Giving spirit still running strong
Fort Providence woman reaches out to Nahanni Butte for holiday season
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 8, 2016
DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
For many, the holiday season is about giving to friends and family. But beyond that for Fort Providence's Paschalina Nadli, the spirit of giving is also met by sending gifts to youth and children she may have never met before.
Paschalina Nadli is sending Christmas presents to Nahanni Butte this year. - photo courtesy of Paschalina Nadli
|
For the second year in a row, Nadli has devoted her time to collecting gifts for a remote Northern community. This year, she has chosen Nahanni Butte. Last year, Nadli sent 85 Christmas presents to Sachs Harbour to brighten the holiday season for youth and children in the 112-member community.
After plenty of thought, she decided to move forward with the initiative a second year, dubbing her cause "Christmas Spirit of the North."
"It was decided that this year, presents will go to one of the fly-in communities in the Deh Cho," she said, adding that she plans to alternate each year between sending gifts to far Northern communities and sending them to Deh Cho communities.
Donated gifts began arriving in October. Nadli said her gifts will be sent to youth and children up to the age of 16.
On Dec. 5, Nadli said her presents were wrapped and ready to be shipped to the Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte.
Nadli said she is sending 22 presents in total - two for each of the community's youth, some of whom are not yet in school.
For the second year in a row, the cost of shipping is being covered by Fort Providence Northern Store manager Tim Cragg. Cragg, who could not be reached for comment, also stepped in to find a toy for a six-year-old girl after Nadli discovered she was short on items.
Terry Davidson, the principal for Charles Yohin School, said the presents are going to be a surprise for the children at the school. The school currently has six children in junior kindergarten, kindergarten, Grades 1 through 3 and Grade 10.
"We just think it's incredibly kind of (Nadli) to do this. It's really something special," he said. "Even though we have a small number of students, this is a really beautiful gesture and we are so appreciative."
