Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. donates Christmas turkeys to elders

Dozens of P.E.I.'s Mi'kmaq elders received an early Christmas gift Wednesday a frozen turkey.

The Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.'s turkey donation initiative helps bring the community together during the holiday season.

The smiles are just incredible.- Tammy MacDonald, Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I.

"Particularly those who are in need and might not otherwise be able to get a turkey," said Don MacKenzie, executive director.

"So it's a really nice way to help support the Mi'kmaq population, on and off reserve, and it makes everybody feel good."

Confederacy staff pitches in to buy 50 or 60 turkeys. This year, they raised about $1,200.

It's become a tradition over the past five or six years, said Tammy MacDonald, the confederacy's consultation negotiation co-ordinator.

"I love going out. I love meeting with community members that I don't usually get a chance to meet with and the smiles are just incredible."

Doreen Jenkins is an elder who lives off reserve.

"It is a gift of inclusion. Because when you do that and people are coming together, you know that we're one people, wherever you are."