, possibly, be dealing with issues that are difficult to overcome."
