1. Presentation to the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada Health Canada Research Meeting Research Meeting Montreal Marriott Chateau Champlain April 16 – 18 2008 Jennifer Dickson, Executive Director

2. Meeting the Needs of Inuit Women and their Communities Researchers, Policy Makers and Inuit Women Pauktuutit’s Vision Pauktuutit’s vision is to be a dynamic, visible, influential organization, supporting Inuit women and providing leadership, voice and excellence for the betterment of Inuit women, their families and communities.

3. About Pauktuutit Representatives on Pauktuutit’s Board  North Qikitani (Baffin)  South Qikitani Baffin)  Kitikmeot  Kivalliq  Inuvialuit  Nunavik Hudson  Nunavik Ungava  Nunatsiavut  Urban  Youth Mission Pauktuutit works to foster greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women, to advocate for equity and social improvements, and to encourages the participation of Inuit women in the Community, regional and national life of Canada.

4. Diabetes Diabetes Early Childhood Development Early Childhood Development Family Violence Family Violence Housing Crisis Housing Crisis Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Gender in Decision Making Gender in Decision Making Teen Pregnancy Teen Pregnancy Sexual Health Sexual Health Gender Equity Gender Equity Protection of Cultural and Traditional Knowledge Protection of Cultural and Traditional Knowledge Home and Community Caregivers Home and Community Caregivers International issues and the United Nations International issues and the United Nations Economic Development Economic Development Environment Environment Injury Prevention Injury Prevention Justice and Corrections Justice and Corrections Tobacco Reduction Tobacco Reduction Youth rights and Issues Youth rights and Issues Midwifery Midwifery Pauktuutit Activities

5. Stronger Tools for Decision Making and Research Gender-based Analysis (GBA) Culturally Relevant Gender Based Analysis Inuit Specific Culturally Relevant Gender Based Analysis Pauktuutit’s Culturally Relevant Gender-based Analysis Tool

7. Process Phase I – Draft the Inuit Gender- based Analysis Framework and Draft Core Set of Inuit Women Health Indicators. Phase I – Draft the Inuit Gender- based Analysis Framework and Draft Core Set of Inuit Women Health Indicators. Phase II – Clarification, Validation, Input to the Framework and Report. Phase II – Clarification, Validation, Input to the Framework and Report. Phase III – Implementation. Phase III – Implementation.

8. The Tool What is the Inuit GBA Multi-use tool? Pauktuutit’s multi-use tool uses the Inuit GBA Framework to focus attention on issues of Inuit health and gender in a way that reflects an Inuit perspective. The multi-use tool foregrounds certain themes that Inuit delegates to the national GBA workshop gave more prominence to; these themes are grouped under three headings : 1. Elders, culture, language, family, community and spirituality; 2. Land, weather, animals and country food and 3. National Canadian economy, institutions and government

9. Example Climate Change Climate Change

10. Results Feedback from Inuit stakeholders was remarkably consistent with the findings of the literature review in suggesting central themes for an Inuit-specific determinants framework. These themes make up the core of the Inuit Gender-based Analysis Framework, making it the first framework of culturally relevant health determinants for Inuit Feedback from Inuit stakeholders was remarkably consistent with the findings of the literature review in suggesting central themes for an Inuit-specific determinants framework. These themes make up the core of the Inuit Gender-based Analysis Framework, making it the first framework of culturally relevant health determinants for Inuit

11. Discussion 1.Why disaggregate Inuit-specific health data? A more accurate assessment of Inuit health conditions is only possible if Inuit health data are separated from non-Inuit data. Without Inuit-specific comparable data gathered from all Inuit in all jurisdictions, it is difficult to notice trends, diagnose problems or recommend remedial action. A more accurate assessment of Inuit health conditions is only possible if Inuit health data are separated from non-Inuit data. Without Inuit-specific comparable data gathered from all Inuit in all jurisdictions, it is difficult to notice trends, diagnose problems or recommend remedial action.

12. Discussion 2. Why not use the same health determinants for Inuit and non-Aboriginal Canadians? Non-Aboriginal frameworks of health determinants which tend to focus on income, life expectancy and credentialed educational attainment may overlook measurements of well-being that are important to Inuit but are non-existent or non-remarkable in Euro- Canadian culture. Non-Aboriginal frameworks of health determinants which tend to focus on income, life expectancy and credentialed educational attainment may overlook measurements of well-being that are important to Inuit but are non-existent or non-remarkable in Euro- Canadian culture.

13. Discussion 3.Why create separate indicators and determinants for Inuit and First Nations? While disaggregating Inuit health indicators is important, noting and respecting differences in determinants between Inuit and First nations is also important. Inuit and First Nations are different cultures; with different experiences, languages, histories, geography, politics, social relations, values and beliefs. These differences merit respect and accommodation in developing separate First Nations and Inuit health determinants frameworks. While disaggregating Inuit health indicators is important, noting and respecting differences in determinants between Inuit and First nations is also important. Inuit and First Nations are different cultures; with different experiences, languages, histories, geography, politics, social relations, values and beliefs. These differences merit respect and accommodation in developing separate First Nations and Inuit health determinants frameworks.

14. Discussion 4.Why employ a gender-based analysis of health data One of the striking observations from Pauktuutit’s research is that although there is some desegregation of data by sex (for example, SLiCA surveys separate all findings by male/female) there is little or no research on gender—on social and cultural roles of Inuit women and men and how these might impact health. This gap in itself speaks to the need for an Inuit GBA and determinants that illuminate the interaction between gender roles and health of Inuit. One of the striking observations from Pauktuutit’s research is that although there is some desegregation of data by sex (for example, SLiCA surveys separate all findings by male/female) there is little or no research on gender—on social and cultural roles of Inuit women and men and how these might impact health. This gap in itself speaks to the need for an Inuit GBA and determinants that illuminate the interaction between gender roles and health of Inuit.

15. www.pauktuutit.ca Pauktuutit’s Internet site is a source of Inuit- specific resources on a wide range of topics and issues. The Inuit Way: A Guide to Inuit Culture introduces Inuit culture past and present. Keepers of the Light: Inuit women’s Action Plan details Pauktuutit’s priority action areas.

16. Thank You PAUKTUUTIT INUIT WOMEN OF CANADA Suite 400 56 Sparks Street Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1P 5A9 613-238-3977 www.pauktuutit.ca Jennifer Dickson Executive Director jdickson@pauktuutit.ca