The National Indigenous Day was celebrated across Canada on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

This day is recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of Canada.

We spoke with Elsie Russell who is the Mental Health and Addictions worker.

The celebration in Nain was held by two departments this year.

With the Department of Health and Social Development and the Department of Language and Culture, amongst a lot of awesome volunteers.

She says on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Nain celebrations took place at the Illusuak Culture Centre at 4pm.

Live performances by the Nain brass band, the Beardos, and local singers, Throat singers were performing.

Russell says they served partridge soup, chicken soup and chili with homemade bread, homemade buns and panitsiak and a cake.

OK Radio was there to record this celebration, we will air the audio of the celebration during our Sunday Request show on June 26, 2022.

The Employment Readiness & Technology Development Program will begin on Monday, June 27th, 2022.

Rex Holwell Jr. is the Northern Production lead.

He says there are four local youth from Nain doing the five-week training, until July 26th.

The participants will be doing online and hand on learning such as doing WHMIS, First Aid, emotional learning, how to build the Smart BUOYS, and more.

Holwell adds that they have two new interns hired, Ross Bennett and Christina Murphy, they will be training with the four youth.

OK Radio will get another SmartICE update with Holwell Jr. in a couple weeks.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Makkovik are holding a Kids Development Program this summer.

We spoke with Jennifer Jacque Poole who is the Community Health Worker.

She says this program will be held for a full year depending on how many children are registered.

Children must register for this program, and the age group are for children ages 3-5 years.

Activities will be held at the DHSD building, from 9:30 am to 11:30am every Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays.

Jacque Poole says right now they have 2 children registered so far.

To register your child/children please contact Jennifer at 479-9878 extension 2007.

The RCMP and the Department of Health and Social Development in Rigolet will be teaming up together to hold a Bike Rodeo next week.

Right now, they are looking for expression of interest.

This bike rodeo is to teach children from ages 5-12 years about bicycle safety.

Location will be at the new rink.

A date will be determined when it will take place.

If your child or children would like to take place in this bike rodeo you can contact Lisa Palliser Bennett by calling her office during work hours at 947-3309 ext. 262.

Deadline to have your child/children’s name in for this bike rodeo event you must contact Lisa before Wednesday June 29, 2022 at 4pm.

Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting two new deaths due to COVID-19 in the past week, both people in their 70s.

According to the provincial health department’s weekly update Wednesday, one of the deaths was in the Eastern Health region and the other was in the Central Health region.

There have now been 10 deaths reported in June, and 192 since the pandemic hit the province in March 2020.

Hospitalizations have dropped slightly, to 11, after shooting up from five to 14 last week.

Three people are in critical care, down from four in last week’s update.

The department of health also reported 418 new cases over the past week: 74 on Thursday, 55 on Friday, 77 on Saturday, 40 on Sunday, 21 on Monday, 64 on Tuesday and 87 on Wednesday.

That data, however, does not reflect the true spread of COVID-19 since the province restricts testing by its health authorities and no longer releases the number of people tested.

The number of cases also doesn’t include positive cases found through rapid tests done by individuals.

The Nunatsiavut National Inuit Health survey was launched today June 23, 2022 in Nain.

The event will take place at the Illusuak Cultural Centre in Nain that began at 11am this morning.

We had one of our Radio Producers there to record this event.

Click here to hear the audio of the National Inuit Health Survey.

The TaKuaKautik Food Bank are looking for volunteers for this month’s food giveaway.

Brenda Jararuse is one of the Board members for the Food Bank.

Jararuse adds that they are asking people to bring back bags this week, as they need them for bagging food before the monthly give away.

She adds that the TaKuaKautik are looking for volunteers to help bag food and to help distribute for this month’s giveaway.

If anyone would like to be a volunteer to help distribute on the next giveaway, you can contact Brenda Jararuse or any other food bank committee members.

Jararuse says this month’s food giveaway is on Thursday June 30, from 5pm-8pm.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is an official day of celebration to recognize and honour the valuable contributions to Canadian society by Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis people; and

National Indigenous Peoples Day is the same day as the summer solstice (the longest day of the year) and was chosen for its important symbolism to many Aboriginal peoples; and

In 1995, the federal government established “National First Peoples Day” as a day of unity and acknowledgement; and

Across Canada, the day is marked by ceremonies and celebrations that highlight cultural performers and activities, displays of art and crafts, and events that recognize the contributions by Aboriginal people;

Therefore President of Nunatsiavut, do hereby proclaim June 21 to be National Indigenous Peoples Day in Nunatsiavut.

Pride flags will fly at Nunatsiavut Government buildings from June 23-30 in recognition of Pride Month.

During the month of June, people all over the world express solidarity with the 2SLGBTQ+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning) community, to celebrate contributions of persons from the community, and increase efforts to build awareness.

In future years, the flag will fly at Nunatsiavut Government buildings for the entire month of June.

The Torngat Fish Producers Coop held their Annual General Meeting in Nain yesterday.

We spoke with Keith Watts who is the General Manager.

He says the AGM went pretty well, they managed to get 6 board members in for AGM and Board meeting.

After Some delay due to weather this spring they managed to hold the AGM and board meeting in Nain.

Watts says during the AGM they discussed about their past operations throughout Nain and Makkovik, and for this years upcoming season.

They also held elections for this year’s executive.

Click here to find out more about this year’s AGM and Board meeting.