From Student to Elf

April 8, 2026 in Giving Back People
Explorer: Spring 2026

By Deht’anuhzeh Noey 

About fifteen years ago, I stood in the small airport in Wollaston Lake, bundled in my 40-below winter gear, my cheeks still pink from the cold. In a northern community where winter settles in ever so deeply, and travel is never simple, whether it is winter or summer, that visit from Santa felt extraordinary. I remember holding my gift, feeling not just excited, but seen — like someone had made the effort to reach us, all the way up north. 

This past Christmas season, I wasn’t the child waiting in line. I was back in Wollaston Lake, this time inside the Elementary school, helping set up tables lined with carefully arranged books. Snow stretched endlessly outside the windows, the halls filled with decorations, the sky pale and quiet, while the building buzzed with anticipation. I dressed as one of Santa’s elves, ready to hand out presents and spread Christmas cheer to every student in the school. 

As the children filed in — boots thudding against the floor, ski-pants ruffling, laughter echoing down the hallways — I felt the weight of that full-circle moment. I watched each child receive their gift and then pause thoughtfully at the tables to choose their own book. There was something powerful about that choice. It wasn’t just about a present; it was about giving them a story to read, an adventure to imagine, something to take home and make their own. 

The littlest ones were the most expressive. Their eyes widened when they saw Santa. Some were shy, some bounced with excitement, and a few looked up at me, grinning and giggling, declaring that I was a very “tall elf.” In their joy, I could see myself fifteen years ago — that same wonder, that same feeling of belonging. 

In northern communities like Fond du Lac, Wollaston Lake, and the overall Athabasca region, events like this mean more. They remind us that even in remote places, where distances are vast and winters are long, connection remains strong. Being part of that experience — not as the child this time, but as someone helping create the magic for the youth — filled me with so much pride and joy, like one of those moments where I thought, “Wow, I really made it.” 

What once shaped my childhood, I was now helping shape for someone else.