Investing in the Futures of Inuit Women receives Arctic Inspiration Prize

Aneeka Sapangalik Anderson and Kennedy Haines accepting an Arctic Inspiration Prize for a project supporting young Inuit mothers and women

Whitehorse, Yukon — On Tuesday evening, One Plane Away Board members and volunteers Aneeka Sapangalik Anderson and Kennedy Haines accepted an Arctic Inspiration Prize (Youth category) for Investing in the Futures of Inuit Women.

This initiative “will provide employment and skill-building opportunities for young Inuit mothers and women. The skills learned will provide tools to increase their income-earning potential as well as increase their confidence. The participants will be encouraged to form a collective and explore the opportunity of a social enterprise that can bring innovation at a community level” (Arctic Inspiration Prize). The prize included a financial award of $98,000.

Investing in the Futures of Inuit Women will lead two programs in the coming months in Nunavut, including parka making in three communities and a youth employment program with One Plane Away.

“This work is all about supporting Inuit women and moms to be the makers of their futures,” said Anderson. “It comes from the heart and wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Arctic Inspiration Prize and all of you here today.”

Haines acknowledged the support of One Plane Away as a partner in this project, which includes founder Caris Madsen as a youth team member.

The full award ceremony can be viewed here.

See also:

Four Nunavut projects take home awards from Arctic Inspiration Prize ceremony in Whitehorse (Nunavut News)