Leaning on culture and openly talking about the past will heal communities afflicted by the ongoing impacts of colonialism, testified an expert at MondaySA国际影视传媒檚 MMIWG hearing in Iqaluit.

SA国际影视传媒�(Inuit) have seen a lot of changes in our lives. There are a lot of things I went through that confuse me,SA国际影视传媒� said Elisapee Davidee Aningmiuq, describing federal day school abuse, which instilled shame toward Inuit culture.

Davidee Aningmiuq offers cultural programming in support of community health and well-being with the Tukisigiarvik centre.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey were putting us down as Inuit for speaking Inuktitut. It was like a SA国际影视传媒榥ot good enoughSA国际影视传媒� sign on your chest,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

In federal day school teachers forbade her from speaking Inuktitut and struck her with a ruler as punishment.

The abuse staff at day schools perpetrated resulted in a fraught relationship with her own children, who she would scold over the use of English in her home, she said tearfully.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of all of the lies that I believed about myself, I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 live a very healthy lifestyle. The tears are, because ISA国际影视传媒檓 sorry to my children. ISA国际影视传媒檓 sorry that I scolded my children,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was me going against those that were telling me not to speak my language. It was stuff that was coming out from the deepest part of me that was damaged.SA国际影视传媒�

In her youth, while simultaneously being shamed for her own language, a priest remarked on her inability to make kamik, or traditional footwear.

In consultations with homeless and marginalized people in Iqaluit, Davidee Aningmiuq realized there was no support for single mothers and children to go out on the land, which led to Tukisigiarvik's creation, she said.

The knowledge that hundreds of women have learned to make kamik through the program is a source of pride, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne elder, she got in a canoe. She said SA国际影视传媒榯his is the first time ISA国际影视传媒檝e been on a canoe since my husband died.SA国际影视传媒� and her husband had been dead for some 20 years,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

People without means to travel on the land, or who feel tied to their duties of child rearing, are reluctant to seek out cultural land-based activities, said Davidee Aningmiuq.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is so important to teach self-esteem building, to work side by side with people who have been oppressed for so long, SA国际影视传媒� to give them some hope,SA国际影视传媒� said Davidee Aningmiuq.

Inuit cultural organizations should have indefinite funding, rather than piecemeal short-term funding to sustain their operations, said Davidee Aningmiuq.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need financial assistance to be able to take people out on the land so that they can learn or re-learn some of the cultural activities that bring pride, that bring back self esteem, that bring back the diet. The diet is so very important to us too,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Listening to the radio, Davidee Aningmiuq said the tone of Inuit has become less angry because healing is taking place, but it must continue.

Over time Davidee Aningmiuq came to terms with her reluctance to speak the English language and dedicated herself to healing cultural programs.

SA国际影视传媒淗ealing needs to happen for us to start communicating and working together. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 important for people to have a place like that where theySA国际影视传媒檙e welcome, where they can get their identity back," she said.

Finally, Inuit are speaking their truths and opening up a dialogue about injustices they endured, and starting the healing process, said Davidee Aningmiuq

The colonial experience SA国际影视传媒渨as too painful for our parents for our elders,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t hurts me too when I think of how some Inuit would go to their local dump for food because they were relocated. They didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know the hunting grounds. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 only when we start talking about it and only when someone believes us that and we can continue to speak the truth that comes from us,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were so put down. When somebody breaks your soul itSA国际影视传媒檚 painful. The feeling you get afterwards (making kamik) is deep. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 very therapeutic,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes I wish my mother was here to see this. I wish that those women who encouraged me were here to see what I can do. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a lot of healing through them, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 been a lot of tears, a lot of joy, a lot of happiness.SA国际影视传媒�

Informal mental health supports underserve Inuit

Asked how the recommendations of the inquiry can be effective, Davidee Aningmiuq said policies must be made for and by Inuit.

Poor continuity at government agencies and frequent turnover of staff forces Inuit to explain their needs to new staff repeatedly, said Davidee Aningmiuq.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a SA国际影视传媒渉iccupSA国际影视传媒� in the system,SA国际影视传媒� said Davidee Aningmiuq.

Mental health facilities should operate at the community level, similar to the Ilisaqsivik centre in Clyde River because currently elders are SA国际影视传媒渨orking undergroundSA国际影视传媒� to help others in the community.

Individuals are providing services, sometimes at their own personal expense, she said, referring to a man who offered a sobering place for men until one night his house burned down.

In helping others struggling with homelessness, he too lost his own home.

SA国际影视传媒�(Elders) are the ones who get called at night, at all hours of the day. We need to formalize counselling and mental health facilities that can take people at any time. Not in three weeks, or when youSA国际影视传媒檙e in crisis, or when it's too late,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

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