The Ethel Pijogge Heritage Dog Team Race will be going ahead this year.

Danielle Pottle is one of the festival organizers.

She says that they try to organize at least 2 festivals a year and this year will take place on Saturday, April 17th, 2021.

She says that so far, they have 3 or 4 local mushers who will be taking part in the Dog Team race.

There will also be a snow sculpture contest and a fishing contest.

Pottle adds to keep an eye out for dates and activities throughout that week via Facebook or your local radio station.

Click here to hear more from Pottle on the Dog Team race.

Today, Wednesday, April 14th, Newfoundland and Labrador has three new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Eastern Health region.

The first new case is an individual between 40-49 years of age, the second new case is an individual between 30-39 years of age, and the third new case is an individual under 20 years of age.

All new cases are travel-related.

There are 14 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The regional breakdown of the 14 active cases is as follows:

• Eastern Health – 5
• Central Health – 0
• Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
• Western Health – 9

There are no new recoveries and 1,010 people have recovered, no one is in hospital due to COVID-19, and to date, 127,835 people have been tested.

The Department of Language, Culture and Tourism with the Nunatsiavut Government will be giving away an iPhone SE.

For every person who does an Inuktitut recording for the IlinniaKatigennik Contest will have their name put into a draw until April 30th, 2021.

Any recordings are done over the phone due to COVID-19 restrictions and will be aired on OKâlaKatiget Society.

You will be compensated for your time for $50 for adults and promo for children.

Please note that it must be your own Inuktitut story to get the $50, and if you are reading someone else’s story or reading a book you will get $25.

This is for anyone along the North Coast and in the Canadian constituency.

For more information, you can contact Robyn Martin at (709) 922-2051 or email her at robyn.martin@nunatsiavut.com

The TaKuaKautik Food Bank will be going ahead this month, Thursday, April 29, 2021.

The giveaway will be from 6-8pm at the Warehouse.

If you did not receive a bag in March but need a bag now, please provide your name to Megan Hudson.

If you have Food Bank bags, please return them to the yellow container on the steps at the Warehouse.

You must wear a mask during pick-ups.

William Andersen the third has had a cabin now at Napâttusuak for 37 years.

He says he decided to build a cabin there after being stranded there for several days along with Henry Lyall.

Andersen says that there was a caribou club in Nain and they had decided one year to go and harvest some caribou for elders in the community.

He adds that he has never spent an entire season there because of work commitments.

Click here to find out more about his Aullâsimavik.

Today, Tuesday, April 13, Newfoundland and Labrador has one new confirmed case of COVID-19.

The one new confirmed case is a female in the Western Health region under 20 years of age. The case is a close contact of a previous known case.

Contact tracing by Public Health officials is underway. Anyone considered a close contact has been advised to quarantine.

There are 11 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

The regional breakdown of the 11 active cases is as follows:

· Eastern Health – 2
· Central Health – 0
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 9

There are no new recoveries and 1,010 people have recovered.

No one is in hospital due to COVID-19, to date, 127,265 people have been tested, and there are no new presumptive positive cases.

For the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.

Today, Tuesday, April 13 is Awards Day for the Easter Games in Nain.

The awards will be posted for winners to go and pick up their prizes at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre.

This evening starting at 8:30pm at the Nain Harbour, there will be Family Fire Works.

Everyone is asked to wear a mask and maintain social distancing even when outdoors.

Any questions or concerns please contact the Recreation Department at 922-2691.

The ice conditions in Hopedale are melting faster than previous years.

Ian Winters is the Conservation Officer in Hopedale.

He says the harbour is slushy, but there’s still snow.

Winters says the rattles are starting to open more and looks like it’s going to be an early spring.

He would like to add that it’s still safe to travel from Nain to Hopedale by skidoo yet and markers will probably be put down if the weather warms up next week.

The Member of the House of Assembly for the Torngat Mountains District Lela Evans was sworn in on Monday, April 12th, 2021.

There were three candidates up for election, for the Progressive Conservatives – Lela Evans, Patricia Johnson Castle for the New Democratic Party and Devon Ryan for the Liberal Party.

These were the results counted on Saturday, March 27th, 2021.

PC- Lela Evans with 420 votes

NDP – Patricia Johnson Castle – 37 votes

And for the Liberal Party – Devon Ryan with 16 votes.

MHA Evans will hold office for another 4 years.

The majority of the ice that SmartICE has covered is 2 and 3 feet thick.

Rex Holwell is the Nunatsiavut lead for SmartIce.

He says that his travelled routes by snowmobile to places where it is commonly used.

Holwell says that he has been to Anaktalik, Anaktalâk, Webb’s Bay, Manugâk, Port Manvers, Tabor Island and even to Natuashish.

He is advising travelers to be careful around Tabor Island and suggest that people use the land around the area.

Click here to find out more.