The Clemence Jararuse Memorial Poker Tournament Registration deadline is this Friday.

We spoke with Colleen Pottle one of the organizers.

She says this year the deadline will be on Friday August 4, 2023, at 4pm.

There will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place money prizes this will be determined once registration closes, also prize for best hand and there will also be custom prizes from the family.

This will take place on Saturday August 5, 2023, at 6pm in the Makkovik Community Hall.

Please provide your name and the registration fee of $40, cash preferred.

The final blinds will be posted once registration closes.

Anyone slowing the Poker game, because of intoxication will be removed from the tournament.

Cash can be paid beforehand or the night of and paid to Colleen Pottle.

The town of Makkovik are looking forward to this memorial event to celebrate a special man who loved the poker game.

For more information or to register you can contact Colleen Pottle at 923-2443 or send her a private message through Facebook.

Leah Blake, Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership councillor based out of Nain, updated OKaalaKatiget on what’s been going on for LATP.

Blake mentions that she did receive the certificates for the participants who recently attended the safety training courses, and she will be mailing those out as soon as she’s available to do so.

Blake also adds, that there is another opportunity for underground mine training that will be taking place in Sudbury, Ontario this upcoming fall.

Click here to hear more updates.

Rigolet will be holding their annual Salmon Festival starting August 3rd until August 5th.

The festival will start off the event with opening ceremonies on Thursday, August 3rd at the net loft at 6pm, followed by a parade. The parade will include prizes for most creative, most enthusiastic, and most original.

The schedule is jam packed with fun events for individuals and families. Some events will be a family dance, a cake walk, a volley ball tournament, cardboard boat race, adult card game, and even a water relay for school grade children.

OKaalaKatiget will be keeping the audience updated on daily scheduled events.

Work Underway on Nain and Hopedale Seniors’ Apartment Units.

It will take over 30 trailers to transport them and more than 2000 kilometres of travel by road and boat, but by early fall, four senior’s apartments, 11 units in total will be on the ground in Nain and Hopedale and ready for occupancy by next spring.

“This is something new and innovative for Nunatsiavut,” says Elliott. “The north coast construction season begins in July and buildings have to be weathertight by November. This arrangement allows us to get a two-to-three
month jump on the construction season. That’s a major leap forward.” – DJ Elliott, NCI Construction Manager.

There will be a safety bundle training program happening in Hopedale in September.

Georgia Abel is the LATP Career Counsellor in Hopedale.

The safety training is a tentative date from September 18th – 22nd, 2023.

She says they are now accepting applications for funding.

Individuals can pick up forms at her office located on 15 Centre Avenue, in the post office building.

Safety training bundle will include WHMIS, Standard First Aid, Power Line Hazard, Back Injury, etc.

The seats are limited to 15 people.

Once the seats are full, they will have a wait list set up.

Also there will be a Camp Attendant training program in Hopedale, tentative date is December 2, 2023.

Abel says she is now accepting applications for this program training as well.

Please keep in mind that you must be unemployed, or underemployed to qualify for any of these training programs through LATP.

More information you can contact Georgia Able by email at gabel@latp.ca or call her office at 933-3367.

Nicola Burke offers counselling under Northern Path, to anyone who resides in Newfoundland and Labrador, through in-person, video call, or telephone appointments.

Northern Path, offers you a wide verity of options for counselling sessions, covered by a lot different types of insurance, including Non-Insured Health Benefits.

Burke says that she feels it’s important to give back to the people, so she built into her business on inputs from the community on Nain.

Click here to hear more about Northern Path.

As part of a proposed out-of-court settlement with the Nunatsiavut Government (NG), representatives from Big River Camps (2012) Ltd.

They will be in Makkovik today Monday, July 31, 2023 to offer a public apology for trespassing on Labrador Inuit Lands.

This stems back to 2017 when NG filed a lawsuit against the company for starting work, without proper authorization, to expand and improve vehicle access to its sports-fishing camp on the Big River.

The public is invited to attend the event where the formal apology will be made.

The apology will take place today Monday, July 31, at the Arena in the Multi-Purpose Room in Makkovik at 11am.

Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) is handing out a call for nominations for their 2023 ITK awards.

The Deadline date for submissions is August 15, 2023.

These awards recognize Inuit excellent and work to advance Inuit self-determination in Canada.

Do you know an Inuk who is doing amazing work and deserves greater recognition? Nominate them today.

Up to five recipients will be chosen by an ITK awards committee.

Recipients will receive: a cash prize and gift, recognition by Inuit leadership, Travel to awards presentation.

Nominees must be an Inuk enrolled under an Inuit Nunangat land claims agreement.

An Inuk doing exceptional work in any field to advance Inuit and Inuit self-determination.

For more information or to nominate someone you can call: 1-613-238-8181.

Toll-Free (Canada): 1 (866) 262-8181 and their fax number is Fax: 1 (613) 234-1991.

The Mental Health Support Team has an event for Nain.

Rosie Hurley, Peer Support Worker, Trauma and Addictions Mobile Team for Hopedale is in Nain for two weeks.

The Mental Health Team has an event called Rosie’s Anânak Amauti for Nain.

On Wednesday, August 2nd from 1-3:30pm there will be an art project therapy on Amauti’s located at DHSD.

Elsie Russell, Mental Health and Addictions Worker for Nain will also be there, she adds that this is mainly aimed for mothers.

There will be tetuk, along with homemade redberry mandarin buns, this is open to all mothers.

Russell adds that if you have an emergency, is overwhelmed, stressed, or depressed after hours you can contact the Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-888-737-4668, or the Inuit Hope for Wellness Line at 1-855-242-3310.

A reminder note to yourself is to please rest, drink plenty of water, go fishing, eat well, and exercise.

Russell says that they will have more events soon, and it will be posted through Facebook.

Leah Blake is LATP’s counsellor based out of Nain, for Nain and Rigolet.

Blake updated OKaalaKatiget briefly on what LATP’s plans are looking like for this upcoming fall.

Blake mentioned that she will be away from her office Monday-Friday, August 1-4, but she did receive the Safety Training certificates for those who participated in the safety training program that was held in Nain July 10-14th.

Blake is hopeful of her supervisor coming in August, and has plans for the 5-week training program in Sudbury, Ontario for late October, and accepting applications for those interested who are underemployed, or unemployed.

For more information on how to apply, or to apply, you can email her lblake@latp.ca, call 1 709 922 1800 and leave a message, or you can visit their facebook page, under “Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership (LATP)” you can also browse the different opportunities offered by clicking the different links once you get to their facebook page.

Are you interested in training for careers in underground mining?
If so LATP can help you.

Georgia Able is the LATP Career Counsellor in Hopedale.

She says there will be an Underground common core training program that will be offered in Sudbury Ontario funded by LATP this will be a 5-week program.

Mine exposure will be a 3-day training program in Sudbury Ontario, to give you a hands-on experience for underground mining.

Mining foundations will be a 6-week training program offered at the HVGB campus.

Mining simulator will be a 2-day training course offered in HVGB.

Trades common service core will also be offered, and it will be a 2-day course in Sudbury Ontario learning how to work safely in the underground environment.

For more information you can stop by to her office to see a brochure or call her at 933-3367 or email gabel@latp.ca.