Here is the Year End Review from December 3rd, 2019:

A by-law was passed to ban the use of plastic bags in Happy Valley- Goose Bay on November 26 and came into effect on January 1st, 2020.

On Dec. 3rd, Kate Mitchell resigned her First Minister position and Minister for Nunatsiavut Affairs.

Also on December 3rd, 2019, the town was saddened to learn the passing of a prominent figure of all Labrador; Dr. Rawluk. Flags were then lowered half mast in honor of him in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Labrador Marine Inc. reported the Kamutik W is making its second last trip to the North Coast Communities with the remaining food left in Goose Bay and arrived Nain Dec. 4 at 5pm. She then headed back to Goose Bay to load up more for its final run to the communities.

On Dec. 9, a Moose harvest in Gross Morne was successful again and the meat was shipped and delivered via Air Borealis to the north coast communities on Dec. 17.

On December 10, the Atsanik Inn began their first takeout service on December 6th, 2019.

On Dec. 10, two men were banned to travel on PAL Airlines for making hurtful racist remarks on a flight that day; they also lost their jobs with Nalcor Energy.

On Dec. 12, First Light Friendship Centre held its annual Candle Light Service at St. Mary’s Church in St. John’s on Dec 24th.

OKâlaKatiget Society prepares its first ever commercially available audio recording project co-ordinated by Mark Turner at MUN on Dec. 16.

Also on Dec. 16, William Flowers of Nain was named Coach of the Month for his dedicated work with Torngat Minor Hockey Association and later received an award and various items.

A first two hour Santa on Air took place on the OKâlaKatiget Radio and children talked to Santa with their Wish List on Dec. 19.

Also on Dec. 19, the Jens Haven Memorial School held the annual two part Christmas Concerts for the Primary K- Gr. 3, then the Grades 4-12 classes.

Dec. 20th marked the 8th consecutive year for the Canadian Toy Association who partnered up with the Royal Canadian Air Force for the Toys for the North, and Santa came to give the presents to the children on a later date.

The OK Radio will air more of the Year End Reviews next week.

Date set for by-election in Constituency of Canada Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe announced yesterday.

That Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement residing in the Constituency of Canada will head to the polls on February 17, 2021 to choose an Ordinary Member to fill a vacant seat in the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

Nominations will close at 2 p.m. (Atlantic Standard Time) on January 13, 2021.

Nomination forms can be obtained from Nunatsiavut’s Electoral Officer, Nannette Blake by e-mailing nannette.blake@nunatsiavut.com, or by calling 709-899-0369.

Today, Wednesday, December 30, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province has 18 active cases.

There has been one recovery in the Eastern Health region since yesterday meaning 365 people have recovered from the virus.

One person is in hospital due to the virus and to date, 72,147 people have been tested.

Public Health is providing an update on the case reported yesterday Tuesday, December 29.

The investigation is finished. The source of the infection for yesterday’s case is travel. The individual had returned to the province from work in Manitoba.

During the holidays, 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.

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

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.

The Nunatsiavut Government is looking to purchase wood under the COVID-19 Emergency Heat Subsidy Program.

Wood must be cut into junks and will be inspected by Nunatsiavut conservation officers.

One load of wood will be considered a Kamutik-box full (approximately eight-feet long).

Conservation officers will be at the following locations from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. to inspect wood: in Nain you can contact Simon Kolmeister & Danika Winters at the NG Administration Building.

In Hopedale you can contact Ian Winters at the Assembly Building, in Postville you can contact George Gear at the NG office, in Makkovik you can contact Errol Andersen at the NG office, and in Rigolet you can contact David Wolfrey at the NG office.

Harvesters applying to this program are reminded to provide date of birth and proof that they are Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims.

Harvesters will be instructed where to drop off the wood after inspection.

For more information, please contact Jason Dicker at 709-922-2942, ext 249.

Expressions of Interest in accordance with the Directive Respecting Nunatsiavut Government Appointments and Nominations to Boards and Other Bodies, which requires that all appointments to boards and committees (as per the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement) be made by the Nunatsiavut Executive Council based on recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Appointments.

The Nunatsiavut Government is currently seeking Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement who may be interested in serving on the Rigolet/Upper Lake Melville Membership Committee and the Hopedale Membership Committee.

In order to serve on a certain membership committee you must be enumerated on the Regional Membership list.

In other words, in order to be on the Rigolet/ULM Membership Committee you must be on the Rigolet/ULM membership list, and to serve on the Hopedale Membership Committee you must be on the Hopedale membership list.

Interested individuals are asked to submit a letter and resume to Isabella Pain, Secretary of the Nunatsiavut Government Executive Council, no later than January 15th, 2021 by email at isabella.pain@nunatsiavut.com or by mail at the address below.

Isabella Pain
P.O. Box 70
Nain, NL
A0P 1L0.

This years Christmas celebrations is not like the ones we are used to, it was very different everywhere due COVID-19.

As we spoke with Nain Angajukkak, Joe Dicker and Martha Winters-Abel, Chapel Servant in Hopedale yesterday.

Stay tuned AtjiKangitut today as we also spoke with Kim Andersen, the Team Leader in Makkovik and an Chapel Servant assistant, and Glen Sheppard the Angajukkak in Postville on how their Christmases were in their towns.

The NHL Board of Governors has approved the agreement between the Leaque and NHLPA for a 56 game 2020-21 season.

The regular season will begin Wednesday, Jan 13, 2021 and conclude Saturday, May 8, 2021. The Stanley Cup playoffs will feature 16 teams in the traditional best-of-seven, four round format and wrap up around mid July. The plan is to return to a normal hockey calendar 2021-22 season.

“The National Hockey League looks forward to the opening of our 2020-21, especially when the Return to Play was so successful in crowning the Stanley Cup champion,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a press release.

“While we are well aware of the challenges ahead, as was the case last spring and summer, we are continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our participants and in the communities in which we live and play.”

“And as was the case last spring and summer, I think NHLPA, particularly Executive Director, Don Fehr for working cooperatively with us to get the league back to ice.”

THE NHL is going with a division realignment that include a seven team Canadian Division which still requires approval from local health officials for the games to be held north of the border.

Phase One of Newfoundland and Labrador’s vaccination plan continues to move forward with the first round of the newly-approved Moderna COVID-19 expected to arrive NL this week. VOCM reported on Dec 23rd last week.

The provincial government says remote and isolated Indigenous communities have been prioritized for the shipment of 2,400 doses. The second shipment of 2,000 doses is expected to arrive on the week of January 11.

The Moderna vaccine does not have to be kept at temperature -70 C like the Pfizer vaccine, making it the current ideal candidate for delivery to remote communities.

Meanwhile on Dec 23rd, some 1,900 health care workers in the Eastern region would have been vaccinated by that days’ end, according to the Dept. of Health.

Another shipment of the Pfizer vaccine arrived the day before and was allocated to the same health care workers, as they are required to get a second dose.

Further shipments are expected to arrive next month, and will be distributed to all regional health authorities’ priority groups.

According to Phase One of the provinces vaccination plan, priority groups include: those in congregate living settings for seniors, including residents, staff and essential visitors, health care workers at high risk of exposure to the virus, people 85 years or over and adults in remote or isolated Indigenous communities.

The Makkovik Recreation held their 2020 Christmas lights contest.

Sydney Ford is the Makkovik Recreation Youth Coordinator.

She says here there were two categories with many, many participants this year.

And here are the results and winners of the 2020 Christmas lights contest.

Ford says it was so hard to judge because everyone had beautiful lights this year.

They had to pick one winner for the “Most Festive” category and that went to Clara Jararuse who won herself $75.

The category for the “Most decorated” was a tough one, between Toby Andersen, Paul Andersen, and Mary Ford Andersen so they won $75.

Ford says it was a hard decision, and no matter how many times they tried deciding on one winner, they couldn’t do it.

Merry Christmas from the Makkovik Recreation Department.

Yesterday, Monday, December 28, Newfoundland and Labrador had two new confirmed cases of COVID-19, both of which are in the Eastern Health region.

The first new confirmed case is a male between 20-39 years of age.

The case is related to international travel.

The individual is a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador and is self-isolating. Contact tracing is finished.

The second new confirmed case is a male between 20-39 years of age.

The case is travel-related. The individual, a resident of Newfoundland and Labrador, returned to the province from work in Alberta and is self-isolating. Contact tracing is finished.

The department was notified about the outbreak by the Public Health Agency of Canada as individuals from this province work at the site.

Rotational workers from this site who have returned to Newfoundland and Labrador in the last 14 days must self-isolate and physically distance away from household members, and call 811 to arrange testing.

These workers must now complete the full 14-day self-isolation period, regardless of test result.

Newfoundland and Labrador has 19 active cases of COVID-19.

There have been four recoveries in the Eastern Health region since yesterday, meaning 363 people have recovered from the virus.

One person is in hospital due to the virus and to date, 71,804 people have been tested.