SA国际影视传媒淗ow do you take something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 broadly good, and tailor it to the local context?SA国际影视传媒� asks Fariya Mohiuddin, senior program officer, tax and policy (global) at the International Budget Partnership.

This is a key piece of the puzzle when dealing with structural issues in remote Northern Indigenous communities.

SA国际影视传媒淥ften, the book needs to be rewritten,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

This is what Nicole White and her team at Moon Time Connections (MTC), the federal government, and scholars at the University of Saskatchewan are attempting to do when tackling the issue of inequality of access to menstrual products in Canada.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 what is colloquially referred to as SA国际影视传媒減eriod poverty.SA国际影视传媒�

According to a groundbreaking study conducted last year in partnership with MTC, the University of Saskatchewan, and local community partners, 74 per cent of Indigenous women and girls living in remote communities in Canada described themselves as having difficulty in accessing sanitary products SA国际影视传媒渙ftenSA国际影视传媒� or SA国际影视传媒渟ometimesSA国际影视传媒� in their communities. A further 24 per cent reported being unable to get the necessary products at all (either being unavailable or out of stock at community stores), and 23 per cent indicated that even if available, those products are generally unaffordable.

A single box of tampons can cost up to $24 in a remote community, and if it comes down to a choice between essential items such as food, rent, or buying menstrual products, hard decisions need to be made that leave females at a distinct disadvantage SA国际影视传媒� and this does not take into account additional factors such as the wage gap.

White and her team are leading the charge by raising awareness, including in Parliament. The preliminary findings of the first study on the subject, presented by a delegation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women last June, were later published in a report titled SA国际影视传媒楲etSA国际影视传媒檚 Talk about it, Period: Achieving Menstrual Equity in CanadaSA国际影视传媒� in November 2023.

SA国际影视传媒淯ntil today,SA国际影视传媒� reads the press release from MTC, SA国际影视传媒渢here has been no research, scholarly or otherwise, into the specific nature of menstrual inequity in Indigenous communities in Canada, nor has there been any research focusing on the unique needs of menstruators in remote and rural locations. This despite the fact that research has demonstrated location is a key indicator for period inequity and price disparities are widely documented.SA国际影视传媒�

The lack of the raw data before last year was a barrier to addressing period poverty in Northern Indigenous communities, such as those in Nunavut and the NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is deep community mistrust of information gathering, particularly in health-related matters, and the extraction of data/researchSA国际影视传媒�SA国际影视传媒� White says. SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous peoples have long been studied, but not heard and supported.SA国际影视传媒�

Gathering the necessary data also involves access to and trust within Indigenous communities that is often problematic due to historical abuses of population studies, compounded by cultural taboos.

SA国际影视传媒淭he only reason this [research] was possible,SA国际影视传媒� says White, SA国际影视传媒渨as because of strong relationships with Northern partners,SA国际影视传媒� including a full spectrum of community relationships, such as schools, health providers, local Elders and leaders, etc.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 really proud of the work we did,SA国际影视传媒� she says.

Not projecting virtues

In addition to collecting and disseminating the information, MTC, a not-for-profit organization that gets most of its funding from the Government of Canada, SA国际影视传媒渋s the only national Indigenous-led organizationSA国际影视传媒� providing the sanitary products to these communities. MTCSA国际影视传媒檚 primary objective is to offer a range of menstruation products, free of charge, and ship them to remote Northern communities. Nunavummiut can request products by contacting the Ontario Chapter-Lead of MTC on the True North Aid website. https://truenorthaid.ca/project/moon-time-connections/

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of Moon Time ConnectionsSA国际影视传媒� key principles,SA国际影视传媒� reads the final report, titled An Assessment of Menstrual-Related Needs in Northern Communities, SA国际影视传媒渋s to ensure mindfulness to not project our own virtues and prescribe solutions that are unwanted or inappropriate for Indigenous communities. For example, one might feel the instinctive solution would be reusable cups. However, cups can be difficult to maintain if clean tap water is unavailable, as is the case for many remote Northern communities. This principle is essential to serve communities effectively and with dignity and ensure that the products being shipped are being used and reflect preferences of menstruators. Menstrual product availability questions were included for a deeper understanding of the shortages experienced in remote Northern communities.SA国际影视传媒�

MTC also invests in going into remote communities and fostering an inclusive community of open dialogue in order to best educate and serve menstruatorsSA国际影视传媒� needs. This includes a full range of menstrual products (disposable pads, tampons, cloth pads, period underwear, menstrual cups and menstrual discs).

SA国际影视传媒淲e give them something to try, and they decide what works for them,SA国际影视传媒� says White. SA国际影视传媒淲e try and meet people where theySA国际影视传媒檙e at. Being able to touch something demystifies itSA国际影视传媒� weSA国际影视传媒檙e using a de-colonized lens to support menstruators in remote communities.SA国际影视传媒�

In this way, remote Indigenous communities might have first time exposure to reusable products.

SA国际影视传媒淭he great part about this [community engagement] was finding out there was a desire around reusables,SA国际影视传媒� explains White.

Once it was determined there was an interest, MTC and policymakers can then design products and programs around the community.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou solve the problem for everyone and have the necessary equity impact by making the products free, including sustainable options,SA国际影视传媒� says Mohiuddin. SA国际影视传媒淚f you think about efficiency and efficacy of policy, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 proper bang for your buck.SA国际影视传媒�

In terms of price point, the initial investment in reusables might make legislators and consumers balk, but the quality of the product, the continuing use and value, and the long-term savings has MTC encouraging Indigenous menstruators to try an initial pair of period panties.

SA国际影视传媒淐learly, if people like something, theySA国际影视传媒檒l come back for more,SA国际影视传媒� says White. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e[allowing] people to explore and find what works for them.SA国际影视传媒� An investment in reusable products might appear to be cost-prohibitive, but in remote communities, a reusable item can be more practical than relying on potentially interrupted deliveries of one-time use sanitary items, which add up over time. This is not to mention the impact on the environment in areas that might not have the necessary waste disposal sites, which is often problematic in Northern communities.

Ripple effect

SA国际影视传媒淢enstrual products are still considered a luxury [item]SA国际影视传媒� if we can provide [them], that provides space [that would otherwise] be used in [a menstruatorSA国际影视传媒檚] monthly budgeting. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 one less thing for them and their family to worry aboutSA国际影视传媒� This is why I love what I do,SA国际影视传媒� enthuses White. SA国际影视传媒淗ow powerful that we can provide that space to talk about it, and its not shrouded in shameSA国际影视传媒� it creates ripple effects for discussion for further generations.SA国际影视传媒�

For now, White and her team at MTC are concentrating on expanding the network and discussion.

The report submitted to Parliament contains 11 recommendations.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of our advice,SA国际影视传媒� comments White, proudly, SA国际影视传媒渢he first three of those points were focusing on Indigenous peoples.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we are on our way to having this conversation within our nation for sureSA国际影视传媒� WeSA国际影视传媒檝e got a ways to go for [this issue] to be explained to all leadership, to all members [of Canadian society].SA国际影视传媒�

White and her collaborators are certainly making inroads in this context, and particularly with the women that sustain these Northern Indigenous communities.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople get hung up on process,SA国际影视传媒� says Mohiuddin of policymakers and those attempting work in the Indigenous context. SA国际影视传媒淸They] donSA国际影视传媒檛 think enough about SA国际影视传媒榃hat are we trying to achieve? And how can we get there in the current circumstances?SA国际影视传媒� ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very Western to get so stuck in needing to follow the process by the book.SA国际影视传媒�