ST. PAUL – The Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre (MNFC) drew over 200 people from St. Paul and surrounding communities to its annual Christmas supper on Dec. 18.
“[The supper] is about giving back to the community for all their support – for all the partnerships and relationships that we have,” said Tanya Shaw, executive director at the MNFC.
Looking ahead to the new year, Shaw also hopes the relationships the MNFC has, not only within the St. Paul region, but surrounding First Nation communities, will only grow stronger.
“We service a lot of people,” she explained. Services include career, education, and family guidance, to not only First Nations in the region but also the general population.
"When we all come together, we can be creative," she said, affirming the importance of creating relationships and connection.
Before the supper, the MNFC also honoured friends who passed away recently, including Jim White and Elder Irene Pollom. White served as a board member of the MNFC for several years. Pollom was also strongly involved with the MNFC, according to Shaw, in addition to her involvement with many initiatives across the Lakeland.
“We offered a spirit plate for those that have journeyed home this past year,” she said.
Shaw thanked everyone who came to the supper, as well as all those who donated to the MNFC’s toy drive for the gifts given to children during the event, and the sponsors who made the supper possible.
“We’re just so thankful and grateful."