Montreal Inuit celebrate Christmas

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.