Christmas season this year is very different from the past celebrations we had everywhere.

Joe Dicker is the Nain AngajukKâk of the Inuit Community Government.

He says yes, it is a very different year to celebrate Christmas here and for sure in the other communities and elsewhere.

But says even though it was a different way to celebrate the Spirit of Christmas was there.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear Dicker talk about Christmas in Nain.

We will also speak with Martha Winters Abel from Hopedale.

Here is the schedule for the Hopedale 2020 candlelight service and for the watch night service.

This year’s church services will be aired on the Hopedale local radio station.

For the candlelight service, this will be aired at 4pm on December 24th, and the Memorabilia service will be aired at 7pm on December 31st, 2020.

Candles, apples and bulletins for the services will be given out at 3 different locations on Wednesday December 23rd.

The locations are as follows:

– Nanuk Center for families on Berry Road
– Hopedale Inuit Community Government office for families in Subdivision
– Moravian Church for families in the village

One person from your family may pick up the items for your household.

The Moravian Church in Makkovik will also be airing its Christingle service at 4pm on CIML Radio on December 24th, 2020.

Other church services will be held at the Moravian Church in Makkovik at 4pm on the following dates:

Christmas Day, December 25th, On Children’s Day December 28th and you must register with Jodie Lane before hand, and News years day January 1st.

On Old Christmas Day there will be a service held at 3pm but no love feast.

This year there will be no Memorabilia service and no watch night service.

Masks are mandatory in the church until you are seated.

And today December 22nd, the Moravian Church will be providing bagged apples and candles to households.

You can pick these up at the Department of Health and Social Development Building, and arrangements can also be made for delivery if you are unable to pick them up.

When you dial 923-2340/2240/2297 please specify home many are in your household.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Nain had their Virtual Window Christmas Decorating contest draw yesterday.

Jane Merkuratsuk is a Community Health Worker with DHSD.

Merkuratsuk says that there were three winners; 1st place went to Gwen Dyson and she received a $150.00 Gift card from the Northern Store.

2nd place went to Rutie Dicker and she received a $100.00 Gift card also from Northern, and the 3rd place winner went to Sherry Dicker-Lidd, she also received a Northern Gift card of $75.00.

Merkuratsuk also adds that they will be drawing five stockings this afternoon at 3pm.

The stocking draws will be for household virtual Christmas tree pictures, you must post a picture of your Christmas tree via Facebook.

Merkuratsuk says so far they have 32 entries and the deadline to enter will be until it is time to select winners.

The construction of new homes through Torngat Regional Housing Association is slowing down.

William Lucy is the Cordinator.

He says the 2 new homes are ready to be painted in Hopedale, also the 2 in Rigolet, wiring has to be still done and that work will be done after Christmas.

Lucy says carpenters and crew are layed off in Makkovik for the winter. Postville still has few work on the outside to do but they are also layed off for the winter.

He added the two new homes in Nain are occupied, and the other two were getting a water test yesterday, and from there the keys was going to be handed over to the owners.

The lawyer representing an Inuit man killed at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary last year says charges against several guards in the case have been a long time coming.

33-year-old Jonathan Henoche died last November while awaiting trial for the murder of 88-year-old Regula Schule, a respected community leader in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Henoche was approached by correctional officers during an incident at HMP on November 6th of last year. He was eventually taken to the special handling unit but died a short time later. His death was ruled a homicide.

Bob Buckingham represents the family of Jonathan Henoche.

He says family is relieved over charges finally being laid, adding they recently came together to remember him and place flowers on his grave.

Buckingham says at least six people were originally suspended in connection with the incident, but the RNC has not revealed how many have been charged, or the nature of the charges.

Those accused have been released on conditions to appear in provincial court at a later date.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Steve Crocker calls yesterday a “tough day for a lot of people.”

He calls it a highly-sensitive and serious situation and he offered his thanks to the RNC for their work.

Crocker says the province will continue to review policies and procedures in adult corrections to ensure they meet best practices from across the country.

Government will not offer further comment on the matter as it is before the courts and because it is a human resources issue.

Courtesy of VOCM.

No cases of a new strain of COVID-19 identified in the UK have yet been confirmed in Newfoundland and Labrador.

That’s according to the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janice Fitzgerald.

Canada is one of a number of countries that have ordered flights from the United Kingdom temporarily suspended after the new variant of the illness was identified.

Reports indicate the new strain of the virus could be much more easily spread than previous cases.

Dr. Fitzgerald says she is not aware of any cases yet identified in this province.

The strain has been identified in the UK for quite some time says Fitzgerald, and she admits there is a chance it could be here.

Testing currently used to identify COVID-19 should also be able to detect the new strain according to Fitzgerald.

OKâlaKatiget Radio will be airing the third recordings from businesses and people saying their Christmas Greetings to their families and friends.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today, we will air them at 2:30.

Today, Monday, December 21, Newfoundland and Labrador has no new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The province has 28 active cases.

There have been three recoveries in the Central Health region since yesterday.

This means 347 people have recovered from the virus, one person is in hospital due to the virus and to date, 70,502 people have been tested.

Public Health is reminding people to strictly adhere to the orders from 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.

Public Health is reminding people about the phrase People, Space, Time, and Place. People should always consider these four important reminders. They are especially important with the holidays approaching.

Public Health has prepared guidance on holiday activities. Holiday events or gatherings should be planned in accordance with Public Health guidelines.

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 award ceremony and trophy presentation for the 3rd Annual Gussie Bennett Ball Hockey Tournament took place this past weekend.

Edward Flowers was the organizer for this tournament and posted the award ceremony and trophy presentation and here are the following awards:

For the 12 and under:

Most sportsmanlike male went to Peter Lidd
Most sportsmanlike under 9: Brenan Dicker
Most sportsmanlike female: Alexa Chaulk
Top defensemen: Teagen Michelin
MVP female: Peyton Dicker
MVP male: Terrence Merkuratsuk
MVP under 10: Quinten Dicker
Top forward: Landen Dicker
Top goalie: Denzel Dicker
Most sports minded team: Teachers

In the adult division:

Top defensemen: Mike Dyson
Most sportsmanlike female: Serenity Ivany
Most sportsmanlike male: Mike Dyson Jr.
MVP female: Danika Winters
MVP male: Gustave Barbour
Top forward: James Dicker
Top goalie: Josh Angnatok
Most sports minded team: Team Gracie

Flowers would like to thank Lisa Ivany and Recreation Dept. for sponsoring the banners for this tournament and thank you to our staff for keeping everyone safe and social distancing during the tournament.

He would also like to thank the volunteer referee’s Mike Dyson, Gwen Dyson and Jacko Jararuse and all the players and teams for showing up and honoring Gussie once again, and hope to see you all next year.