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.”

Jay Aitchinson is the general manager of Kuujjuamiut Inc., a non-profit socioeconomic organization that aims to help residents in Kuujjuaq through a number of initiatives. (Felix Lebel/Radio-Canada )

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.

Curbing food insecurity 

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.

Jacob Cain Snowball said he was happy to help his community by distributing the food hampers. (Felix Lebel/Radio-Canada )

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.”

A dozen people came out to help assemble the food hampers. (Felix Lebel/Radio-Canada )

Tradition of sharing

The tradition of sharing was part of Inuit culture long before Christmas was introduced through colonization.

The practice has allowed entire generations to survive by sticking together, and it continues today.

Community freezers, for example, are available to residents in Nunavik.

Hunters can store wild meat, game and fish, which also lets people who don’t have the chance to go out on the land and hunt have access. Every year, meat from dozens of caribou is shared in the 14 villages in Nunavik.

Other local initiatives are also gearing up throughout the holidays, like the “cook for a neighbour” event where people are invited to prepare a meal for their neighbours, especially elders.

The food hampers were distributed by truck. (Felix Lebel/Radio-Canada )

The initiative was organized for the third year in a row by Kuujjuaq resident Jeannie May. She said she was surprised by the enthusiasm generated by her project, which received financial support from the Nunavik Regional Health and Social Services Board.

There are 40 gift cards worth $100 each for participants to cook the meals, which were claimed in just 45 minutes last week when the initiative launched.

“This helps to break the isolation, to connect with their community members,” May said. “People were so appreciative that they had received.

“A lot of our elders don’t have access to hot, cooked meals. Maybe because they can’t cook anymore or they don’t have someone living close by to them. So this project was a big success.”

May said she hopes the initiative will be taken up in other northern communities, especially given the comfort a simple shared meal can offer to people in need.