13°c Overcast
18°c Rain
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Santa pays series of visits to northern communities
INSTEAD of a sleigh pulled by reindeer, Santa made stops in northern communities this week using transportation such as a custom helicopter.
The fourth annual Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Santa Express travelled to 30 First Nations this week to deliver candies and toys.
Along for the ride was MKO Grand Chief David Harper, as well as Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo, who was present for the first two days of the event.
Santa and his wife have appeared in about 18 communities so far, with the trip scheduled to end today.
"Each time they were visiting, they were of course there to meet with the children," said Brennan Manoakeesick, MKO spokesman, who said the visits led to other conversations with people over issues such as the Idle No More movement.
"It was a unique opportunity during the holiday season to have access to our national leader and see first-hand... the conditions in the communities, but also at the same time, to kind of spread a message of hope that things are moving forward positively for our people."
He said the RCMP donated about 2,000 toys for the trip. The group will travel to communities by plane and by truck and touched down in communities in Island Lake in helicopters.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 20, 2012 A10
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Two women face rare charges of harbouring alleged murderer
- Li granted additional day passes
- RRC hub late, over budget
- Fight for gay rights a long one
- Bethania CEO put on leave during investigation
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Winning 6/49 ticket purchased in Winnipeg
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Restaurant Dubrovnik demolished
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Missing woman's remains found in Point Douglas home
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- Bethania CEO put on leave during investigation
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- RRC hub late, over budget
- They'll be fiddling around
- Tapping sweetness from birch trees
- Eardrops and dogs recipe for maiming
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Ochre Beach residents are 'thankful everybody got out'
- She leads an underwear revolution for African girls
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Ask, don't grab, your partner in old-tyme dance
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- Black market in moose thrives
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.