Amber Aglukark, president of Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council, in addition to her new role as city councillor, first got involved with community leadership and advocacy as a result of dog-sledding.
Coming from a long line of mushers, Aglukark SA国际影视传媒渞eally started with my passion for this work here in [Iqaluit], training and running a dog-team and having my son included. I had a desire [to be part] of a group that [promotes] the culture of Nunavut and wanting to be a part of that [process], as well as being a mother and daughter in this territory, and how I could pass [our traditions] onSA国际影视传媒� I wanted to ensure that the tradition continues with my son and his children.SA国际影视传媒�
While she helped to support a dog-team, when dealing with policy, she SA国际影视传媒渘aturally came into a leadership role.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淓ven if you canSA国际影视传媒檛 speak Inuktitut, you can still be involved with Inuit culture,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Aglukark explains how the dog-sledding advocacy transitioned into womenSA国际影视传媒檚 advocacy.
SA国际影视传媒淣ot many women were [traditionally] in dog-teaming. The main mode of transportation was designed for the men. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 now 2024. We are just as strong. We are just as capable of taking on [that role], and the role of empowering our peers, empowering our community. So when the Qulliit opportunity came along, I knew it was a great way to take forward my advocacy to a new landscape.SA国际影视传媒�
Aglukark has been president of Qulliit since October 2022.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been an eye-opener SA国际影视传媒� an education on how we provide Nunavummiut of all different backgrounds with the [history and traditions of the territory],SA国际影视传媒� she says.
Qulliit is an advisory council comprising nine female members of different backgrounds from across Nunavut. They are appointed by the minister responsible for the Status of Women, each serving a one- to three-year term.
The body was created in April 2001 as part of the Council of Women Act (1999), and SA国际影视传媒渟upports changes and advocates for change in issues affecting women, in education, health, justice, economic development, housing, employment, leadership and culture.SA国际影视传媒�
The organizationSA国际影视传媒檚 main priorities centre around promoting awareness of gendered violence, with such events as the Dec. 6 National Day of Remembrance and Violence Against Women, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG SA国际影视传媒� or Red Shirt Day) event set for May 5 this year. Regarding the latter, Qulliit has put a territory-wide call-out for artists to contribute their works for consideration in the event presentation. Other areas of dedication are cultural preservation, particularly the furthering of accessibility of education and services for women in underserved communities on topics including reproductive health and sexual education.
SA国际影视传媒淣unavummiut know the work we do is for good reason, whether its dog-sledding, or sewing, or art in any formSA国际影视传媒� the work that we provide, the meetings that we attend, the things on our vision board, the events we put on, is in order to provide those sage places [for women]. The work we put in is for a strong present and future Nunavut by providing the platform to talk forward and take a standSA国际影视传媒� ItSA国际影视传媒檚 meaningful work we we want to provide as women and give back to our territory.SA国际影视传媒�
She also keeps her son and other youth in mind to SA国际影视传媒渆nsure the voice I have [through Qulliit] plays a role in the next generation SA国际影视传媒� my sonSA国际影视传媒檚 generationSA国际影视传媒� I want to leave behind a legacy for [him].
Aglukark recently took on another leadership role as IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 newest city councillor, sworn in Feb. 27.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 finding it more concentrated, more serious work. From my advocacy work, I can provide insight ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen as Qulliq president [to my role as councillor].SA国际影视传媒�
For other young women in the community looking to pursue work as advocates for women, Aglukark has a message.
SA国际影视传媒淭he work I have come to achieve is purely from my own willingness [to volunteer]. The work we doSA国际影视传媒s [motivated] by the passion our council shares to [being] a safe space facilitator.
SA国际影视传媒淚 simply want to use my voice to show that women can be just as loved and valued.SA国际影视传媒�
