Big hearts warming little hands
Arviat elders sew mitts for children who need them most
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 17, 2014
ARVIAT
A group of elders are doing their best to ensure every child has nice warm hands in Arviat this winter.
Elder Juliette Pingushat works on a pair of mitts to keep another child's hands warm in the community of Arviat earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Kukik Baker |
Members of the Elders Advocacy Woman's Group have been volunteering their time to sew mitts for children in the community. Led by Lena Napayok and the Arviat Wellness Centre, the elders get together from 9 a.m. until noon every weekday morning at the drop-in centre to sew the mitts. The elders are now working on a second batch of mittens, after giving 20 pairs to the local social services office to distribute among local children in need of them. The group is also beginning to sew wind pants, which will be sold for $20 to cover the cost of materials.
Napayok said the elders enjoy getting together for a little socializing while sewing the mitts. She said some younger ladies are also helping with the mitts, while picking up some sewing tips from the elders at the same time.
"We have a few more pairs done and we're still sewing," said Napayok.
"We have a sewing machine and some material now, so we'll be starting the wind pants soon, too.
"I have five elders who come each day, and it takes them two or three days to make a pair of mitts because we only sew in the morning. We started with cowhide, seal and rabbit, and now we're sewing sheepskin."
Napayok said Kukik Baker handles purchasing the material, and the Kiluk Sewing Centre also donated a box of seal-pelt-scrap material.
She said three young ladies have been coming regularly to help with the program, improve their sewing skills and spend some time with the elders.
"One young lady just finished her first pair of mitts, and we were as proud of her for finishing as she was," she said. "It's nice to learn how to sew better, while helping kids in the community at the same time. I always have tea, coffee and bannock available for everyone, and it's nice to know when a pair is done, a child, who we don't know, will be putting on warm mitts."
