Every December, Meeka Kakudluk looks forward to seeing old friends, eating country food, and square dancing at Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI)’s annual Christmas party.
While it’s not the only Christmas party held by an Inuit organization in Ottawa, Kakudluk says it’s the biggest, with hundreds of attendees annually.
“It’s always the best part of the year,” she said, explaining that it evokes memories of a traditional Christmas back home in Nunavut. But this year will be different.
The Ottawa-based organization that supports Inuit in Ontario is moving the party completely online. TI did not respond to CBC News’ request for an interview, but explained in a social media post that the decision is meant to make the celebration more inclusive for Inuit who don’t live in the city.
To Kakudluk, that doesn’t make a lot of sense.
“It’s going to be more difficult,” the elder said. “They should have thought about those people who don’t have access [to the internet] or who have difficulty with technology.”
Sytukie Joamie is also disappointed by the decision. Joamie has lived in Ottawa for more than a decade, and has attended the party almost every year.
For the Habs fan, the idea of a virtual Christmas is “unthinkable.”
“It’s like the Montreal Canadians winning the Stanley Cup and the owner, Mr. Molson cancelling the Stanley Cup parade and making it virtual. That’s unheard of. Like it’s the same scenario,” he said.
Joamie explained that in Nunavut, Christmas celebrations last several days and include traditional games, food and an opportunity to connect with the community.
In Ottawa, which has the largest Inuit population outside of Nunavut, he says that’s even more important. “They’re all spread out,” he said, but at Christmas they come together.
“They greet each other, they have fun together, they’re dancing together, they play together. That’s what Christmas is for them, how they grew up,” Joamie said.
Check out Iqaluit’s Christmas games showdown
While TI’s post on social media says there will be online games and prizes to be won, Kakudluk says it won’t be the same. She says she’ll miss praying with the community and feasting on Inuit delicacies like muktuk or whale meat, char, caribou, and bannock.
“You prepare those in order to have a good celebration,” she said.
Joamie says he wishes the organization had considered a hybrid event, so people could still get together in person while including those who want to join in virtually.
Kakudluk agrees.
“We do have some beautiful big buildings where we can get together and it’s usually full of Inuit of all kinds to celebrate Christmas,” she said.
TI’s virtual Christmas celebration will take place from Dec. 8 – Dec. 12.
