The Happy Valley-Goose Bay SPCA is thrilled to announce a new vet care program sponsored by the Nunatsiavut Government in the amount of $15,000.

Nunatsiavut Government President Johannes Lampe presented the cheque last Friday to SPCA Vice President Bonnie Learning & staff member Paige Gunderson.

The program called Labradorimi kulânget, Kimmelu (Dogs in Labrador) will help cover vet care expenses for animals from Labrador that come into our care.

Many thanks to Monica Peach for designing the logo and to the Nunatsiavut Government for its support of the animals and we hope we can continue this program into the future.

The Nunatsiavut Government Research Department is pleased to announce that one of their staff members has received an Inuit Recognition Award.

Carla Pamak is the Inuit Research Advisor with the Nunatsiavut Government.

She says the award started in 2014 and since then, the Nunatsiavut Government has seen 5 people receive this award, and this year, it went to Liz Pijogge of Nain who is the Northern Contaminants Researcher.

This award is to recognize Inuit who are making strong efforts toward meaningful Inuit involvement in Arctic Research and is awarded annually by ITK during the Arctic Net Annual Scientific meeting, which was held virtually last week.

Pijogge is involved in various types of research from seals, char, birds, microplastics, air filters, and water sampling.

The Nain Research Centre would like to congratulate Pijogge on receiving this award.

There are many great activities planned for the Nunatsiavut communities including Upper Lake Melville throughout the Christmas season.

Gerald Asivak is the Minister of Health for the Nunatsiavut Government.

He says that some of the activities has already started, and events will continue until the New year.

The Christmas activities is for all ages right from Day Care to Seniors in each of the communities.

Click here to find out more.

Santa Claus and his elves will be travelling to the North Coast once again.

Mike Spurrell is the President of the Rotary Club.

He says that Santa will be going on plane on Saturday, December 18th, weather pending.

Santa partnered with Air Borealis and the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Rotary Club to set up visits for Natuashish and Nain.

When Santa arrives, he will present gifts to the children.

Founded in a small warehouse in Toronto almost 60 years ago, Canada Goose has grown into one of the world’s leading makers of luxury apparel.

Late last year, the company announced it would be donating thousands of repurposed parkas to communities across Inuit Nunangat, in collaboration with Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK).

The project began in November and is in addition to the company’s ongoing donations of fabric and materials it has made for more than a decade.

All Canada Goose parkas that are deemed unsellable because of a manufacturing error or came through the company’s warranty program are sent to ITK to distribute across Inuit Nunangat.

The Nunatsiavut Government received its first shipment of parkas this past winter, and have distributed them to those in need.

Regular shipments are expected, which may include other products such as snow pants, mitts, snow suits, etc.

One of the difficulties presented by the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has to do with Public Health’s ability to adequately screen for it.

Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, explains that the province can detect the variant through its whole genome sequencing lab, and screening tests for omicron are being developed.

The challenge with the screening tests, she says, is based on the makeup of the virus.

She says Omicron has a number of mutations that are similar to other variants, making it difficult to develop a specialized test for the virus.

The Nunatsiavut Government Education Division will be developing a new curriculum book.

Roberta Baikie Andersen is the Assistant Director Secondary Education.

She says that they are currently looking for pictures to be included with the text.

Baikie Andersen says that they need pictures of people, places, landscapes, community activities and wildlife.

Click here to find out more.

Today, Friday, December 10, Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory.

In the Western Health region:

• One between 50-59 years of age; and
• One between 60-69 years of age.

There is one female and one male and both are contacts of previously known cases.

Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

There have been six new recoveries, one in the Eastern Health region and five in the Western Health region and 2,040 people have recovered, and there is no one in hospital because of COVID-19.

There are currently 13 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

• Eastern Health – 5
• Central Health – 0
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
• Western Health – 8

To date, 352,145 tests have been administered.

The Christmas holidays are just a couple weeks away.

Tuesday was the last day we aired the IlinniaKatigennik Program, and yesterday, the OK Radio aired the last PiusituKavut Program for the year.

The IlinniaKatigennik will be back on the air on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 and PiusituKavut will be back on the air on Wednesday, January 12.

In the meantime, anyone wanting to record any stories or sing Inuttitut songs are welcome to do so.

You can contact Robyn Martin either by email at robyn.martin@nuntsiavut.com or call her at 922-2051.

We would also like to remind everyone that any adults wanting to record any Inuttitut songs or stories will be compensated of $50 for your time and will be done over the phone.

The Department of Health and Social Development’s in Nain, Hopedale and Makkovik have some Christmas Activities planned for this year.

Kim Andersen is the Team Leader with the Makkovik DHSD.

She says they will be delivering meals for seniors ages 55 years and older starting at noon.

On Friday, December 10th, the DHSD staff will be delivering meals for seniors ages 65 years and older.

There will be Christmas Caroling for seniors starting at 2pm.

On Sunday, December 12th, children in kindergarten to Grade 3 will have a movie starting at 1pm followed by a movie for children in from Grades 4 to 6 at 3:15pm.

Seniors ages 55 years and older will have a chance to have a Christmas Painting afternoon on Monday, December 13th, along with an Adult Paint Night at 6pm.

On December 14th, there will be meal for women who are in the Wellness for Women group.

The DHSD Staff will have a Drive-Thru Breakfast on December 15th at 8:30am and Meals for Men will be on December 16th, starting at noon.

On Saturday, December 18th, there will be pictures with Santa from 1 to 3pm outside the DHSD Building.

Jukie Winters is the Team Leader in Hopedale.

She says there will be a Seniors’ Christmas party for seniors ages 50 years and older at the Nanuk Centre starting at 5pm.

On Monday, December 13th, the DHSD will be partnering with the Moravian Church to have a Christmas Fair.

The DHSD staff will be partnering with the Recreation Department to either do a takeout or a party on December 16th for children ages 6 to 12 years age.

On Monday, December 20th, the staff will be partnering with Recreation to hold a takeout or a party for anyone ages 19 to 49 years of age.

Jane Merkuratsuk is the Community Health Worker in Nain.

She says the Christmas activities will be partnered with the Mental Health team, and anyone wanting to sign up can comment or message their Nain DHSD Nunatsiavut Facebook page.

Today families have a chance to make some gingerbread houses starting 6pm.

Tomorrow, December 10th, there will be five more spots for more gingerbread house making for families.

On Saturday, December 11th, there will be a Parent-and-Me Painting for parents and their children ages 0 to 4.

If anyone wanting to sign up can comment or message the Nain DHSD Nunatsiavut Facebook page.

There will be more activities once we hear back from Merkuratsuk.