The Department of Lands and Natural Resources would like to advise that 2022 sample results recently received from Environment and Climate Change Canada indicate lower levels of oil contaminants in seabird eggs from Postville and Nain than observed in 2021.

While this is encouraging news, the information has been provided to Health Canada for further analysis. Oil toxicity is complex, depending on the levels of many different compounds, so this analysis is necessary before new information can be provided on potential human health
impacts.

Following a diesel spill of 3,000 litres in Kaikopok Bay near Postville in 2020, the Nunatsiavut Government, in collaboration with ECCC, began testing for oil contaminants to determine any long-term, lasting impacts. Results of the analyses showed elevated levels of oil compounds in Postville compared to Nain, and elevated levels in both communities for 2021.

Residents of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims requiring more information, are asked to please contact Frédéric Dwyer-Samuel, Environmental Assessment Manager with Nunatsiavut Government at (709) 922-2380 extension 227.

The Postville Department of Health and Social Development in partnership with Mental Health presents the Fun in The Sun Festival.

This event will be held on Thursday, July 20 from 5-6:30pm, at the Kaipokok Community Centre.

There will be an adult supper for ages 19-64.
For more information, please contact the DHSD office at 709-479-9878.

The recreation department will have more information once it becomes available.

Here is an update on the Forest Fire near Nain.

We spoke with Steven Michelin the conservation officer III.

He says himself and Paul Davis traveled by helicopter on Saturday to drop off gear to the site.

Michelin says the fire is Southwest with a lot of smoke and is now reached to 4,850 hectors.

He adds there wasn’t any more growth from yesterday.

Spots in the fire are now back burning, and the smoke is moving away from the site.

He says that all the smoke everyone noticed on Saturday and Sunday near Nain the smoke actually came from the Quebec fires and not the fire near Nain.

The fire is now 13 kms away from Webbs Bay.

He adds that they flew up to the site on Saturday and they put out a sprinkler kit just in case the fire gets closer to the cabins.

Today, employees began their travel North of Nain, employees working at the Torngat Mountains National Base camp and Hebron this morning.

Jillian Larkham is the Director of Tourism with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Larkham had the privilege to come by the OKâlaKatiget Society to sit down and speak with us briefly, about everything that will be happening in Basecamp.

Once again, this interview will be aired in English only, and the OKâlaKatiget Society sends our apologies.

Click here to hear more from Larkham.

The Nunatsiavut Government is looking for Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries youth ages 15-30 to attend Nutâk & Hebron for a Reuinion.

Are you a descendant or a family member of a former resident of Nutâk or Hebron?

The Nunatsiavut Government is seeking youth representatives and someone to help as a support person to attend this reunion.

This is for youth participants ages 15-30 to attend the reunion in Nutâk & Hebron.

The Nutâk reunion will be held from August 14-18, and the Hebron reunion will be held from August 28-September 1st.

If you are interested email jodie.lane@nunatsiavut.com, also add the reason you should be chosen for this experience.

The deadline for applications is on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at 4pm.

The Torngat Fish Producers Cooperative ltd in Nain are quite busy.

We spoke with Deidi Kohlmeister the Supervisor for the Nain Fish Plant.

She says today they have 7,991 fish landed.

And they have 20 employees working, with 13 fisherman fishing.

Kohlmeister says they now have smoked fish for sale to purchase at the plant.

Their hours are from Monday-Friday 9-5pm.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Hopedale are busy with their schedule this summer.

Ashely Abel is the Community Health Worker in Hopedale.

She says they will be seeking 3 families to travel to Little Bay Lodge.

They will be holding a boating, camping, and fishing opportunity.

Phillip Abel will be their boat guide, Kitora Abel will be the cook.

Abel is also hopeful of hiring one more person to be a transport person for dropping off and picking up families to and from the Lodge.

She says they will be selecting 3 names of families out of a hat, today, July 14, 2023, at 3pm and to inform the selected families once picked.

They will all leave Hopedale by speed boat July 21st to head to the Little Bay Lodge, where they will go fishing and doing other on the land activities, such as boil ups. They will be returning Hopedale July 23rd.

Abel also states that all gas, as well as food will be provided.

The town of Happy Valley Goose Bay are pleased to announce that 5 million dollars was given to the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.

On July 11, 2023 the Honourable Paul Pike, Minister Responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, and Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Amhed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, His Worship George Andrews, Mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Perry Trimper, MHA for Lake Melville, one of the 41 recipients of the third round of the Rapid Housing Initiative’s city stream.

As part of its investment plan for the Cities Stream, the Town of HVGB has partnered with Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) for the construction of 16 new affordable housing units. These units will be owned and operated by NLHC. Clients will come from NLHC’s existing prioritized waitlist, and rents will be geared-to-income at 25 per cent of net income. NLHC will provide funding for the on-going operations, as well as annual heating subsidies to tenants.

This is made possible by the Government of Canada’s additional investment of $1.5 billion through the Rapid Housing Initiative, bringing the program’s total to $4 billion to support the country’s most vulnerable. The additional funding for the third round of the initiative will be divided into two streams: $1 billion through the Projects Stream and $500 million towards the Cities Stream. This investment is expected to create at least 4,500 more affordable housing units for Canadians in severe housing need across the country, with 25 per cent of investments going towards women-focused housing projects.

The Rapid Housing Initiative takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable people under the National Housing Strategy, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health and addiction issues, veterans, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, racialized groups and recent immigrants or refugees.

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture are still closely monitoring the forest fire near Nain.

We spoke with Steven Michelin who is the Conservation Officer IIIA.

He says they are still monitoring the fire through remote sensing.

Michelin says the fire has grow on the southern side, and it’s burning south westerly on a large hill.

He adds that the forest fire is still burning along the lake which is 4000 hectors.

Michelin says they are planning an infrastructure to have in place, just in case if the fire goes near any cabins.

Tomorrow they will be flying in equipment gear just in case the fire spreads more.

The fire is now 14 kms away from Webb’s Bay.

We will have another update once it becomes available.

Kathy Snowball is a Inuk singer from George River, Quebec.

She has been singing since she was a young girl.

Click here to our Teen Rockers Show to hear Kathy Snowball speak about her singing journey.