NorthInuit in Ottawa say they’re disappointed by a local organization’s decision to host their annual Christmas party completely online this year. Tungasuvvingat Inuit says virtual gathering meant to be more inclusive, elders disappointedAnchal Sharma · CBC News · Posted: Nov 27, 2025 6:56 PM EST | Last Updated: November 27Listen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.Meeka Kakudluk, right, looks forward to Tungasuvvingat Inuit’s Christmas party every year. (Submitted by Meeka Kakudluk)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. Habs fan Sytukie Joamie (centre) says the idea of Christmas online is comparable to cancelling the Stanley Cup parade and making it virtual. “That’s unheard of. Like it’s the same scenario,” he said. (Submitted by Sytukie Jamie)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. WATCH | Iqaluit’s Christmas games showdown:Check out Iqaluit’s Christmas games showdownThe holiday spirit is heating up in Iqaluit and the Christmas games are on. As Samuel Wat shows us, there’s plenty of festive cheer to go around.Organization promises online games, prizes 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. Hundreds of Inuit gather each Christmas for TI’s holiday party, but this year the celebration will be completely virtual. (Submitted by Peter Ittinuar )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. ABOUT THE AUTHORAnchal Sharma is a CBC journalist based in Ottawa. Send her an email at anchal.sharma@cbc.ca
Annual Inuit Christmas party in Ottawa to be completely virtual
