SANIKILUAQ - It's bright red and has a blue and white stripe on the front. The lettering on the front is written in both English and Inuktitut. What goes in it are cards and letters with drawings featuring bright colours and neat handwriting.

Each year at Valentine's Day and at Christmas students at Nuiyak School in Sanikiluaq write letters to their classmates and teachers and drop them in the school mailbox. - photo courtesy of Louisa Meeko

This well-loved postal box first appeared at Nuiyak School 22 years ago, in 1989, a year after the arrival of teacher Margaret Lawrence.

"It's a Nuiyak School antique," said Louisa Meeko, who works at the school.

The mailbox comes out twice a year at Christmas and Valentine's Day so students and staff can send mail to each other.

Lawrence came to the school in 1988 where she has been teaching on and off ever since then. She said she saw a mailbox in a teachers' catalogue but it was only in English and it was too expensive.

"I wanted one in both English and Inuktitut."

Using limited resources and what was available to her, she crafted one out of cardboard and painted it.

The box has endured some damage over the years, and was last repaired in December 2010 as some of the paint was peeling away.

Lawrence said each day when the box is out, different classes act as the postmasters and take turns emptying it, sorting the mail and delivering it. Times are also assigned to classes for when they can go and deposit their mail.

"We have a lot of activity around it and people spend a lot of time writing cards," she said.

Not wanting to leave anyone out, it is ensured all students get at least one piece of mail in the form of a card or a letter.

"It's a good way to say I love you or Merry Christmas," Meeko said.

For students in Grade 7 and up at the school this past Valentine's Day it could have been the last time they put letters in the mailbox as their new high school is near completion.

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