Sharing Christmas with people in Nunavut

OXBOW, Sask. – Grise Fiord is an Inuit hamlet of approximately 140 residents, located on Ellesmere Island, about 1,500 kms from the North Pole, and, as the crow flies, just over 3,000 kms from Oxbow. Even with modern technology, what are the chances of these two communities connecting?

It began September 7, 2023, when a small group at St. Peter Lutheran Church first heard of Grise Fiord in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut. Sharon shared about her daughter, Jessica, who had spent time in Grise Fiord on a work rotation, and who had a dream of collecting Christmas gifts for the children of the small community. The idea of connecting with these children at Christmas grabbed the hearts of those present, and the decision was made to investigate the possibility of making Jessica’s dream a reality.

Then came the questions: How many gifts would be needed? How should the gifts be packaged and shipped? Stockings or bags? Would a local contact person arrange personal delivery to the children? What kinds of gifts would be enjoyed by the children? Would there be enough money to cover the cost of shipping and any extra expenses that might occur? Was there enough time to get everything together so the gifts could arrive before Christmas?

By Thanksgiving, most of the questions had been answered and a timeline established for pre-Christmas gift delivery. A list of the ages of the boys and girls was posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. 

Promotion of the gift collection began, and the result was astonishing. A box of Christmas bags was found and freely given. An abundance of age-appropriate gifts, plus cash to cover the cost of shipping and extra expenses, was donated. 

Word of the collection spread beyond the congregation and the extended community response was amazing. Donations came from Estevan, Carlyle, Alameda, and Carnduff ,and included several games and a special cash offering from the congregation at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Frobisher. 

The first week of November arrived, and tables in the fellowship hall were filled with a wide variety of gifts. The piles disappeared as 35 Christmas bags, easily identifiable by age and gender, were readied for packing into large shipping boxes. Also included were 170 quilted pocket cross pillows with a Bible verse—“the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)—and a letter of introduction with Christmas greetings to the community. 

The staff at Canada Post assisted with finding the best way to pack the gifts and recommending the most economical shipping. The boxes, weighing 44.1 kg, were shipped on November 16.

The boxes arrived safe and sound on December 13, and were delivered to the local school where they were distributed to the children by Santa’s helpers on December 20. The gifts were well-received!

 Looking back, it’s difficult to believe how it all came together so smoothly. Jessica’s dream became a reality, and the outcome was a most joyful Christmas experience for all who were involved.

Marilyn Schultz

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