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Hundreds of ornaments made by kindergarteners hang from assembly Christmas tree

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Assembly speaker Frederick Blake Jr. organized the Kindergartener Christmas Tree campaign. Hundreds of ornaments handmade by students across the territory were sent to Yellowknife and hung from the Christmas tree. Blair McBride/NNSL photo

Ornaments from near and far, made of paper, seal skin and moose hide are a few of the NWT's favourite things.

Hundreds of those handmade items made by kindergarten students from 23 schools across the territory now hang from the six-metre tall Christmas tree in the lobby of the legislative assembly building.

House Speaker Frederick Blake Jr. organized this year's Kindergartener Christmas Tree campaign.

Frederick Blake Jr, speaker of the legislative assembly stands beside the 20-foot tall Christmas tree in the lobby of the assembly building, on Dec. 9. Blair McBride/NNSL photo
Frederick Blake Jr, Speaker of the legislative assembly, stands beside the six-metre tall Christmas tree in the lobby of the legislature on Dec. 9.
Blair McBride/NNSL photos

In pre-Covid years, students from schools in Ndilo, Dettah and Yellowknife would come to the legislature and make the tree decorations.

That wasn't practical this year, so the program invited schools to send ornaments to the assembly.

An ornament made by a student from École Boréale in Hay River was crafted with seal fur and fish scales. Blair McBride/NNSL photo
An ornament made by a student from École Boréale in Hay River was crafted with seal fur and fish scales. 

“We expect to have a total of 465 ornaments by the end of the campaign,” said assembly spokesperson Katie Weaver. “Some ornaments come from as far away as Ulukhaktok.”

Each child who made one will receive a new ornament gift engraved by ArTech in Yellowknife.