The first baby born in 2024 hails from Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈.

Shonto Noeldeke-Catholique and his wife, Kristen Kodakin-Yakeleya, welcomed their son, Sh毛th la Mod Kodakin-Gahd毛le, on Jan. 3 at Stanton Territorial Hospital, weighing in at 9 lbs., 4 oz. The family traveled to the capital a month before the birth.

Noeldeke-Catholique said heSA国际影视传媒檚 excited and nervous about being a father. He said he grew up in a big family and had seen parethood before, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 a new experience for him.

He also said he and his wife took a lot of advice from other people on what to expect and what to buy for their baby, as well as reading baby books to be as ready as possible.

Limited services in Lutsel KSA国际影视传媒檈 also posed a challenge with no access classes or programs to prepare them for parenthood, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淲e received a lot of information from everybody, and it was just all good things,SA国际影视传媒� added Kodakin-Yakelaya. SA国际影视传媒淎nd I guess we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 100 per cent prepared, because every parenthood is different, right? So weSA国际影视传媒檙e kind of open to everything.SA国际影视传媒�

Before the birth happened, the couple stayed at Chateau Nova, where they tried to make themselves comfortable and celebrate Christmas.

SA国际影视传媒淲e kind of just tried to settle ourselves in,SA国际影视传媒� said Noeldeke-Catholique. SA国际影视传媒淕o to a hotel, actually take out your clothes out of the bags and put it into the cupboards and letSA国际影视传媒檚 spend Christmas here SA国际影视传媒� set up a Christmas tree and put presents under it.SA国际影视传媒�

Kodakin-Yakeleya said they were in their hotel room when labour began, but she thought it was just cramps at first. It turned out she was in active labour the whole day.

The couple said they had an amazing doula from the Northern Birthwork Collective, Treiva Plamondon, who helped them prepare and supported them throughout the process.

SA国际影视传媒淲e contacted her when we came in here about that at 6 p.m. the day I was in labour and she came right over and she spent the whole evening with us and the next day,SA国际影视传媒� said Kodakin-Yakeleya. SA国际影视传媒淎nd then we realized my contractions were really slow, so she went home. As soon as we were ready for birth, she came right back and she stayed the entire time, and she was amazing.SA国际影视传媒�

Noeldeke-Catholique said they got married in June 2023 after first meeting at a volleyball tournament eight years ago.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were on opposite teams, and I was, like, SA国际影视传媒榃ow, sheSA国际影视传媒檚 really goodSA国际影视传媒�,SA国际影视传媒� he said with a smile. SA国际影视传媒淲e just started talking after the game, then we exchanged numbers, and then we just kept in touch. Then we started dating and moved in together, and then we broke up for a few years. But we got back together and got married, and then we had a baby.SA国际影视传媒�

Noeldeke-Catholique said their sonSA国际影视传媒檚 name means SA国际影视传媒榯op of the mountainSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒楪odSA国际影视传媒� in Chipewyan.

SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to give him a traditional name that reflected his heritage and his connection to the land,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The couple is also in the process of changing their own names as part of reclaiming their identities, he added.

TheySA国际影视传媒檙e now looking forward to heading back to their community so they can introduce their son to family and friends.