December 10, 2004
Montreal Inuit celebrate
Christmas
AMI recognizes Nunavimmiut
who send country food to urban Inuit
JANE
GEORGE
Next Saturday night, Dec.
18, the Association for Montreal Inuit, better known as AMI, is inviting all
Inuit in Montreal to come to St. Paul's Anglican Church in Lachine for an evening
of "alcohol and drug-free" holiday fun for the entire family.
The event, starting at
6 p.m. at 377 44th St. in Lachine, will feature country food, door prizes, games,
a clown and dancing. Santa will be there to hand out presents to kids 10 and
under.
Communities throughout
Nunavik will be supplying the country food, which is flown down to Montreal
via Air Inuit and First Air, while Makivik Corporation continues to underwrite
the activities of AMI - even though research shows 30 per cent of the Inuit
who live in Montreal originally come from Nunavut.
"We have to find support
from other Inuit associations," said AMI organizer Vic Mesher said in a
telephone interview from Montreal.
On Monday evening, AMI
and Makivik's executive members also hosted post-secondary students from Nunavik
at a special pre-holiday supper featuring arctic char from Ivujivik.
At last week's gathering
of Nunavik mayors in Montreal, Mesher handed out certificates of appreciation
to the region's mayors for their support of the association's monthly country
food suppers and special events.
Country food will also
be included in the 50 Christmas baskets of foodstuffs and gifts, which Mesher
and his volunteer helpers will be distributing on Dec. 23 to needy Inuit throughout
the city.
"We make an effort
to give as much as we can," Mesher said.
Oct. 30 marked the 60th
monthly supper for Montreal Inuit, during which Mesher gave 55 certificates
to volunteers who have assisted AMI over the years.
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