OKâlaKatiget radio contacted the coastal Department of Health and Social Development’s for updates.

In Makkovik we spoke with Kim Andersen, Team Leader, and Gemma Pottle, Mental Health Worker, with DHSD.

Andersen says on every Tuesday they hold a lady’s craft night from 6-8pm, you are to bring your own crafts. Every Thursday they have a radio show on the local radio at 10am, every week is themed, and on the 22nd is a wellness woman’s meal at 12 noon.

Pottle adds that they have an Adult Support Group on the 23rd from 6pm, on the 24th there is a residential school survival meal for residential school survivors and descendants, please call 923-2297 before 12pm that day to register your name, this meal will be at 5pm, and on the 27th there is a women’s night at 6pm. All programs are at the DHSD building.

In Hopedale we spoke with Sukie Aggek, Team Leader for DHSD.

Aggek says they hold a Diabetes Bingo monthly along with Diabetes vouchers, and there are also evening events.

The DHSD’s in Nain and Postville has no events planned, and the Postville DHSD are short staffed.

OKâlaKatiget Radio contacted the Coastal Community Freezers for updates.

In Nain, there is Caribou, Seal, and Char. The caribou is limited to one piece per household, and you are to pick up your own meat.

In Hopedale, there is Caribou, Musk Ox, Char, and Capelin.

In Makkovik, there is Cod Fish and they are expecting Char soon.

The Postville Freezer has only char available, and the Rigolet Freezer is closed at the moment until they have their new stock.

The reunion for Hebron/Nutâk/OKak was cancelled due to many reasons and delays, so the yearly Family project with a few survivors of Nutâk areas traveled by speed boats yesterday.

We spoke with Johannes Lampe the President of Nunatsiavut Government.

With overwhelming feelings of sadness and happiness at the same time, 5 elders from Nutâk had the opportunity to travel to their homeland.

It will be the 65th anniversary next year for the dislocation of Heparonimiut.

There were 115 communities in this province which were re-located, and it was called resettlement! Between 1954 and 1965.

Click here to find out more details.

Smart ICE in Nain is recruiting for production trainees, for youth ages 18-30.

Rex Holwell, Manager of Nunatsiavut Operations has an employment readiness and technology development program, in fall of September 18-October 12, 2023.

The workshop involves in workplace training for computer skills, resume building, managing workplace stress, effective communication, SmartBUOY technical training and production. There is also training courses such as First AID and Personal development.

The rate of pay is $17.50/h from Monday-Thursday, with 20 hours a week.

Any youth interested please contact Rex Holwell, Manager of Nunatsiavut Operations to set up an appointment to meet. Contact number is 709-899-6362, or email rex@smartice.org.

Holwell adds that if you need to reach him, he is out travelling till September, so please phone or email.

The North Atlantic Remove Vet Services has been coming to the North Coast of Labrador every year to offer free spay and neuter clinics as well as general vet care since 2017.
Veterinarian Dr. Maxina Hunt started NARVS as she has a passion to serve animals and help owners in remote communities that don’t have access to veterinary care year round. Typically they do one clinic per year.
We spoke with Jacqueline Winters, NARVS team member, the local contact person and coordinator for NARVS in Nunatsiavut.
This year the NARVS team were supposed to travel to Makkovik and Postville in August, however they had to postpone until April 2024 due to reasons out of their control.
Winters says it takes a lot of work prepping for these clinics, which involves getting our team together and making sure the dates we plan to travel works for everyone on the team, as well as making sure we have enough fundraised/donations to do the trip. We look forward to our next clinic (Makkovik and Postville) which is now planned for April 2023.
Services offered by NARVS include spay and neuter, vaccinations (rabies and distemper/parvo vaccine) deworming, general checkups, nail trimming and euthanasia if necessary and requested by owner.
NARVS is entirely run on donations, and you will often see Winters taking appointments for these clinics via Facebook bulletin boards.
If you have any questions please contact Winters through Facebook. NARVS also has a Facebook page that you can follow for any updates.

Nunatsiavut Government welcomes increased federal funding for high-speed Internet access.

The Nunatsiavut Government welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement today of an additional $10.3 million in funding to bring high-speed Internet to Labrador’s north coast.

The project, which received $22 million in initial funding in March 2022, will benefit more than 1,000 households in the five Labrador Inuit communities of Hopedale, Makkovik, Nain, Postville and Rigolet, as well as the Innu community of Natuashish.

It is supported by the Universal Broadband Fund (UBF), a federal initiative that aims to connect rural and remote Canadians to high-speed internet.

The Nunatsiavut Government recognizes the importance of reliable and affordable Internet access for Labrador Inuit communities and is pleased to be a partner in this initiative, says Finance, Human Resources and Information Technology Minister Tom Evans.

“This additional funding will enable better access to health care, education and economic opportunities; more productivity for businesses, Inuit Community Governments and organizations; better connections for family members living apart; and overall stronger communities throughout Nunatsiavut,” says the Minister.

The Nunatsiavut Government thanks the Government of Canada and other project partners for their commitment and collaboration on this vital project.

The Nunatsiavut Group of Companies are busy with operations this summer.

We spoke with Chris Webb the President and CEO for NGC.

He says they have over 200 employees working with TSI alone.

Webb gives us an update with the Café Illusuak, upcoming projects for operations in 2023 season.

Click here to find out more within NGC.

Immunocompromised People Encouraged to Get a COVID Booster This Fall.

Those who are immunocompromised or who spend time around those who are vulnerable to illness are being encouraged to get a COVID booster come the fall.

The E.G.,5 subvariant is in circulation and as the weather starts to cool and school reopens for the year, the likelihood of spread increases.

As of April 17, 2023, individuals in the groups specified below are eligible for a spring bivalent booster if it has been at least 6 months from receiving their last COVID-19 vaccine:

• Adults 80 years of age and older.
• Adult residents of long-term care facilities and other senior congregate living facilities
• Adults 18 years of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
• Adults 65 to 79 years of age, particularly if they do not have a known prior history of COVID-19 infection.
• Individuals 5 years of age or older who do not meet the criteria above and have not received a COVID-19 booster dose since September 21, 2022, are still encouraged to receive one now. If you have received a booster since September 21, 2022, and do not meet the criteria above, you do not need another booster at this time.

Infants 6 months of age to under 5 years are eligible for their primary series.

Depending on the vaccine, it could be a two or three dose schedule. Please speak to your healthcare provider for more information.

The Innu Nation held their election, August 14, 2023.

Members of the Innu Nation in Labrador have elected a new Grand Chief, Deputy Grand Chief, and Board of Directions.

Wendy Hillier, Chief of Electoral Officer for the elections released the results.

Grand Chief, Natuashish, Labrador
Simon Pokue, with a total of 617 votes

Deputy Grand Chief, Sheshatshiu, Labrador
Christopher Rich, with a total of 853 votes

Board of Directors – Sheshatshiu Board of Directors – Natuashish

Female

Shirley Penashue 614 Katie Pasteen (incumbent) 300
Agathe Pone (incumbent) 543 Virginia Collins (incumbent) 259
Seraphine Rich 540 Nora Pasteen (incumbent) 249

Male

Pien Selma (incumbent) 592 Clarence Nui (incumbent) 253
Gervais Penashue 491 Leon Tshakapesh (incumbent) 228
Clarence Snow 432 Peter Pasteen (incumbent) 227

The newly elected Grand Chief, Deputy Grand Chief and Board of Directors will assume their duties immediately.

An update on LATP funding opportunities in Nain.
Leah Blake, LATP councillor based out of Nain, will be traveling to Rigolet for an open house tomorrow, Wednesday August 16 to Thursday August 17, weather permitting. This will be about what kind of funding LATP offers and programs funded by LATP.

They will meet VALE there, who will also have an open house about the programs they have coming up in the future.

LATP will have 12 applications for their next Safety Training bundle, coming up in either September/October, there are only 3 more seats available. If you would like to apply, please pick up an application or email a request for an application to lblake@latp.ca

They will be having Camp attendant training sometime this fall also, and details will come later.

And just for a reminder, Underground Mine training in Sudbury, Ontario, will start October 30, if you are interested, please pick up an application as soon as possible. This is a 5-week training program provided by Nor cat in Sudbury.

Leah Blake also helps with resumes, if you would like to drop by her office. She is located at the old LIDC building on 2 Morhardt Road, next to OKâlaKatiget Society. Her contact information is:
Nain, NL
P.O Box 179
A0P 1L0
Phone: 709-922-1800
Fax: 709-922-180
lblake@latp.ca