Makwa Sahgaiehcan School warmed by Christmas cards

By Nicole Reis

Students and staff at Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School have been inundated with thousands of Christmas cards filled with messages of hope and support in response to the youth crisis.

Some of the messages are from well beyond Canada’s borders.

Linda Johnson, a former administration staff member at the school, began the Christmas Cards of Hope initiative on Nov. 26 through Facebook. To date, the campaign has had a positive impact on the First Nation community.

“The (students) are amazed at where the cards are coming from. Some cards are coming from Hawaii, Denmark, Switzerland, and Puerto Rico. For them to think of our kids here, it’s amazing,” Johnson told meadowlakeNOW.

The initiative put smiles on the faces of students, parents and staff. Students have been busy opening envelopes and decorating school walls with cards before their Christmas break.

Christina Mitsuing is the parent of a Grade 5 student and spent time reading some of the heartfelt messages from all over the world.

“I think it’s just amazing. You don’t think a little place like this could mean so much to other people. You think that what we go through, nobody cares,” Mitsuing said. “But for this holiday, this is such a blessing. When you walk in here, it’s just beautiful.”

Alice Sand, the principal of the school, said staff are overwhelmed.

“Every day we’ve been picking up boxes and boxes of cards. Kids say they feel like they’re being heard and they’re happy,” she said.

Sand added the community had come together and offered small gifts, meals and candy to Makwa Sahgaiehcan kids and staff.

Because of the overwhelming response to Christmas Cards of Hope, some of the cards will be sent to the community centre nearby for everyone in the community to read.

Kids at the school said they plan to respond to some of the messages received after the Christmas holiday.