Rankin Inlet’s Rose Tootoo is appreciative of the fact that there is one day a year, International Women’s Day, set aside to recognize the contributions of women around the world, especially when the recognition revolves around, or is centred on, the family unit.
Celebrated every year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) was first recognized by the United Nations in 1977, although it is known to have earlier roots in the labour movements of the early 20th century.
The theme for 2025’s IWD is, For all women and girls: Rights. Equality.
IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights and violence and abuse against women.
Tootoo, who turns 75 on Sept. 8, still works indeterminate part-time as a custodian at Simon Alaittuq School in Rankin. She started that work in 2009, to help her family make ends meet in today’s high cost-of-living climate in the vast majority of Northern communities.
Tootoo said women receive more recognition for their contributions today than they ever have in the past.
But, that being the case, she is also quick to add that not once in her near three-quarters of a century on this planet has a person ever come up to her and said, ‘Happy International Woman’s Day.’
“There’s no doubt, at least in my mind, that our contributions are recognized and appreciated a lot more today than ever before,” said Tootoo. “I mean maybe it’s still not enough, but the recognition is definitely there now.
“That does mean something to me in a way, but, personally, my efforts are probably not recognized enough, but it is what it is. For me, the truth is that I’ll probably keep doing what I do until the day I die, I guess, or until I just can’t do it anymore.”
Tootoo said the cost of living in Rankin Inlet today is just crazy.
And, she said, most disheartening is the fact that it just keeps getting worse.
“A day like International Women’s Day is OK and everything. Don’t get me wrong. It’s nice. But it doesn’t help with things like the cost of living, which, oh my God, man, is getting unbelievable here.
“There are more and more days when I have to really push myself just to go to work. It isn’t easy anymore — if it ever was.
“I’m going to be turning 75 soon and I think I should be slowing down, but I can’t afford it. If I retire, my pension will only be $428 a month while, right now, I make over three grand a month clear money, so, tell me, how do I walk away from that?”
Tootoo said today’s cost of living forces people to keep working longer.
She said while it’s nice to have something like International Women’s Day recognize the work that she does, she’d rather not have to do the work to begin with, but that’s simply no longer an option.
“Everything, price wise, just keeps going up and up. There’s no sign of anything going downwards.
“As far as the cost of living, we’re screwed already, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”
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