Pauktuutit, Inuit Women of Canada said they’re “Together Again”.

Pauktuutit Board of Directors gathered in Ottawa for the first in-person Board in two years.

From Saturday, July 7 to 9th, nine board members along with Expert Board Advisor Charlotte Wolfrey, connected during presentations, workshops and social time.

Board members included Paige Kimiksana Kreps, Asslysa Carpenter, Nancy Mike, Secretary-Treasure, Malaya Zehr, Brenda Epoo, Ester Aglukark, Powell Martha Flaherty, President, Geri Sharpe, Charlotte Wolfrey from Rigolet, (Advisor) and Vice President, Nancy Etok.

Also, Pauktuutit Violence and Abuse Prevention and Justice Team travelled to Pangnitung to create PSA.

Rosie Mike shares with Pauktuutit how important Gender Equality is for her and her community.

She said, “my parents did everything together… they were very close… they taught (us) how to be equal”.

Today, July 13, 2022 is the third day of the 16th Annual Rhubarb Festival in Hopedale.

Doris Boase is part of the organizers for the festival.

They started with Fear Factor for youth between the ages of 13 to 15 years of age at 1pm, at the Nanuk Centre.

At the Centre, there will be a rhubarb bake-off and the smoked fish contest at 5pm.

For the bake-off, the main ingredient must be rhubarb and can be put into three categories of a dessert, breads or other.

There will only be 1st place prizes for each category with one entry per person.

For the smoked fish contest, smoked fish entries must be brought to the Nanuk Centre no later than 5pm, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes will be awarded.

The third day will end with a “Royal Family” beauty pageant starting at 6:30pm at the Nanuk Centre.

There is no age limit, must consist of two females and two males, and dressed as the opposite gender.

The “Family” must have a king, queen, prince and princess.

The OK Radio will post day four of the rhubarb festival tomorrow.

A fuel price watcher is predicting an increase in gas and diesel tomorrow, but he doesn’t expect it to be long-lived.

Dan McTeague of Canadians for Affordable Energy is predicting a jump at the gas pumps tonight of about 3.6 cents a litre but cautions that price might be readjusted downward by Friday.

Diesel is expected to rise by five cents according to McTeague, while heating oil could drop by 1.8 cents a litre.

Story Courtesy of VOCM News.

Stories from our elders from Nunatsiavut is always good to hear.

William Andersen the third was born in OKak Bay, about 140 km North of Nain.

He says he built a cabin at Napâttusuak in 1984 and comes to Nain from St. John’s to travel up there either by skidoo or boat to hunt and fish.

Andersen adds that there are a few other people who have cabins built up there.

Click here to hear more from Andersen the third.

This year marks the 12th annual CYN & Mr. Volleyball Tournament.

Deadline for registration will be Wednesday, August 17, 2022, at 4pm.

The annual volleyball tournament will be held at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre gym.

And the opening ceremony will be held on August 19, 2022, at 6pm.

This is open to both male and female divisions.

Teams must have at least 5 players and 7 maximum players.

The registration fee is as follows: $30 per player or $20 for students who are in high school.

If you would like to register, you can contact Bradley Lampe the CYN Fieldworker at 922-2691 or 922-2690.

This year is the 22nd annual Fun in the Sun Festival in Postville starts tomorrow, Wednesday, July 13, 2022, for all residents to enjoy.

The festival starts tomorrow afternoon with a community fair from 1pm to 4pm.

There will be balloon darts, face painting, coin drop, fishpond, jail, a cake walk, guess the candy in the jar and basket toss.

The BBQ sponsored by Vale is scheduled for tomorrow at 4:30pm weather permitting.

On Thursday, July 14, the day will start at the little brook pond, residents are asked to bring a life jacket.

At 6:30pm, there will be a nutrition bingo with the Department of Health and Social Development.

Friday, July 15, the Postville Inuit Community Government and the Postville Recreation have sponsored a community breakfast starting at 7am.

There will be a teddy bear picnic at 2pm, that sponsored by Sheppard’s Variety.

There are prizes of a tent, fishing bundle, a firepit, air conditioner, and an air borealis ticket.

The OK will post more of the Fun in the Sun Festival schedule as each day passes.

The first day of the Rhubarb Festival in Hopedale turned out to be exciting with eight teams playing in the Fear Factor.

The festival celebrations is on the second day today, July 12, 2022, for the residents to attend.

Starting at 4:30pm, there will be a cardboard and duct tape boat race for anyone 16 years of age and older.

The race will be held at the boat launch near the Nanuk Centre.

There will be prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for male/female categories.

The boat must be made of duct tape and cardboard only and the participant must have a personal floatation device (PFD).

The Flea Market that scheduled for today have been postponed to Friday, July 15.

We will share the third day of the 16th annual Rhubarb Festival in Hopedale tomorrow, July 13.

The fish plant in Nain was a bit busier this morning.

John Ikkusek is the Manager.

He says the first catch of char was landed yesterday of 1,200 lbs.

Ikkusek added a total of 400 lbs of scallops was landed, there are three crew members on the Torngat 1 scallop boat that will be heading out each day, weather permitting.

There are also 10 fish plant workers hired.

The Makkovik fish plant also had a busy morning.

Angel Chaulk is the Clerk.

She says the 2 snow crab boats got in with its first catch yesterday with a total of 20,032 lbs that was landed.

Chaulk says there are now 4 snow crab boats out fishing.

And that there’s a jump of 34 plant workers that’s hired from 9 last week.

The Nunatsiavut Government has made changes to the rate of private accommodations for medical travel as part of Non-Insured Health Benefits for Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries.

The new rate for private accommodations is effective yesterday, July 11, 2022.

The new rates are as follows:

• $100 a night per adult with meals provided
• $50 a night with meals provided for children under 5 years of age
• $50 a night per adult without meals being provided, and
• $25 a night without meals being provided for children under 5 years of age

For more information, can contact Jennifer Best, the Non-Insured Health Benefits Manager by calling her at 896-9750 ext. 224.

The English River Fish Count has started up again for the Summer.

Todd Broomfield is the Director for Renewable Resources for Nunatsiavut Government.

He says that they have started counting fish at the English River last Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

They will be counting the fish 7 days a week for another 17 weeks.

Click here to hear more from Broomfield.