Traditional Teachings: Rosemarie Kuptana

Event Details

• Tuesday, November 29, 2016
  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  
  Building: Gzowski College First Peoples House of Learning
  Room: The Gathering Space
  Cost: Free

All are invited to attend the Traditional Teaching workshop by Elder Rosemarie Kuptana.

Born in Sachs Harbour in the Banks Island in Canada’s Western Arctic, Ms. Kuptana has worked for the advancement of Inuit language and culture and has been a tireless leader in the area of human rights since 1975. 

Ms. Kuptana served as the President of the Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) between 1983- 1988 and during this time, she played a vital role in developing a communications system to express and reflect Inuit culture and society. She has also represented Inuit in other forms, including serving as co-chair of the International Artic Council and, from 1986 to 1989, as the Canadian vice-president of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference.

Ms. Kuptana researched and published No More Secrets, an examination of child sexual abuse in Inuit communities for Pautuutit, the national Inuit women’s association. The work has helped Inuit across Canada better recognize and treat this extremely difficult problem.

In April 1991, Ms. Kuptana was elected to a three-year term as president of the ITC, the national voice of Canada’s 35,000 Inuit. In addition to its self-government efforts, under the Ms. Kuptana’s leadership, the ITC has participated in research and represented Inuit on Arctic environmental issues, pursued acknowledgement of human rights abuses in the relocation of Inuit to the High Arctic during the 1950s, assisted in the settlement of Inuit land claims and developed educational and other programs for Inuit youth.

Ms. Kuptana has received the order of Canada and the Governor General’s Confederation Medal. In 1992, she was named to Maclean’s Hounour Role and was selected as Up Here magazine’s Northerner of the Year. Ms. Kuptana’s cultural and political influence reaches beyond the Arctic.  Whether in Ottawa, Moscow or Geneva, she is recognized as a strong advocate for the right of indigenous peoples to self-determination and self-government.

Contact Info

Shari Beaver sharibeaver@trentu.ca