The Nunatsiavut Assembly Sitting took place last week in Hopedale.

Bryan Winters is the newly appointed Nunatsiavut Assembly Speaker.

He said he is thankful for the beneficiaries who voted for him. And for Nunatsiavut Government President, Johannes Lampe appointing him to that new role.

Winters says he is also thankful for all the work the former Speaker of Nunatsiavut Assembly, Susan Sonya Onalik worked so hard on.

Click here as we speak with the new Speaker of the Nunatsiavut Assembly, Bryan Winters.

The Amos Comenius Memorial Nanuit team will be competing in the Volleyball Provincials.

Nicole McLean is the coach for the Hopedale Nanuit of ACMS/VP & teacher.

They will be heading to Burnt Islands, NL on May 25th, 2022.

There will be 7 students who will be heading to the Volley-Ball Provincials, competing on Friday & Saturday May 27th & 28th.

And will be travelling on Wednesday and will be returning home on Monday.

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador and Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries are partnering together to hold workshops for the Labrador In Focus Photography Program next month.

The program will teach local youth in Nain and Cartwright about photography and provide participants with access to CBC owned photography equipment.

It is meant to provide the skills they need to capture their world through an individualized summer project and share what they choose about their community and life.

It will run from the mid-June to early September.

Ten successful applicants will be selected for this program. In order to be eligible, applicants must reside in either Cartwright or Nain and be between the ages of 10 to 30. The deadline to apply is 5:00 pm on June 13, 2022.

Applications from Nain will be reviewed and selected by the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development in Nain and CBC while applications from Cartwright will be reviewed and selected by Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries and CBC.

All applicants will be informed notified about their application no later than June 18.

The successful applicants will need to attend two workshop to prepare them for participation in the program.

The dates of the workshops for Nain will be on June 17, after school, and June 18 and for Cartwright will be on June 24, after school, and June 25.

For more information or if there are any questions, you can email heidi.atter@cbc.ca

Members of the Nunatsiavut Assembly have elected Tony Andersen, an Ordinary Member for Nain, to serve as First Minister of Nunatsiavut, and a new executive council and speaker was appointed during the first sitting of the fifth session of the Nunatsiavut Assembly May 20th, 2022 in Hopedale.

The First Minister oversees the running of the Nunatsiavut executive council, and acts as the Minister of the Department of Nunatsiavut Affairs, responsible for:

(a) Implementation of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement
(b) The administration of justice and the legal services required by the Nunatsiavut Government;
(c) Eligibility and enrolment of Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement;
(d) The management of Nunatsiavut Government public property; and
(e) Housing for Inuit

Both the President and First Minister sit as members of the Nunatsiavut executive council. Other members of the NEC include:

Tom Evans – Makkovik – Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology
Terry Vincent – Hopedale – Lands and Natural Resources
Gerald Asivak – Upper Lake Melville – Health and Social Development
Melva Williams – Rigolet – Education and Economic Development
Roxanne Barbour – Nain – Language, Culture and Tourism

Following the swearing-in of all newly-elected and re-elected ordinary members, the First Minister and the NEC, assembly members reaffirmed President Johannes Lampe’s nomination of Bryan Winters, an Ordinary Member for the constituency of Canada, as speaker. Roland Saunders, and Ordinary Member for the constituency of Canada, will serve as Deputy Speaker.

215: Memorial Honours unmarked graves one year ago yesterday at former Kamloops residential school.

A ceremony full of sadness and hope took place at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School on May 23, 2021, to mark the one year anniversary of the more than 215 graves of children as young as three years old being discovered.

People gathered for a sunrise ceremony at 5 am to start the day.

Opening statements and prayer truly began the ceremony at 9am.

Canada’s Governor General, Mary Simon the first of Indigenous descent, was in attendance alongside politicians from every level of government.

“It shouldn’t have taken that long,” Simon said in regards to the discovery of the graves one year ag. “But people finally know, and knowing has transformed this community. People have made pilgrimages to pay their respect, to say they are sorry, to show their support.”

Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimer dressed in full regalia for the day.

“There are many next steps that need to occur with the Church,” Casimer stated. “That’s mandates from the highest level. That’s from the Pope to mandate through the Catholic Bishops of Canada right down to the diocese and working with the First Nations as we seek all those that are listed on the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.”

The Chief also spoke of her visit in March to the Vatican where she met with Pope Francis and hand delivered an invitation to visit Tk’emlups when he comes to Canada in late July. However, the Popes itinerary does not include B.C.; instead he will visit Quebec City, Edmonton and Iqaluit, which is disappointing said Casimer.

The Nunatsiavut Elections Officer wishes to advise that the following have been declared elected to serve as Ordinary Members to the Nunatsiavut Assembly, following an official count of all ballots cast in the May 3 general election:

Nain – Tony W. Andersen and Roxanne Barbour
Hopedale – Terry Vincent
Makkovik – Thomas Evans
Rigolet – Melva Williams
Upper Lake Melville – Wilson “Wally” Andersen and Gerald Asivak
Canadian Constituency – Susan Sonya Onalik and Roland Saunders

As per Nunatsiavut Elections Act, a recount of ballots for the Constituency of Canada took place on May 14, as there were less that 10 votes separating the second and third-placed candidates.

Click here to find out more from Blake on the official results.

The OK Radio staff contacted the community freezers along the coast to see what they have to offer.

The Nain Community freezer has seal meat and left-over food from the research trip such as bacon, eggs and bread etc.

They are still waiting on the caribou & muskox meat to arrive in Nain.

The freezer isn’t open to the public at this point, but for more information you can call 922-2502.

The Hopedale community freezer has moose meat.

The Postville community freezer has Musk ox and cod fish.

The Makkovik community freezer has char.

The Rigolet community freezer has cod loin, porkchops ground beef and chicken legs.

Are you a senior age 55 or older and would like to take part in a two-day forum amongst other seniors and Elders living in Postville?

The forum will focus on senior’s program and services in your area as well as discussions on the previous Elder’s conference.

The two-day forum will be during the days of July 6 & 7.

If you are interested in attending this gathering, please contact Barbara Edmunds at your local DHSD office.

Limited seats are available and daily honorariums will be provided.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Beverly Hunter, Regional Elders Coordinator 709-933-3214 or email beverly.hunter@nunatsiavut.com.

The Frontier College is seeking applicants to become Camp Counsellors for their Literacy Camp programming, offered in collaboration with the Nunatsiavut Government.

These literacy and wellness camps aim to promote a love of reading and learning for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old.

Successful candidates will work together with other camp counsellors to run the summer reading camp in the community.

Together they will plan and run activities such as reading, writing, storytelling, arts, crafts, songs, music and games for the children.

Camp Counsellors will also try to include as much community participation in the camps by inviting parents, elders, and other community members.

All counsellors will attend an all-expenses paid training in Makkovik in June.

The salary for this position will be $20 an hour with a contract from July 4 to August 12, 2022.

If you are interested in applying, you can contact Brenna McIntyre at 1-514-528-1001 ext. 7, or by email at bmcintyre@frontiercollege.ca.

The Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers had the honour of performing for Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, at the Heart Garden ceremony at the Government House as part of the Royal couple’s visit to Newfoundland & Labrador.

The ceremony was an impactful tribute to survivors of residential schools and the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples of Newfoundland & Labrador.

The Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers gave a memorable performance that was enjoyed by all in attendance.

The Nunatsiavut Drum Dancers were Nicole Dicker, Matthew Okkuatsiak and Audrey Obed.