Oil has dipped below $100 per barrel for the first time in quite some time, and that means we’re in for some significant decreases in fuel prices.

Dan McTeague, a watchdog with Canadians for Affordable Energy, says it would be best to hold off on filling up that tank until after midnight.

He expects the price to drop by about 12 or 13 cents per litre in Ontario and Quebec and says the Public Utilities Board should lower it in Newfoundland and Labrador by about 10 cents leaving it at roughly $2.05 per litre in the St. John’s area.

McTeague says the P.U.B. should also pass on savings on other fuels including diesel by 7 cents and home heating by 9 cents.

The Inuit Nunangat Food Security Strategy is the first road map ever developed for improving Inuit Food security in Inuit Nunangat, the homeland of the Canadian Inuit.

The strategy outlines actions for creating a self-determined and sustainable food system in Inuit Nunangat that: reflects societal values, supports Inuit well-being, ensures Inuit access to affordable, nutritious, safe and culturally preferred foods.

It creates a common national understanding of the high prevalence of Inuit insecurity, factors driving Inuit food insecurity, coordinated Inuit driven solutions to address food insecurity in Inuit Nunangat.

Why is this Strategy needed?

Canadian Inuit experience the highest rates of food insecurity of any Indigenous population in an industrialization Nation, Inuit food insecurity is the longest-lasting public health crisis faced by a Canadian population, there is currently no federal policy in place to end Inuit food insecurity, low income Inuit spend the majority of their income on basic food and shelter, Inuit communities have high cost of living poverty rates, high Inuit food insecurity rates will only be improved by partnering with Inuit to advance Inuit -driven solutions.

What are the Solutions?

Strengthen the Inuit Nunangat food system by working partnership with Inuit.

The Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is also looking for 7 youth to attend the Youth Leadership Program at the Torngat Mountains Base Camp and Research Station during the 2022 season.

They are looking for applicants from each Nunatsiavut community in Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, Rigolet, Upper Lake Melville (HV-GB, NWR, Mud Lake), and Canada.

Nunatsiavut Inuit youth ages 15-30 are encouraged to apply to the Youth Leadership Program from July 30th to August 6th, 2022, and youth must be 15 by December 31, 2021.

Applicants must submit a completed application by 4pm on July 15th, 2022. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The program entails connection to language and culture with outdoor activities, and traditional skills.

The youth will also participate in activities aimed at building self-esteem and wellness.

Youth interested in this opportunity must submit an application to the department and will be selected on the merit of their applications.

For more information, you can contact one of the following:

Megan Dicker- Email: megan.dicker@nunatsiavut.com Phone: 922-2942
Jillian Larkham: Email: jillian.larkham@nunatsiavut.com Phone: 896-8582
Belinda Webb: Email: Belinda.webb@nunatsiavut.com Phone: 922-2942

Melva Williams of Rigolet has officially been elected to serve as First Minister for the Nunatsiavut Government, and former First Minister Tony Andersen will now serve as the Minister of Education and Economic Development.

They were sworn in to these roles at the Nunatsiavut Assembly sitting in Hopedale on July 4, 2022.

This follows Tony Andersen’s resignation as First Minister, and Melva Williams assuming the role on an interim basis.

The Sexual Health Information Exchange Labrador District (SHIELD) has a new coordinator to support youth for Nunatsiavut.

Jade Rachwal is the new SHIELD Coordinator.

Rachwal says she worked as a volunteer and that she’s familiar with the projects and moved to the position as coordinator in May.

One of the big things she worked on was for the National Indigenous Day on June 21, 2022 with lots of people who came out.

Click here to hear more from Jade Rachwal on her new position as the new Coordinator for SHIELD.

The 2022 summer season had begun which means festivities to celebrate along the coast.

Doris Boase is part of the organizing team for the 16th annual Rhubarb Festival in Hopedale.

She says the Rhubarb Festival will be next week, July 11 to 16.

We will be posting the schedule next week as each day of the festival passes.

The Postville Recreation will be hosting their 22nd Annual Fun in the Sun Festival from July 13 to 16.

Emily Wolfrey is the Recreation Assistant and the Special Events Coordinator in Rigolet.

She says the residents of Rigolet will be celebrating the Salmon Festival from July 27th to July 30th, 2022.

The Beach Festival in North West River will not being going ahead this year due to the Come Home Year 2022, which will take place from July 30th to August 7th.

The schedule will be made when the time comes for the Come Home Year 2022 in North West River.

We will have the Trout Festival in Makkovik once it becomes available.

Air Borealis marked its anniversary in June when it linked the biggest contract in the airlines five years in business, a five-year agreement to provide flight services in support of the Vale mine project.

The contract provides two Twin Otters and four Dash 8 (two 40’s and two 300’s, with 76 and 50 seats, respectively) to provide passenger and cargo services to the mine.

Travis Barbour, Air Borealis Director says, “we negotiated this contract over several months, and this contract will provide stability to the airline over the next five years.”

The next contract with Vale was three years and was extended. The new contract will require six aircraft for the next two years until mine expansion constructions ends, and four aircraft for the next three years.

The Twin Otters transport Vale workers from coastal communities and fly them directly to Voisey’s Bay or to Goose Bay for transportation onward to the mine.

The Dash 8’s fly workers from St. John’s, Gander and Deer Lake. Both types of aircraft also transport cargo, and inkling food to the mine site.

In addition to fixed-wing support for the Vale project, Air Borealis provides helicopter services.

Inuit Tapiriit Canada Board of directors met in Inuvik to discuss Key Initiatives on Saturday, June 23 to 28 and 29 this year.

This was followed by a meeting on Monday, June 27 of the Inuit Crown Partnership Committee.

The board voted on Wednesday, June 22 to allocate $843 million in Federal funding from the Crown- Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada announced in Budget 2022 to support housing across Inuit Nunangat, by distributing the funds to each of the four regions.

The board members also voted to allocate $21 million fiscal year 2022-23 Federal funding from Employment and Social Development Canada to support Inuit Early Learning and Childcare. That money will be allocated to Inuit Land Claim Organizations to determine how to distribute those funds., with the goal ensuring Inuit families have access to high quality, affordable early learning and childcare programs regardless of where they live.

The board agreed to allocate $47 million in Federal funding from Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs to ach of the 4 regions land claim organizations, funding designed to expand the Harvesters Support Grant and a new initiative called the Community Food Programs fund 2022-24.

Finally, the ITK board members decided to recommend two names for the Polar vessels to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard: Appattuk after Appattuk Island in Ungava Bay, and Imnayuaq which translated as “big cliff” in the Sallimiut dialect of Inuvialuit.

Inuit Tapiriit Canada will next meet in September.

Pauktuutit, Inuit Women’s Association announced last Wednesday, June 29 this year that Nancy Karetak – Lindell was appointed to Order of Canada.

She is the first Nunavut Member of Parliament recognised for commitment to bringing Northern and Inuit voices Parliament.

The Order of Canada is one of the highest honors in the country and recognises Canadians whose services has helped shape society, who have spearheaded innovation and who have shown compassion within their community.

More than 7,000 Canadians from the sector have been appointed by the order so far.

Karetak-Lindell joins 74 others in this honor. A news release from the Governor Generals office said she was selected because of her commitment to bringing Northern and Inuit voices to Parliament, and to ensuring the regions unique culture, economic and environmental interests are recognized.

A former politician, Karetak-Lindell has been an important voice in negotiations to establish Nunavut as a political jurisdiction to Canada.

In 1997, she was elected as the first member of Parliament for the new riding of Nunavut.

Karetak-Lindell said she hopes that her appointment inspires Inuit across Nunavut and Canada to play a bigger role in their own communities.

She said anything is possible when you are determined and willing to work hard for it.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement are welcome to attend an open house in Makkovik to meet with the President and members of the Nunatsiavut Executive Council.

The open house will take place this evening at 7pm at the Multipurpose Room in the Arena.

Nunatsiavut Government still strongly encourages while at the open house to physical distance, use non-medical mask, and hand sanitize upon entering the building.