Christmas Eve
A special time for Inuit communities

Hannah and Robert Obed enjoy taking part in the candle light service. - Michelle Baikie Photo

Christmas Eve is a special time for Inuit communities like Nain on the north coast of Labrador. People go to a candle light service at the Moravian church. This tradition is so popular that two services have to be held. Many Christmas carols are sung. When chapel servants hear the Morning Star Hymn they bring out wooden trays with 24 lit candles. Each candle is held in an apple. The candle represents God's light and the apple represents the world. In days gone by, when apples were not available, small turnips were sometimes used. Every child up to age 13, including babies, gets a candle in an apple. After the service, children visit the person who helped with their birth. They give a tiny decorated tree and a biscuit. Midwives often receive a lot of trees.

Following is the Inuktitut translation of this story. We wish to thank Hilda Lyall for the translation.

PakKujalittaunik
Ikkanadlatuk tikimmat Inuit nunanginnut

PakKujalittaunik iKanadlatuk tikimmat Inuit nunanginnut sollu Nain tachâni satjugiangata Labradorip. Inuit ilauKattatut pakKujalittaujuKalimmat Moraviap katimmavingani. Tâmna siagunit piusik aiviutsainatuk allât magguitugiaKaKattatut pakKujalittaunik.

Inoviasiutinik tutsiadltik unuttunik. Tusagamik kivaKait Kausiut Kaummaridlatop tutsiagalausinganik tigmiadlutik tatattunik 24-nut pakKujannut itiniatillugit. TamaitapakKujait ilisimatillugit apple-mut. PakKujak tugâ juk Godip Kaummaninganik amma apple tugâniKatillugu nunatsuamut. Siagu, apple-KakKâtinnagu, mikijunik nakatannanik atuKattadlutik. Ilonnatik susuet 13-nut, allât nutagait, pakKujatt*adlutik apple-mi.

Sivanegemmat, suguset pulâgianiadlutik inuatsuminut/annaKutiminullu. Tunidjigiattudlutik akKisusimajamminik napâttuagulammik KakKâjaKulammilu. Inuatsuit/AnnaKutellu pitâsuaKattatut inuviani napatuagulatgaminik.

The towns of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Gander hosted literacy conferences this fall.        The people who organized the conferences say that both were very successful.        The Gander conference took place from September 7 to 10. The theme of the conference was "Building a Learning Culture. Are the Barriers Coming Down?'        The conference dealt with the TAGS program and how it affects families and communities. More than 150 people attended the conference.        The Labrador Literacy Conference was held from October 11 to 16. Several guest speakers took part. People at the conference talked about oral history, story telling, and other topics. Greg Burke wins provincial literacy award. Christmas is a time to celebrate traditions. The Hibernia project is moving right along.