Department of Health and Social Development staff go door to door with kits for community members.

More than 500 mental health kits were recently packaged and delivered to homes in Nain, in an effort to help lift the spirits of people feeling isolated under the COVID-19 pandemic.

Susan Saksagiak, who helped package and distribute the kits — which included board games, journals, pens, crafts and toys — to the community, says they’ve been well received.

The kits came from the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development, paid for with governmental COVID-19 relief funding. The kits were intended to help people feeling isolated due to being unable to visit and connect with family and friends during the pandemic.

Department staff in Happy Valley-Goose Bay ordered the supplies to fill the kits and shipped them to the staff in Nain for packaging and delivery.

The pandemic has affected everyone in the community in some way or another, Saksagiak said. Some days are harder than others when people are unable to connect with family and friends in the same way they were able to before public health restrictions were put in place, she said, and she hopes the kits will bring people together and give them “a little bit of happiness.”

It’s not just about what’s in the kits, says Saksagiak.

Once the kits were completed, any remaining items were donated to community organizations in Nain, including the women’s shelter, emergency shelter and daycare and after-school programs.

Due to the ongoing global coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the Nunatsiavut Government will be offering domestic fishing licenses in area 12-E and the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area by appointment only.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement will be required to call the Nunatsiavut Government Office in their respective community to schedule a time to receive a communal fishing designation. Existing licenses are in effect until June 15, 2021.

Beneficiaries who set nets for domestic use in tidal waters 12-E and Labrador Inuit Settlement Area will require a designation from the Nunatsiavut Government after June 15, 2021. Signing a Designation is not required and the scheduling of an appointment will minimize waiting time to receive your License and tags.

For more information, or to book an appointment please call your Conservation Officer at the numbers listed below:

– Nain – Simon Kohlmeister – 922-2407
– Hopedale – Ian Winters – 933-3777
– Postville – George Gear – 479-9763 ext. 223
– Makkovik – Errol Andersen – 923-2488
– Rigolet – David or Tony Wolfrey – 947-3542
– Happy Valley Goose-Bay/Mudlake – Marty Allen – 896-8582 ext. 226 or Jody Manning – 896-8582 ext. 262
– Northwest River – Dean McLean – 497-8725

Hearing stories in Inuktitut from elders is so good to listen to.

Bertha Holeiter originally from Hebron now lives in Happy Valley Goose-Bay is one such story teller.

She remembers when she first went to school back home in Hebron and more of the days after being relocated to Nain.

Stay tuned to PiusituKavut today to hear part one of Bertha’s story.

Today, Tuesday, June 8, Newfoundland and Labrador has three new confirmed cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Central Health region over 70 years of age. The case is under investigation.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Western Health region under 20 years of age. The case is a contact of a previous case. The case is connected to the cluster in the Western Health region.

The third new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region between 40-49 years of age. The case is under investigation.

Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting its seventh death from COVID-19. The individual, a male from the Eastern Health region, was over the age of 70. The department is sending its condolences to this individual’s family and asks everyone to respect the family’s privacy at this time.

There are ten new recoveries, three in the Eastern Health region, five in the Central Health region and two in the Western Health region and 1,284 people have recovered. There is one person in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 62 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 62 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 5
· Central Health – 20
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 37

To date, 151,381 people have been tested.

The OKâlaKatiget Society has started their summer hours as of yesterday Monday, June 7, 2021.

This means that today, June 8 is the last day to air the IlinniaKatigennik Program until we are back to regular hours.

The summer hours for the OK Society will end on Friday, September 10 and the IlinniaKatigennik will be back on the air on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

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.

It’s boating season again and here are some tips for Boat Safety.

Ensure all safety equipment is packed before you hit the water – a satellite phone, extra sunscreen, water, snacks and clean, dry clothes.

Always wear a properly fitted life jacket/PFD and be sure everyone else on board is wearing a life jacket.

Don’t drink and drive.

It’s illegal and dangerous to drink alcohol while driving a boat, drinking while boating incurs the same legal penalty as drinking while driving a car.

Plan your trip.

Know your destination, expected return time and instructions in case of an emergency.

Always tell someone where you are going.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Rigolet will be hosting a HOPE Walk on Thursday, June 10th.

The HOPE Walk theme is Hold On Pain Ends.

The HOPE Walk provides opportunity for people to walk for themselves, others who are struggling, or in memory of someone who has passed.

The walk instills hope that with support from each other, we can all make it through difficult times.

This event is for all ages and children who are 12 years and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult for the duration of the walk.

The walk will start at the playground and they will walk to the end of the lake and return to the playground.

It will begin at 6pm and prizes will be awarded at the end of the walk.

If you have any questions, please contact Pam at 947-3328, extension 258.

Erin Broomfield is the Regional Justice Service Manager with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Broomfield and Shirley White will be travelling to Nain tomorrow June 9th, to host a meet and greet at the Illusuak Cultural Center.

Shirley White is the Access to Justice Coordinator for Labrador with the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Broomfield says that they would like to meet with Nunatsiavut beneficiaries to talk about their role and also to hear concerns and issues around the justice system in our communities.

The Meet and Greet will start tomorrow evening at 6pm and there will also be a door prize for anyone who attends.

We will be speaking with Erin Broomfield later in the AtjiKangitut Program to find out more.

Today (Monday, June 7), Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Central Health region. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

The first new confirmed case is a female between 50-59 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

The second new confirmed case is a male between 60-69 years of age. The case is related to travel within Canada.

There are no new recoveries and 1,274 people have recovered. There are two people in hospital due to COVID-19.

There are 70 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the 70 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 9
· Central Health – 24
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 37

To date, 150,792 people have been tested.

Sue Webb of Nain and two others spent the spring at Webb’s Bay.

She says that they left Nain on April 27th and returned yesterday.

Webb says that it was an awesome spring and enjoyed her time away from Nain.

She adds that she had done a lot of craft work, but it would have been nice to have had a female companion.

Sue and three others were able to dry some char and make some smoked trout.

We will be speaking with Sue Webb later in the Labrador Memories Program to find out more about her spring at Webb’s Bay.