In Kuujjuaq, turkeys and hams dropped off at residents' doors to celebrate the holidays
CBC
For the tenth year in a row, Kuujjuamiut Inc., a socio-economic development organization in Nunavik, distributed food hampers to Inuit in Kuujjuaq — an initiative meant to fight food insecurity, but also to share Inuit values.
The snow and the cold didn't slow the dozen people who came together to assemble some 850 bags of food to distribute.
Every person gets a ham, a turkey and sides to make a Christmas dinner.
The bags were loaded into trucks and brought directly to residents' doors.
"It's a little less burden, especially at Christmastime," said Jay Aitchison, the general manager of Kuujjuamiut Inc. "We hope that it spreads out the Christmas spirit and helps families that are struggling to have a nice meal. It's one less worry for families to think about."
Those out delivering the hampers were met with lots of smiles and heartfelt thank-yous.
"It's tiring but it's fun. But I love to help people in my community. They always say Nakumiik, or Merry Christmas," said Jacob Cain Snowball, one of the volunteers.
Distributing food hampers in the community is more than just a friendly gesture.
About 70 per cent of people under the age of 14 in Nunavik are food insecure at one point or another during the year. A number of families need to also occasionally restrict their meals because of a lack of means.
The situation is made worse by the high cost of food in Nunavik, with prices roughly 33 per cent higher than in the south of Quebec.
The donation is timely, then, for many families.
"In our culture, we don't waste anything really. I know people, even if they don't eat the turkey during the holidays, they'll eat it later in the year. Filling fridges in the community is always a positive thing," Pirari Kauki Gentes, a Kuujjuaq resident who was happy to receive his turkey, said in French.
Kauki Gentes said the hamper will also allow residents to gather together more during the holidays.
"I think about my mom, who could invite her nieces and her grandchildren to come over to eat. It's really nice to see."
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