Up until this summer Cynthia Tunguak had never worked with seal skin. Being from Baker Lake, NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 only inland community, Tunguak said the marine mammal isnSA国际影视传媒檛 traditionally used as a material for making clothing. That changed after she attended the SomebodySA国际影视传媒檚 Daughter program in Rankin Inlet this summer.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a good learning experience,SA国际影视传媒� Tunguak said.

SomebodySA国际影视传媒檚 Daughter was developed by Rankin InletSA国际影视传媒檚 Bernadette Dean when she was the social development coordinator for the Kivalliq Inuit Association in 2003.

The idea behind the program is to empower women who may have experienced intergenerational trauma as a result of residential schools.

Dean, who returned to help with the program as an instructor this year, said the goal is to mix traditional skills with more modern forms of healing like journaling and group discussions.

SA国际影视传媒淭he Elders at the time wanted to teach traditional skills and we incorporated the literacy and writing as healing components,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲ith the exercises we use we ask them to focus on their early memories, the good and the bad ones. When youSA国际影视传媒檙e honest with yourself theySA国际影视传媒檙e very effective in helping you heal.SA国际影视传媒�

Tunguak said the experience of working on the kamik and getting to talk with the other women was beneficial for her.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 been lots of healing and lots of laughs,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e talked about what weSA国际影视传媒檝e been through, how we grew up and what weSA国际影视传媒檙e planning for the future.SA国际影视传媒�

The women came from every community in the Kivalliq and were as young as 19 all the way up to 63-years-old.

This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 program was held in two phases. During the first phase, which ran from July 13-22 women from the region travelled to Rankin Inlet where they learned how to prepare seal skin.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 a total inlander so I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 like the smell but it was a good learning experience,SA国际影视传媒� said Tunguak.

During the second phase which ran from August 13 to 22 the women worked on making the kamik. Although it didnSA国际影视传媒檛 smell as bad, Tunguak said that sewing the bottoms of the kamik was the hardest part of the workshop.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I first started I almost cried. I had to keep taking it apart,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Dean said the between working on the kamik and sharing stories, the program can get pretty intense. However, by working through the process together the women end up building a support network.

SA国际影视传媒淚t can be very emotional but itSA国际影视传媒檚 very rewarding when youSA国际影视传媒檙e in touch with your culture,SA国际影视传媒� she said.