The Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 first women and girls wellness program wrapped up in Iqaluit last week, and there could soon be other events like it in communities across the territory.

The program, which ran from May 20-23 in the citySA国际影视传媒檚 Sailijaaqvik boarding home, was a collaboration between the Departments of Health, Culture and Heritage, Family Services, and Education, as well as the Nunavut Arctic College.

It was created in response to SA国际影视传媒渢he unique set of health and wellness challengesSA国际影视传媒� faced by women and girls in the territory, according to Deputy Minister of Health Megan Hunt.

SA国际影视传媒淭his was really an opportunity to empower women and girls to be in a safe space and to talk about and experience sessions that really meet their needs,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The program was free and open to Nunavummiut who identify as women or girls. It began with a prayer and ceremonial lighting of the qulliq by local Elder Natsiq Kango, and continued with information sessions covering a range of topics including mental health, safe sleep, menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, birth control, motherhood, breast cancer, sexual violence, and eating disorders. Activities like beading, sewing and craft-making were also integrated into the schedule. There were interpreters on site for the duration to ensure information was relayed clearly.

Dr. Terri Aldred, a B.C.-based Indigenous physician who specializes in womenSA国际影视传媒檚 health, was the facilitator for the program.

She sought to cultivate an atmosphere of SA国际影视传媒渃ultural safety and humilitySA国际影视传媒� throughout.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really wanted to tailor [the program] to meet the needs of the people who were there,SA国际影视传媒� Dr. Aldred said. SA国际影视传媒淧eople have said that they learned quite a bit.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here was certainly no shortage of questions. The first day we ran over by half an hour because people were so engaged and had so many things they wanted to ask.SA国际影视传媒�

Hunt, who was in attendance for the duration of the Iqaluit event, is pleased with the way it went, but is adamant that it was SA国际影视传媒渁 starting place not and ending place.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭his is our first approach with this series,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淥ur goal would be to take this throughout the territory to other locations. It can be a barrier for folks, traveling and those kinds of things, so we really want to meet people where theySA国际影视传媒檙e at and bring health care providers and other departments more locally.SA国际影视传媒�

Dr. Aldred shares that opinion, noting that there is still much work to be done in terms of womens health in Nunavut.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen weSA国际影视传媒檙e talking about health inequities in Canada, the disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people is quite stark and not in keeping with what we would consider appropriate with an industrialized nation,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淒ue to the impacts of colonialism and racism, indigenous women and children SA国际影视传媒搃ncluding those in Nunavut SA国际影视传媒� do have higher rates of illness.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 think opportunities for knowledge translation and for people to come together and ask questions and to learn in this way is really important.SA国际影视传媒�