The Nunatsiavut Government will provide home-heating assistance again this winter to Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the five Labrador Inuit communities.

The purpose of the Nunatsiavut COVID-19 Emergency Heat Subsidy Program is to provide those most vulnerable and those economically affected by the global pandemic with home heating costs.

Eligible recipients may receive assistance with their acquiring wood, in covering some of the costs of electric heat or furnace/stove oil. The program is intended as a supplement and not meant to replace an individual’s responsibility to pay for normal expenses relating to heating their homes.

Eligibility for this program includes:

• This program is by application only
• Only the homeowner can apply for the program
• Income criteria is the same as in the Nunatsiavut COVID-19 Food Supplement Support program
• All seniors who are 65 years or older are eligible for the program. They must apply, but do not need to provide proof of income
• If a senior is in a family unit with individuals who are under 65 years of age, their income will not be included for that family unit. The other family members in the family unit must provide proof of income
• Applicants can only qualify for one type of heating supplement

Homeowners currently in receipt of the Nunatsiavut COVID-19 Food Supplement Program do not need to re-apply. Nunatsiavut Government staff will contact each homeowner and asked what type of assistance they’d like to receive under the program. Those who are not in receipt of the Food Supplement Support Program will have to apply to receive assistance under the Heat Subsidy Program.

Labrador Marine Inc. (LMI) announced that with yesterday’s departure of the Kamutik W from Goose Bay for ports north to Nain, all cargo and freight will be delivered for the 2021 season.

Cargo and private vehicle traffic set new records this year. Passenger traffic recovered from 2020 and surpassed the numbers for 2019, the season before the COVID pandemic.

The volume of freight this year required an additional trip. The current voyage will conclude the 2021 coastal shipping season. The Kamutik W will layup in Lewisporte for the winter and undergo routine maintenance.

The 2021 shipping season was a success, with a 23.7% percent increase in shipments over 2019 and a 5.3% increase over 2020. Shipments included groceries and household supplies, as well as building materials and construction equipment.

Labrador Marine Inc. has begun planning for the 2022 season and has scheduled the first sailing to depart Goose Bay on Sunday, June 12th, 2022. LMI will consult local government officials and users of the service in preparation for next season.

Nicholas Flowers of Hopedale is currently the Language Program Coordinator for the Nunatsiavut Government based in Hopedale.

Flowers is 19 years old and hopes one day to become an Inuktitut Teacher.

He says that they had their first TetuKatigelautta Program on Monday, December 6th and was a huge success with 32 residents that attended the event.

There were activities such as storytelling, singing of Christmas Carols in Inuktitut, crossword puzzles and others.

Flowers adds that he works closely with the staff with the Department of Language, Culture and Tourism with the Nunatsiavut Government.

To hear more with Nicholas Flowers, click here.

Today, Wednesday, December 8, Newfoundland and Labrador has five new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

In the Eastern Health region:

-One under 20 years of age; and
-Three between 60-69 years of age.

All cases are males. Two cases are contacts of previously known cases and two are related to international travel.

In the Western Health region:

One between 60-69 years of age;

The case is a female and is under investigation.

There has been one new recovery in the Western Health region and 2,034 people have recovered. There is no one in hospital because of COVID-19.

There are currently 17 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:

Eastern Health – 6
Central Health – 0
Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
Western Health – 11

The number of tests that have been administered is not available at this time due to the ongoing IT outage.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Postville and Rigolet have some activities planned for Christmas.

Barbara Edmunds is the Team Leader in Postville DHSD.

She says children in kindergarten to Grade 2 will have a Christmas Movie today at 3pm.

Tomorrow, December 9, there will be a Christmas movie for kids in Grades 4 to 6 at 3pm.

There will be a Christmas Supper for the DHSD team on Friday, December 10th.

From December 10th to the 21st, there will be the 12 Days of Christmas Activities for families.

Each day will have a different activity for families, and the deadline to apply is Friday, December 10 at 12pm.

On Monday, December 13th, the youth will be making cakes for the seniors, and give the cakes to the seniors the next day.

On December 15th, there will be a Christmas Bingo hosted by Vyann Andersen-Goudie.

Adults will be having their Christmas Social on December 21st starting at 7pm followed by a Christmas party for the daycare on December 22nd.

Lorraine Allen is the Team Leader with the Rigolet DHSD.

She says there will be meals cooked for the community that can be picked up from the community hall on Wednesday, December 15th at 5pm.

They ask that due to regulations, everyone must have their VaxPass available at the time of pick-up.

To get a meal, you can call the DHSD office by Monday, December 13 and let them know how many plates you will need for your household.

Pam Campbell is also the Mental Health & Addictions worker in Rigolet.

She says they will be holding a Sewing group every Tuesday, and anyone participating in the group will have to bring their own Christmas projects.

Anyone ages 19 years and older will be having Christmas Paint Nights tomorrow, December 9th and December 19th, with each night starting at 6:30pm.

Due to restrictions, they can only accommodate 5 participants at a time.

If there is anyone interested, can call Campbell at 947-3328 to confirm your seat for the night of your choice.

The Christmas holidays are just a couple weeks away.

Yesterday was the last day we aired the IlinniaKatigennik Program, and today, the OK Radio will air 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.

Nicholas Flowers of Hopedale is currently the Language Program Community Worker for the Nunatsiavut Government based in Hopedale.

Flowers is 19 years old and hopes one day to become an Inuktitut Teacher.

He says that they had their first TetuKatigelautta Program on Monday, December 6th and was a huge success with 32 residents that attended the event.

There were activities such as storytelling, singing of Christmas Carols in Inuktitut, crossword puzzles and others.

Flowers adds that he works closely with the staff with the Department of Language, Culture and Tourism with the Nunatsiavut Government.

We will be speaking with Nicholas Flowers about the work that he does and his future programming on Friday, December 10th, 2021.

Joseph (Buddy) and Jenny Merkuratsuk of Nain has some fond memories of Advent one and before the Christmas day arrived in the past.

Joseph (Buddy) Merkuratsuk remembers all the snow that used to nearly reach the tops of houses and says it’s not like that anymore.

He also remembers all the hunting and gathering that was done before Advent one.

Buddy also adds that they would only see the Advent Tree on Advent one morning.

Jenny also remembers all the harvesting that was done before Advent one came.

Click here to hear Joseph (Buddy) and Jenny Merkuratsuk.

The OKâlaKatiget Society has started playing Christmas carols as of yesterday Monday, December 6th, 2021.

This means that today, December 7 is the last day to air the IlinniaKatigennik Program until the new year.

The IlinniaKatigennik will be back on the air on Tuesday, January 18, 2022.

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 is looking for information to inform a potential proposal requesting funding to build additional bedrooms on existing homes in the Nunatsiavut Region.

It is our hope this strategy is to allow children in the care of the Department of Children, Seniors & Social Development (CSSD) to return or remain living in their home communities.

Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent would need to follow the guidelines set out by CSSD, including submitting a clear criminal record, child protection check, as well as a medical.

As part of Caring for our Children’s project, DHSD staff will meet with you to complete the foster home assessment.

If you are a Nunatsiavut Beneficiary and interested in being a foster parent, but do not have the space, can contact Kerry Davis or Danielle Baikie.

To contact Davis, you can call him at (709)-896-2313 or email him at Kerry.davis@nunatsiavut.com.

To contact Baikie, you can call her at (709)-922-2942 or email her at Danielle.baikie@nunatsiavut.com.