The polar bear hunting for beneficiaries this year was different compared to last year.

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

He says last year, they had harvested 7 of 12 licenses, and that was due to a part of the early break-up and the poor ice conditions.

This year was a different year where we had a more traditional winter with good ice conditions and filled all of the licenses.

Broomfield adds that the migratory bird hunting season is now open, and recommends that our beneficiaries refrain from harvesting migratory birds after May 29th, 2022.

Click here to find out more from Todd Broomfield on this year’s hunt of polar bears and migratory birds.

The Nain Public Health will be holding a walk-in Influenza and COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the DHSD Building in the Multi-Purpose Room.

It will be taking place tomorrow Friday, May 20th from 10am to 12pm, and 1 to 4pm, and on Tuesday, May 24 from 1 to 8pm.

Influenza vaccine is available for anyone 6 months of age or older.

The COVID-19 vaccine will also be available for children ages 5 to 11 who require a first or second dose, children 12 to 17 who require a first, second, or booster dose, and adults 18 years or older who require a first or second dose.

They will also be providing Booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

– Booster dose 1 is given 22 weeks or later after your second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
– Booster dose 2 is given 20 weeks or later after your first Booster Dose.

Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will both be available and can be administered together safely during the same visit.

If you would like further information or have any questions, please call Public Health at 922-2962.

Public Health officials with the Nunatsiavut Governments Department of Health and Social Development are advising residents of the five Labrador Inuit communities of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet to take measures to protect themselves and others from influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

Commonly know as “the flu” influenza is a contagious respiratory condition that spreads quickly from person to person. Sneezing, coughing or even talking releases droplets into the air can serious than the common cold and include headache, chills and dry cough followed by body aches and fever. Some people may carry the virus without getting sick themselves, but they can still pass it on to others who can get seriously ill.

Annual vaccination is most effective way to protect yourself against flu and serious complications. The vaccine is available to individuals over the age of six months. Please contact Public Health to book an appointment, or for more information.

Wash your hands with soap and running water regularly and dry them thoroughly with a single use towel, or use hand sanitizer if you are unable to access soap and water.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, avoid being around sick people, maintain physical distancing, wear a mask, stay home if you have the flu, being around others puts them at risk, especially those with chronic underlying medical conditions. Quickly isolating yourself can prevent the spread of the flu and save lives.

Yesterday, May 18, 14 people were reported in hospital, including 2 in critical care.

One more person has died in Newfoundland & Labrador of COVID-19 since Friday, as the province introduces new regulations to prevent serious illness in older and immunocompromised people.

The new death – a person in their 80’s or older in the Western Health region – raises the total numbers of fatalities due to the virus to 177.

Fourteen people are in hospital, including two in critical care, according to the government update on Wednesday. Eight of the hospitalizations are in the Eastern Health region, five in Western Health and one is in Labrador-Grenfell.

The province is also reporting 264 new cases of COVID-19 in the last five days, but that number is not necessarily a true presentation of the virus spread, since the Department of Health has restricted testing and is no longer releasing data on how many people are getting tested.

Torngat Fish Producers Co-operative Society, Limited will be holding their Community Meetings and Annual General Meeting on the following dates.

In Postville on June 1st, 2022 at 10am at the Community Hall, and in Makkovik the same day, with the meeting starting at 7pm at the Town Hall.

Please note that two delegates will be elected from each community to attend the Annual General Meeting, which will be held in Nain on June 8 at the Nunatsiavut Building Board Room at 1pm.

If there are any questions, please contact the Head Office at 896-3992.

The Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) team in Makkovik was reported to a plane crash in 2019 and have been given the RCMP NL Commanding Officers Award of Bravery to this day.

Barry Andersen is AngajukKâk.

He says there was some media attention, nationally as well about the plane crash.

Click here to hear more about the award coming from AngajukKâk Andersen later in the AtjiKangitut program.

There was a supper and refreshments at the Illusuak Cultural Centre last week, May 10, 2022.

Mary Binky Andersen was the organizer for this project.

She says community members were invited to have some caribou meat, snacks, followed by a slideshow of their caribou hunt.

Andersen adds that they had eight participants who had the chance to go out for a five-day trip that was held for youth back in March.

Click here to find out more on the Tuttusiugiannik Project.

SmartICE is recruiting production trainees in Nain, Nunatsiavut.

This is for their Employment Readiness & Technology Development Program.

They are looking for youth ages 18-30 who would like to participate in training courses such as first aid and personal development.

They will be working together as a team, 15-20 hours per week, Monday to Thursday.

The wage will be $16.50 an hour and will be held from June 23 to July 29 2022.

Any youth who would like to apply, you can call Rex Holwell, Manager of Nunatsiavut Operations at 922-2074 or email him at rex@smartice.org to set up an appointment to meet.

Nunatsiavut Research Centre staff travelled to Halifax to meet with the Ocean Frontier Institute Project Sustainable Nunatsiavut Futures team.

Sustainable Nunatsiavut futures is a multi-year joint project between Nunatsiavut Government, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Dalhousie University that combines natural and social science to investigate the complex ocean environment and answer questions to benefit Labrador Inuit.

The team consists on NG staff, Dalhousie and Memorial researchers, Inuit Research coordinators and project partners Oceans North, Oceana and Ocean schools – École de I’Oce’an.

More updates on this exciting project to follow.

The Nunatsiavut Government is taking the position that the recent decision of Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray to deny an increase in shrimp quotas in waters directly adjacent to the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area violates the spirit and intent of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement (LILCA).

“We have a Constitutionally-protected right to new fishing opportunities within and adjacent to Nunatsiavut, something Minister Murray continues to blatantly ignore,” says Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe. “She has dismissed our calls for increased access to shrimp in shrimp fishing area (SFA) 4, which is directly adjacent to our shores, opting instead to continue providing a proportional share of the resource to outside interests. As no other entities or groups in Labrador are adjacent to this resource, Nunatsiavut should be the primary benefactor of any increases in quota.”

The Nunatsiavut Government is calling on Minister Murray to revisit her decision, as part of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, and to reallocate quotas in SFA4, with Labrador Inuit being the primary benefactors.

At the same time, adds President Lampe, Minister Murray needs to be reminded that Labrador Inuit also have rights to Northern shrimp in portions of the Davis Strait Eastern Assessment Zone (EAZ) that lie within Nunatsiavut waters.

“We have reached out to Minister Murray many times in an effort to bring our concerns directly to her before any decisions were made on quota allocations and access. The Minister has not responded to letters that have been written to her, or to our requests for meetings. This is not the nation-to-nation relationship we expect from Canada.”

The Nunatsiavut Government will continue to push for a meeting with the Minister in advance of any decisions regarding Northern shrimp in the Davis Strait EAZ.