Engaging Inuit Concerning Perinatal Health & Wellness: Developing Insights, Interests and an Approach to Action

European contact created unequal relations between men and women within Inuit communities. This has resulted in many problems in achieving the best health for mothers and their babies. For example, often women have to leave their families and communities to give birth. Our purpose is to involve Inuit in the community of Arviat, Nunavut, in identifying the most important issues affecting the health of mothers and babies. In addition, we want to identify how supporting women to have a voice and influence can improve the health of mothers and babies. We will look at how existing unequal relations between men and women affect the ability of women to access supportive care. We will involve fathers, other partners and family members. We will identify Inuit traditional knowledge. Specifically, we will 1. identify Inuit interests and priorities concerning the the well-being of mothers and their babies and their ability to have a voice and be influential in matters that affect them; 2. develop connections with people and agencies interested in doing more work on these priorities; 3. see what else exists through a scan of the research and existing programs and produce a summary report for the community; 4. identify community members and people from agencies who would be interested in collaboratively developing a research project and being part of a committee to guide the project. Activities will include a community feast, sharing circles and one-on-one meetings. A document with pictures and words will be produced which summarizes the priorities. The scan of research and programs will be summarized into a report which will be shared with the community. The research team has extensive experience working throughout the Inuit homeland on issues specific to women health and wellbeing as well as participatory and Indigenous approaches to research.