Linda Johnson and her children Janessa,18, Jayda,5, and Jayvin,12.(Submitted/Linda Johnson)

By Nicole Reis

Christmas Cards for Kids

Former staff initiates Christmas cards for kids in despair

Nov 27, 2019 | 5:44 PM

A former Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation School staff member is responding to youth who are in crisis.

Linda Johnson, former admin staff at the school, now working at the University of Saskatchewan began her initiative on Nov. 26 through Facebook. She said she’s encouraging everyone who is watching the youth crisis unfold from outside the immediate community to send Christmas cards of hope and support to students at the school.

“I was thinking of a way to let the kids know at Makwa Sahgaiehcan School that they’re loved. There are people from all over that are thinking of them and praying for them,” Johnson said. I see a lot of posts on social media but the kids in grade one, two and three don’t’ see these posts. I want a way for them to visually see that people are thinking of them.”

Johnson, 38, said the response is overwhelming as her post has been shared nearly 260 times. Her family has a close connection to the community and her 12-year-old son has close friends who attend MSFN school. She said speaking to him about the crisis has been especially difficult.

Johnson went on to say she was living in the community for seven years and left in October of this year. Based on her experience, she said she would like to see First Nation individuals who have adopted a healthy lifestyle to support members of their communities who are less fortunate and offer guidance toward a more positive lifestyle.

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Barry Mitsuing Chalifoux, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation CEO and band manager said he supports her initiative.

“I think she has a good heart and she probably knows the kids more than I do considering her former position,” Chalifoux said. “If she feels that this is going to help support the children, I support that.”

Chalifoux told meadowlakeNOW while at the provincial legislature he was in the midst of meeting with the premiere and with the minister of rural health to promote a regional suicide intervention and prevention strategy and to request long term support for his community.

Today 11 workers from Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council crisis team are working with families in Makwa Sahgaiehcan.

Chalifoux added the First Nation has mandated each child in the school is individually assessed and that front line teams are working closely with kids.

Johnson suggested Christmas cards are sent to the school before Dec. 18 as kids will break for the holidays.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

@nicolereis7722