Cindy MacDougall
Northern News Services

Sachs Harbour (Dec 20/99) - Santa Claus seems to have a soft spot in his heart for some of his closest neighbours.

The jolly old man spends much of Christmas Eve in Sachs Harbour, the most Northern community in the Northwest Territories, enjoying the hamlet's holiday party.

And St. Nick doesn't come empty-handed.

Peter Esau, Sachs Harbour's mayor, said Santa gets some help so he can relax and enjoy the celebration.

"The ladies go to the hamlet office and wrap Christmas presents for all the children and the elders," said Esau. "Then Santa gives them out at the party."

The hamlet is full of Santa's helpers, who are all busy this week making sure the community celebrations are perfect.

After all, in a community of 110 people, why not celebrate Christmas together?

"We have a big feast on Christmas day," said Esau. "There will be turkey and some native food, like caribou and bannock."

The community celebration is the highlight of a few weeks of fun in Sachs Harbour.

The school Christmas concert was held last Tuesday night, Esau said, with proud parents and relatives coming out to see the show.

"We have other things, too," he said. "We have a calendar full of things."

Bev Esau, assistant manager at the Ikahuk Co-op, said the store has its own Christmas tradition for all the parents in town.

It's called parent's night, and it can be a little hectic.

"We have a whole bunch of toys in the back room," she said. "No one's seen them, not the parents or the kids.

"At 6:30 we put them on the shelves so the parents can buy them. No one under 16 is allowed in."

She said a group of helpers at the store do gift-wrapping, as well.

Bev Esau said there's no bickering over toys on parent's night, though.

"We have plenty for everyone," she said.

As for the community celebrations, Bev Esau said everyone enjoys being together over the holidays.

"There's something to do almost every night," she said. "It's really fun."