Are Inuit men sexual predators?

Brace yourselves, this is truly heart-wrenching.

quote:Inuit sexual predators must stop their abuse.

It is well-known that Inuit men are big-time sexual predators.

For many hundreds of years, you have preyed upon your little girls and women. In many cases, you have raped your own daughters at a very young age. You have even raped babies and elderly women.

I am one of these Inuit women that have been abused over and over and over. It all started when I was a little kid, not old enough to understand what was going on.

I have been raped by my stepfather, my biological grandfather, one of my biological brothers, two of my step-brothers and my uncle on my mother’s side for many years.

I tried telling people about the pain, but no one would listen to what I was telling them about what was happening to me.

Once, when one of my aunts believed me, she told me to say nothing, because the person who raped me was highly respected in the community.

Today, I am very damaged by all the abuse that Inuit men close to me have caused me. I am able now to speak to other Inuit women who have been into the same kind of abuse. It appears to me that to be invaded by these predators was silently accepted.

I am finding out that many, many Inuit women were in this same situation, even in my mother’s and father’s time, and I know that it has been happening a lot longer. Alcohol and drugs have intensified these abuses in more recent times. I know that these abuses are still happening in our communities today.

I recently found out that her own uncle, my own adopted brother, raped my own daughter.

I want this abuse to stop. You have caused us women too much pain.

I encourage other women to bring their story out into the open for all to see the truth of our lives.

Anonymous
Kuujjuaq

Letters to the Editor, Nunatsiaq News.

I know decent Inuit men who would be ashamed of men who do this kind of thing. But maybe these decent men (all men) need to speak out against this and show support to their women.

When I think about it, most of my female friends have experienced sexual abuse of one sort or another. This includes myself- though I have never been raped it has come close and I was just a child and again throughout my teenage years. Just recently a friend of mine's niece, 9-year-old was raped and hemorrhaged.

It's also important to note that while incest seems to be more severe in the North, it happens more often in any society than people once supposed. (Kendell-TAckett & others, 1993).

That's why we all need to speak up against it.

[ 19 February 2003: Message edited by: Anuri ]

As per your original post. It is very sad. But, we rise above it!!!

Actually, MWNN, I have a different take on this. Seems to me that it shows that men are more fragile than women. I don't have figures to back this up on hand, but it seems to me that in societies where economic devastation, hopelessness and substance abuse are rampant, men commit more assault, sexual abuse and suicide than the women. Not only that, but the leaders that emerge from the ashes of such communities seem to be predominantly women. Comments?

This story boggles the mind.

I cannot fathom the predatory nature of some men, especially contemptible are those who target younger women and children.

Reading this one gets an idea that a tall tree and plenty of rope would be a good frigging start.

Anuri, you can make the title you did because you are, I presume, Inuit. It would be unacceptable coming from a "Non-Native".

I have worked in Northern aboriginal communities (both Inuit and Amerindian) and have observed the despair, violence and systematic substance abuse in those settlements. I don't really think being Inuit is the key - however being in an uprooted, half-destroyed aboriginal community of any origin certainly plays a part, as does the desire to keep outsiders who have always oppressed the community out of its affairs.

If you look at the Maori film "Once were warriors" you can observe much of the same behaviour at the other end of the planet.

I have yet to hear of an epidemic of anybody being raped by women, is all.

My point is that while it's erroneous to suggest that any "race" of men is more or less likely to commit rape, on the whole, it is not at all erroneous to suggest that men, on the whole, are more likely to commit rape than women, on the whole, thereby making judgements based on genitalia somewhat justified--if you're talking about statistics.

If more men rape than women, then more men than women are pigs, worthy of less respect than we afford subway rats.

It's just the odds, but you're right, of course, that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover and all that. That's not really what I was talking about...

good advice, writer. Sorry for drawing it out, all.

I think speaking out is a huge step. And for doing so, I'd like to thank both the woman who wrote the letter and Anuri for raising the issue here.

People who are abused by such predators are often made to feel isolated, crazy and somehow deserving of the treatment they receive. I am in awe of the ability of this letter writer to see her worth, even after all she's gone through, and to stand up and say, Enough, in such a public way.

This is how darkness comes into the light, how the unspeakable becomes articulated, how change happens.

[ 19 February 2003: Message edited by: writer ]

Except, Mr. Magoo, that I think this thread is intended more to be about the women suffering this systemic abuse and oppression than about the wording of the title.

From the sounds of this letter, though, it is a bit of an epidemic among the Inuit.

Certainly. The idea that something like this is racial is laughable. But, if one identifies it as cultrual, how can it be remedied? And furthermore, how do we come to terms with the fact that there is a social situation in existence which is leading people to act like this? We can't very well say these men are just bad, pure and simple. But at the same time, can we accept incest and rape (or any sexual crimes for that matter) as symptoms of a larger problem? Isn't that a bit insulting to the victims?

quote: Where it happens at chronic levels, together they reflect a social crisis. One way to acknowledge that crisis is by listening to the stories of the people who are suffering.

I don't think that listening can be overstressed. Listening also doesn't always require that we provide direct advice and opinions to those who are suffering these abuses.

It is the social crisis that has to be addressed. Non-First Nations people must pressure governments at all levels to address the economic conditions and land claims of First Nations, Inuit and other impoverished communities is a key indicator of our own empaty, humanity and solidarity.

First Nations peoples need to know that we are taking action. This would seem to be the greatest source of hope that we can provide on a collective level. This isn't necessarily everything we need to do, but it's a key piece.

I apologize for the title if people found it offensive. I did think about what I should call this thread- Lagatta, yes I am Inuk but that's not why I gave it this title. I did because this is what the letter is suggesting.

I think it was important for the writer to say this to cast shame in communities that allow this to happen. That's why she called it what she did. It wasn't race related on her part but as people suggested there are other factors to consider.

quote: And we're sadly lightyears from reaching a solution. The government doesn't want to do anything except continue to blindly throw money at it to make it go away. How can we deal with these problems and help them to stop?

The federal government had a 'crime prevention' project but the way they delivered the money to the North wasn't enough to keep the positive initiatives that address social issues going. While it made sense to create community partnerships, the federal and territorial government only provided start-up funding and the Northern and Co-op Stores or who-ever else could finance the projects were left to their devices. Which basically is nothing considering the lack of business' in communities.

I appreciate all the posts- it's important to talk about this and try to come up with solutions. It's the only way.