The Cowan’s Optical Eye Team will be making their way to Nain next week.

We spoke with Edna Winters, the Team Leader with the Nain Department of Health and Social Development.

She says they will be arriving to Nain this Sunday, January 31, 2021 and will be in Nain until Thursday, February 4, 2021.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and regulations the Nain DHSD will not be taking any walk in appointments.

Winters says they have been taking names for the eye team now for a while, and in order to be seen by the eye team you have to be eligible.

Currently they are currently fully booked.

She adds they sent names out to see the eligible check, they will be contacting those who are eligible and they will book and sort out the appointment list.

Bell Let’s Talk is held across Canada to build awareness and acceptance of Mental Health.

Today is the 11th Annual Bell Let’s Talk Day.

Elsie Russell is the Mental Health and Addictions Counsellor.

She says she will be giving out Bell Let’s Talk hats and will also be giving out a $100 gift certificate at the end of the day.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut program to hear more from Russell on Bell Let’s Talk Day.

Today, Wednesday, January 27, Newfoundland and Labrador has two new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The first new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age.

The case is related to international travel. The individual is self-isolating and contact tracing is finished.

The second new confirmed case is a male in the Eastern Health region between 20-39 years of age.

The source of the infection is under investigation. An update will be provided as more information becomes available. The individual is self-isolating and contact tracing is underway.

The province has five active cases of COVID-19.

There have been no new recoveries since yesterday.

388 people have recovered from the virus, one person is in hospital and to date, 78, 749 people have been tested.

Public Health is reminding people to strictly adhere to the orders of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

In Alert Level 2, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should continue to practice good infection prevention and control practices.

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

The OKâlaKatiget Society will be airing some Inuktitut lessons during our Sugusivut program today.

Katie Winters and Tabea Suarak will be reading and teaching children some Inuktitut lessons.

The lessons will include daily language used by many of us, such as, who are you? How are you? Etc.

Tabea Suarak will also be reading a short piece from the story Amautiga that was written by the late Toni White and translated by Louisa Kojak and Rita Andersen.

So stay tuned to Sugusivut later in the program.

The OKâlaKatiget Society has a job opening for a Television Producer.

This position is a full-time permanent position.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identifying story ideas and conducting research
• Operating camera, lighting and audio equipment
• Planning and conducting interviews and sources
• Outlining and writing scripts for editing
• Transcribing
• Digitally editing film on Avid software

The closing date for this position is Monday, February 1st, 2021.

Preferences will be given to Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement.

Applicants are preferred to be bilingual in Inuktitut and English as well.

You can send in your resumes to our Executive Director, Arlene Ikkusek by email at arlene.ikkusek@oksociety.com or Sarah Abel at sarah.abel@oksociety.com.

For more information, you can contact the OKâlaKatiget Society office at 922-2955.

Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27th to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.

Since 1999, thousands of schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups have taken part in the initiative.

ABC creates free learning and promotional resources for anyone that wants to get involved. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.

Family Literacy Day 2021 Theme this year is Travel the World Together!

From Vale NL for the 2021 Winter Shipping Program for Nain and Hopedale.

You are invited to join Vale and the Nunatsiavut Government representatives to learn about and discuss this year’s winter shipping activities.

Due COVID-19, they are require you to pre-register to the following e-mail addresses and please ensure you wear an appropriate facial mask covering and maintain physical distancing.

You can email Sheila.freake@vale.com or theresa.baikie@vale.com.

It will be held in Nain at the Nunatsiavut Government Building today, Wednesday, January 27, 2021 from 2-4pm and again from 7-9pm in the big boardroom.

In Hopedale, it will be held at the Nunatsiavut Assembly Building tomorrow, Thursday, January 28, 2021 in the Court Room from 2-4pm and 7-9pm.

There will be no refreshments served due to COVID-19.

Vale wishes to notify the public that based on the advice of Sikumiut and their assessment of ice conditions in the shipping route, there will be only one pontoon bridge deployed at Taktok for this voyage of the Umiak 1. As local residents would know, it is not a normal year for ice formation and we encourage everyone to exercise extreme caution around the ship’s tracks this winter.

The Umiak 1 is scheduled to arrive at Edward’s Cove on Wednesday, January 27th.

Further shipping information will be available through the information phone number: 1-877-922-SHIP (7447), the Vale Shipping Information Number 709-922-4437, or the Vale web site: www.vale.com/canada.

Adam Lidd, an elder of Nain, got his COVID-19 vaccine along with many others on January 15th and the 16th.

Lidd says he is thankful for this vaccine to be available to everyone to fight against the virus.

He also encourages everyone to take the vaccine and that he will also be getting the second dose in February.

We will be speaking with Elder Adam Lidd later in the PiusituKavut Program to find out more about his thoughts on the COVID-19 vaccine.

Today (Tuesday, January 26), Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province has three active cases.

There have been two new recoveries in the Eastern Health region since yesterday. This means 388 people have recovered from the virus.

One person is in hospital.

To date, 78,477 people have been tested.

Public Health is reminding people to strictly adhere to the orders of the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

People must remain vigilant and follow all Public Health measures to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from the spread of COVID-19.

People are reminded that COVID Alert is available for download free through the Apple or Google Play app stores. Public Health is encouraging people to download the app to help reduce the spread of the virus.

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