Tea Talk: A time for feasts, dancing and sharing

QUVIAHUGITI QUVIAHUVINGMI. QAIJUQNAHIJUQ IQALUKTUUTIAMI. KIHIMI INUINNAUT NAAMMAINNAQTUT. ULAPQINIAQMIJUT INUIN IQALUKTUUTIAMI. ULAPQIVIKMI ILIHAPVIUNI. QUANA IKAJUQTUT. TUNIQHAINAHUATLU NIQINIK INUNGNUN. ATIIT TUNILUGU FRANCESMUNLUUNIT KIVGALONGMONLU. QINIQPAKLUGIT ILATIT. AYUQNAQTUQ ILAIJAGAGNAT. AKHUUKPAQLUHI. IHUMALUKPALAQHIMAITTUMIKLU. QUVIAHUKLUHI.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone in Cambridge Bay and all across Nunavut and wherever you may be reading my column. I hope everyone will have a safe and blessed holidays with family and friends and relatives and your communities. It is a time when Inuit get together for feasts, drum dance, games and sharing each other visits, stories and good food and good friendship.

In Cambridge Bay today, food hampers are very grateful for the families as food is so expensive in the northern communities and I think Nunavut has the most expensive food in the north. Receiving a food hamper is the best gift a family can receive. We are so thankful to those that sponsor the Food Hamper Program in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. During the holidays there are feasts also where everyone gathers together to enjoy a good meal at the community hall or either the gym.

The community of Cambridge Bay also has games during the holidays where there is lots of prizes, laughter for all ages from young babies to Elders.

I remember when the funniest of our own would have to dress up in all kinds of dress up clothes and race and run, wheel barrel races, playing unnuuk (no smiling game), balloon popping and much more.

In the old days Christmas games were held outdoors on the ice. Our Elders would make sure the games were planned, I remember Luke Kudlak organizing games and drum dances. Allen Kitigon also organized games with volunteers from the community. Today volunteers carry on the games which are held indoors at the gym or the community hall.

Everyone enjoy this Christmas. Check on each other, as some may not feel up to celebrating Christmas because of the loss of a loved one, or someone may be ill or lonely. Take good care.

Merry Christmas Son in Heaven.