Social and Economic Development

Pauktuutit’s Socio-Economic Department has a mandate to cover a broad range of social, economic and political issues. While promoting Inuit women’s economic development is currently a top priority, it is by no means the only focus. Following the strategic direction from the Board of Directors, other work includes the areas of political equality and supporting women’s leadership, education, the protection and promotion of traditional knowledge, resource extraction, environmental issues including climate change, and national and international engagement.

Previous initiatives have included increasing and enhancing child care supports and programming in Inuit communities and the first national workshop consultation on the protection of the amauti as an expression of Inuit women’s cultural and intellectual property. The socio-economic department has also produced an electronic newsletter entitled Arnait Tumingit – Women’s Footprints intended to share information and raise awareness about legal rights and political processes.

Since 1994, Pauktuutit has been a founding member (in Canada) and active participant in the Indigenous Women of the Americas network (ENLACE). ENLACE provides a forum for information exchange among indigenous women from more than 20 countries across the Americas, and the development of positions and interventions put forward at various international forums including the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Pauktuutit staff work with other internal departments, external partners, funders and community stakeholders to meet its mandate. This often means seeking the input and perspectives of community members, representatives of other Inuit organizations, elders, youth and the subject-matter experts who form project advisory committees. Pauktuutit’s work would not be possible without the generous support of like-minded partners who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of Inuit women and their families and communities.