The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 23, 1998 - Bl YOU MAY have missed the throng of school children from the Nass Valley village of Lakalzap (Greenville) this past weckend amidst the crowds of last minute shoppers. Complete with lists of things to buy, the trip for the Greenville Elementary School students to Terrace marked the culmination of the Christmas season at the school. Christmas preparations at the school begin in late November as stu- _ dents prepare decorations and then put them up around the school. ~The grand event is the Christmas concert, held the night before school gets out for the holiday season. Concert planning comes under the guidance of Charles Davis, the school’s Nisga’a culture and language teacher. With the assistance of other teachers and of parents, Davis organizes the three-hour event. His message is that while Christmas is a time for gift giving, it has ’ another very special meaning, “Tt is about the birth of Jesus Christ, the true meaning of Christmas. It is about sharing, love and family," says Davis. He brings the message home during the concert which is in two parts, Christmas songs and skits in English and then performances in Nisga’a. There is also a visit by Santa Claus and treats for all which puts chil- dren on their best behaviour. “We have a real houseful,” says Davis of the concert, It’s a particular treat for families as college students and others returning home filter into the concert as it progresses. “You really never know who is going to walk in the door,” notes Davis. “The return of family to Greenville for the holidays swells its population. “Davis, for instance, is welcoming home a daughter taking her second year at Northwest Community College. The school concert has been a tradition for as long as Davis can .. Temember. The whole village gets involved A TRADITION that dates back generations is taking place this month in the Nass Valley Nisga’a village of Lakalzap. ~ December nights are filled with events centered around a Christmas ‘season of community activities. Planning begins early as different village clubs vie for the right to . be the host organization for everything from basketball games to com- munity dinners during Christmas month. _* The band council chooses the club with the best bid and the club . then uses the various functions to raise money for its various activities throughout the year. The winning bid this year was shared between the Greenville Athletic Club and the Greenville Athletic Guild. ~ One of two co-chairs running this year’s events is Matthew Bright Jr-and it’s his first time in sucha role. ““f’ve been to every one since was achild,”headds. “It’s a whole lot of work to put this together,” says Bright of the ae age “aetrvi ties Which begin early in the month with basketball tournaments “It’s a really nice gala and it triggers the Christmas celebra- tions. It puts everybody in the right frame of mind,” he notes. The concert begins with an opening prayer from village elder Mildred Stephens, She’s been doing it for years and was already a fixture when Davis began his job at the school 13 years ago. “She’s a living legend,” says Davis of the role Stephens takes on at the concert. There’s also a speech by the school principal, Ray Skelly, as he recounts the events of the school year to parents and visitors. And there’s food, prepared by the school’s parent advi- sory committee. Davis also takes the time to tell the students that the things they now enjoy weren’t available when he and others were young. “T tell them there was no running water, or inside toilets. How you used to get up at 6 a.m. and chop wood and get water,” he says. Although Greenville is now connected by a bridge across the Nass River to the road leading to New Aiyansh -and then south to Terrace, it was very different in years gone by, “It was very difficult to travel back then, especially when the cold winter season approached.” “The ladies and men were true pioneers back then because the temperatures were extremely coid and we had to cross the thin ice and assist the ladies who were pregnant.” “I remember some people who lost their lives trying to cross the Nass River.” All of that and more is important for children to learn and to think about during Christmas, Davis concludes. and ending with an adult New Year’s Eve social. The key is activity for youth and the beginning event in early December is a junior basketball tourna- ment with teams divided along the Nisga’a houses of killer whale, wolf, eagle and raven. “The winning team gets bragging rights for the next year,” notes Bright. Activities heighten as the month goes on, gaining momentum the closer the days come to Christmas week. There’s a contest for a Snow Queen, a Christmas parade and a teen ball Dec. 30. The big event is a reunion dinner Boxing Day, Dec. 26, for people who have returned to the village for the holidays. “Qur college students have come home and the families get together,” says Bright. _ “This is the one time of the year when the men serve the dinner.” The village's community hall is the focus for all of the events and Py SR AAI tr aon hundreds of peo- ple take part during the month. Although the two clubs are sharing the sponsoring duties this year, the tradition is to rely on other organizations for assistance. “A lot of volunteers are required and everybody helps out,” Bright continues. The Greenville Athletic Club and Greenville Athletic Guild will use the money raised to help meet the expenses of sending sports teams out of the valley’for tournaments. ‘Ahristmas The Entire Staff Best Wishes In Time For Christmas -TERRACE. STANDARD 3210 Clinton Street.’ Terrace 638-7283