Grocery stores in Makkovik and Rigolet are ready for their winter supplies.

Labrador Marine Inc. announced the deadline of freight and cargo shipments this past Thursday, and commercial and residential freight were to be received by November 10, 2022.

In Makkovik, Paula Chaulk is the Manager for Frank’s General Store.

Chaulk says the store is expecting freight such as groceries and general merchandise that’s coming on the MV Kamutik W.

They are expecting more but it depends on how many shipments are left.

Darren Smith is the Manager for Northern in Rigolet.

Smith says they are not expecting anything else and are ready for the winter.

The shipping season closure was announced last Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 7pm.

From then on, people on the north coast and Nain have been wondering when the Kamutik W will make it’s last trip to Nain.

Peter Woodward is the Chief Executive Officer from Woodward’s Group of Companies in Goose Bay.

He says the Kamutik W will be making three more trips north to Nain.

The third moose aerial survey of 2022 took place out of Hopedale in February.

Covering all of Moose Management Area 91-North (Hopedale).

Results of an aerial survey in Hopedale are out and the recruitment was extremely low.

Results here were similar to MMA 91-South (Kaipokok), and they will be in Hopedale on November 22 to discuss these results further.

Another aerial survey was done by Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat in Rigolet and Nunatsiavut in November 2022.

A moose information session will take place in Hopedale on Tuesday, November 22nd from 6:30-7:30pm.

Come out and join the information sessions at the DHSD office in Hopedale to find out more about the moose in your area.

Snacks will be provided and there will be door prizes.

The TaKuaKautik is a volunteer based, community lead food bank in Nain Nunatsiavut.

It is available to anyone in need, with one bag per family, and is open on the last Thursday once every month.

We spoke with Brenda Jararuse who is the Chairperson for the TaKuaKautik Grub Box.

She says the next give away will be Thursday, November 24, 2022.

They received some of their freight and is expecting more on the next boat that’s coming and will need help when it arrives.

Distribution happens between 5-8pm at the red warehouse on Sitsik Street and orders must be made for food bags in advance.

To place an order, place your name in the blue box at the Post Office.

They accept orders up to two days before distribution, as well as monetary and food donations; any donation is greatly appreciated.

Their Facebook group is used mainly to advertise any events going on and to keep the community updated with the TaKuaKautik.

Keepers of the Circle operates from two primary locations situated in the historical Robinson-Huron Treaty territory, Tamiskamin Shores and Kirkland Lake, Keepers of the circle is partnered with AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women’s Association.

We spoke with Johanna Tuglavina who is the Agency lead for this program.

She says she will be travelling to the north coast communities for workshops this month.

If there are any women who would like to participate in any of these workshops, you can give her a phone call at 1-709-694-3890 or by email at tuglavinajohanna@gmail.com.

There are also two other individuals you can contact; Alexandra Bridges at a.bridges@keepersofthecircle.com, or Brittany Zacharuk at b.zacharuk@keepersofthecircle.com.

Click here to hear more from Tuglavina on her workshops.

No recycling happened in Nain yet this fall as it have happened over the years.

The annual recycling includes mainly cans, bottles and juice boxes.

The Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain holds the recycling, and this fall they are short of teachers and have been looking for volunteers.

The recycling day will happen sometime, but right now, the dates have not been set.

Some of the community freezers along the coast got some goods to give to their respective communities.

The Nain community freezer got a bit of char, sealmeat, and carrots.

There is musk ox at the Hopedale community freezer.

The community freezer in Makkovik got some char, a few cod fish, and smoked char.

The Postville community freezer got a new stock of char, salmon, and a few cod fish.

The OK Radio will see what the community freezer in Rigolet has when it becomes available.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the constituency of Upper Lake Melville are being advised that the Terrington Co-op will provide certificates in exchange for gift cards under the Nunatsiavut Government’s COVID-19 Food Supplement Program.

The gift cards are issued under the Sobeys brand. Empire Company Ltd, which owns and operates Sobeys, has been dealing with information technology issues that have impacted some of its operations and services, including the activation of gift cards.

While the company is working to reduce the impact on costumers, at this time it is unable to determine when all issues affecting its systems will be fully resolved. In the meantime, Beneficiaries who present gift cards at the Terrington Co-op will be issued a certificate of equal value that can be used immediately.

First Minister Melva William says she welcomes this week’s joint provincial/federal announcement to conduct a pre-feasibility study into a road connecting Labrador Inuit communities and the Innu community of Natuashish to the rest of Labrador.

“The Nunatsiavut Government has been lobbying for well over a decade to have this study completed, with the goal of determining potential environmental, cultural, economic and social impacts and benefits on and to our communities,” note Minister Williams. “We would expect a comprehensive consultation process to take place with the Nunatsiavut Government, as well as at the community level, before any firm decisions are made to move forward with connecting our region by road to the rest of Labrador.”

The $400,000 study is being cost-shared on a 50-50 basis between the federal and provincial governments under the National Trade Corridors Fund, which provides funding for projects, such as research, in the Arctic and the North to support northern transportation infrastructure like ports, airports, all-season roads, and bridges.

A dark chapter in the history of Labrador Inuit will close on Monday, November 14, with the demolition of the former boarding school in Nain.

Built by the Hudson’s Bay Company, the building was used as a cottage hospital before being turned over to the Moravian Church in 1936 and converted to a boarding school, which operated until 1973. The building was also used by OKalaKatiget Society and later for storage. It has been abandoned for more than 30 years.

The Residential School Survivor Committee in Nain submitted a request to the community’s church group to have the building demolished as part of reconciliation between the Moravian Church and Labrador Inuit. The church group, which had been discussing what to do with the building for years, approached the Nain Inuit Community Government to have the building torn down.

“While this will be a very emotional day for many people, it is also a day of empowerment,” says Nunatsiavut’s Minister of Language, Culture and Tourism, Roxanne Barbour. “It is an opportunity for those who are residential school survivors, and their descendants, to see a building be torn down that holds so many bad memories. Today is a day to stand up and be proud to be Inuit and to be proud of who we are, our culture, language and history.”

The Nunatsiavut Government, through the Department of Language, Culture and Tourism and the Department of Health and Social Development, will host an event for community members while the building is being demolished. A heated tent will be set up in the parking lot of the nearby Illusuak Cultural Centre for those wanting to see the building come down. Staff from the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development will be available to provide support during the event.

“For a long time, this building has been a heinous reminder of all the traumas experienced by our people,” adds Minister Barbour. “I encourage those who will be in community to come and celebrate as the building is demolished.”

Minister Barbour also recognized her predecessor and former Nunatsiavut President Jim Lyall, and other survivors of the boarding school who have passed away.

“I’m sure Jim and many others would be very proud to watch this building come down.”

Minister Barbour is reminding Labrador Inuit that despite all of the hardship and trauma experienced over the years, “we are still here, we are still Inuit, and we are resilient. This event celebrates our resilience as Inuit and promotes closure and healing.”

Additional emotional supports for Survivors and Descendants are available by contacting the Residential School Survivor Support Line at 1-866-925-4419, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Those experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, can contact the toll-free Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here to hear Norman Andersen’s thoughts on the building being demolished, as well as Chaim Andersen during our Labrador Memories show later this afternoon.