The President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association is calling the hiring of 70 substitute teachers to alleviate the pressures of back-to-school during a pandemic “a positive first step” but cautions it doesn’t amount to additional resources.

Dean Ingram says the 70 positions will help to streamline things on an administrative level, but does not mean additional teachers will be available. He says more steps are needed.

He says yesterday’s announcement means that the 70 substitutes will be brought in each morning, so that if a teacher is out, administration will not have to call someone in to fill that position.

Ingram says social distancing measures and class sizes still need to be addressed to meet the public health mantra of “People, Space, Time and Place.

Face masks will be mandatory in all indoor public spaces beginning Monday, August 24, 2020.

OK Radio contacted each of the Department of Health and Social Development offices on the North Coast.

Elsie Russell is the Mental Health and Addictions Worker for Nain.

She says there is a group of ladies in Nain who has sewn over 800 face masks since this spring.

Russell says they have a high demand for face masks, and they plan to make 400 more face masks.

The materials came from a volunteer group called “Masks4Labrador” who provided the materials for free.

These handmade face masks can be washed and re-used.

If you would like your own patterns you can contact Elise at 922-2183.

In Rigolet we spoke with Lorraine Allen who is the Team Leader at the DHSD office.

She says they don’t have any adult face masks left, but they have children’s available.

You can call ahead of time at the DHSD before coming by to get a face mask.

In Postville the DHSD have some masks and you are asked to call in before ahead to get your face masks.

Erica Jacque and Ruth Jacque are making the face masks, if you would like to get more face masks you can contact Erica at 479-9847.

Gemma Andersen is the Acting Team Leader in Makkovik.

She says that they get face masks from the Happy Valley Goose Bay DHSD Office.

They do have face masks available but only for people who make appointments at the building but also encourage people to bring their own masks.

Andersen says they have no one making some right now; they don’t have materials and no more patterns for people to make their own.

Candice Igloliorte is the Secretary for the Hopedale DHSD.

She says there are masks available only when people make appointments in the building.

They order their masks from Atlantic Grocery.

Igloliorte says that one person makes masks in Hopedale and that is Sarah Jensen.

The Nain Youth Outreach Worker is busy planning for activities this summer.

Starr Webb is the Summer Student.

She says they are doing a scavenger hunt today.

There are colored rocks that are scattered around town and hints will be available for participants.

They are asked to bring them to the youth centre.

Monday, August 24th, there will be a movie with popcorn from 1:30-3:30pm.

They are planning to watch Jumanji: The Next Level.

On August 25th, Ethan Angnatok will be doing some cooking from 1-3:30pm

On August 26th, weather permitting, they will be doing a water balloon fight and have ice cream from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.

August 27th, weather permitting; they will be doing some berry picking.

OK Radio will have more information once it becomes available.

Yesterday, Thursday, August 20, Newfoundland and Labrador had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province continues to have two active cases.

263 people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 29,486 people have been tested.

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

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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

The commercial char fishery is slowing down in Nain.

There are two licensed char fishermen left fishing from out the six that was fishing this summer.

Deidi Kohlmeister is the Office Supervisor at the Nain Fish Plant.

She says to date a total 32,699 lbs of char has been landed.

The scallop fishery is going well, a total of 33,813 lbs of green scallops has been landed, and 1,500 lbs of shucked meats. The Torngat 1 scallop boat has a 3 man crew.

Kohlmeister says there are 21 plant workers.

The smoked char is sold at $14.75 a pound.

Scallops in 2 lb bags are $32.00, and scallop pieces $20.00 in 2 lb bags.

OK Radio will have information from the Makkovik Fish Plant once it becomes available.

The MHA for the Torngat Mountains District has been very busy dealing with issues from along the coast.

Lela Evans is the MHA for Labrador.

She says she been getting some questions about the rebate from Newfoundland hydro.

Some were getting really high bills compared to their last year’s hydro bills.

Evans also talks a bit about the shuffle in the new cabinet.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear more from Evans on what he’s been dealing with.

The Torngat Regional Housing Association (TRHA) board of directors recently met.

Margie Fox is the chair with TRHA.

She says that all TRHA units and land are going to be turned over to the homeowners pending review by the Board on a case by case basis.

Effective September 1, 2020.

OK Radio will have more information once it becomes available.

The Innu Nation has entered into an agreement with JP Forestry and Environment Ltd of Corner Brook for a two-phase forestry project in Labrador.

According to a release, the project will make use of wood cut for Muskrat Falls that otherwise would have gone to waste.

In phase one, 400,000 cubic meters of timber harvested between 2013 and 2015 at the Lower Churchill project will be chipped and shipped to the biomass fuel markets in the United States and Europe.

During this process, over 70 jobs will be created.

Phase two of the project will involve the harvesting of 185,000 cubic meters of timber per year.

The project will be guided by regulations set out in the 2018-2022 Five Year Operating Plan for the Forestry Management District 19.

Grand Chief Gregory Rich says the Innu Nation is frequently approached for forestry development in their territory, and that this is “the first project in decades that makes sense” for them. He touts the project for creating jobs for those in the area, for helping create a diversified forest economy, and for helping meet the needs of the industry at both a local and global level.

Phase one of the project is slated for next month.

The Jewelry Studio in Nain reopened its doors on August 10th.

John Terriak is the owner for the studio.

He says 3 years ago, he got help from the Nunatsiavut Government and was given leftover material to open up the studio and do courses on how to make jewelry.

He says there are local Labradorite, paint, dry paper, silverware and tools for drawing, painting and to make small crafts.

The studio can only allow two people at a time to maintain social distancing and there is hand sanitizing available in the building.

Terriak says there is a sign up for artists who are interested in participating, and they have to call in advance to make an appointment.

The jewelry studio hours are from 9am to 11:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 1:30 to 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information or to get an appointment, you can call John Terriak at 922-2045.

Yesterday, Wednesday, August 19, Newfoundland and Labrador had no new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The province continues to have two active cases.

Two hundred and sixty-three people have recovered from the virus.

To date, 29,176 people have been tested.

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

Daily preventative actions can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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