Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, on behalf of the Government of Canada, and Rebecca Kudloo, President of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada (PIWC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a whole-of-government relationship to address issues of common concern that directly affect the well-being and safety of Inuit women and children across Canada.

PIWC, as the national voice of Inuit women in Canada, has a key role to play in the renewal of the Inuit-Crown relationship and will help ensure it is rooted in gender equality. Based on trust, respect and cooperation, this MOU will help strengthen PIWC’s role, further their relationship with the Government of Canada, and promote greater progress in priority areas for Inuit women and children, such as the prevention of abuse and violence.

Objectives

The objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding are:

1. To establish a deeper, whole-of-government relationship to address the issues of common concern that directly affect the well-being and safety of Inuit women and children across Canada;
2. To provide levers to help ensure significant progress in priority areas for Inuit women, and to contribute to the broader goal of reconciliation and healing with all Indigenous Peoples;
3. To engage in a renewed partnership between Canada and Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, based on trust, respect and cooperation for mutual benefit; and
4. To identify and implement initiatives that will help to improve the quality of life of Inuit women across Canada.

The parties therefore agree that the following constitutes a preliminary list of the subject matter for realizing the objectives of this Memorandum of Understanding:

1. Hold biannual meetings of the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada and the President of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to monitor, evaluate and review mutual priorities and emerging issues to ensure the achievement of mutually desired outcomes, with the location and timing of meetings to be mutually agreed upon between the parties in order to complement the broader work undertaken by the Inuit-Crown Partnership Committee;
2. Jointly develop, review, evaluate and update the policies and programs of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, as a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s commitment to conduct a review of laws and policies related to Indigenous Peoples, based on evidence and best practices for the equal participation and benefit of Inuit women across Canada;
3. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to help facilitate biannual senior officials meetings between Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and other federal government departments with mandates impacting on the health, well-being, safety, and socio-economic development of Inuit women across Canada (e.g. Health Canada, Status of Women Canada, Public Safety Canada, Justice Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada), without presuming or prescribing the level or extent of engagement by other government departments; and
4. Develop and advance a meaningful, coordinated whole-of-government approach that is holistic and synergistic in order to enhance the capacity of Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada to partner with the federal government and other stakeholders on priority issues including, but not limited to, policy, research, communications and advocacy.

https://www.pauktuutit.ca/news/pauktuutit-inuit-women-of-canada-memorandum-of-understanding-with-indigenous-and-northern-affairs-canada/