The Nunatsiavut Government is once again asking people to refrain from all non-essential travel to, from and within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area.

We spoke with Johannes Lampe who is the President of the Nunatsiavut Government.

He says that they received numerous reports of people travelling by snowmobile to and from other communities within Nunatsiavut.

Lampe also talks about COVID-19 support program geared towards helping those most vulnerable.

Click here to hear President Lampe tell you more.

Student Loans are on hold, but new scam claims otherwise.

Premier Dwight Ball announced in early April that no payment be required and interest will not accrue until September 30, 2020.

The province suspended the repayment of provincial student loans, but there is a scam circulating and making people think otherwise.

Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, Christopher Mitchelmore warns people with student loans that there is scam making its rounds asking people to repay anyway.

He says Canada Student Loan Service Centre and National Student loan Centre are not contacting students, this is a scam.

Mitchelmore tells people to hang up on these people and if anyone has an inquiry they should email studentaideinquiry@gov.nl.ca.

The Nunatsiavut Government will begin purchasing wood as part of its COVID-19 Emergency Heat Subsidy on Friday, April 17, today.

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 8 feet long). Wood will be purchased at the amounts as listed below:

For one load of dry wood in Makkovik $120, Postville $100, Hopedale $150, and Nain $120

For one load of mixed green and dry wood (including black and spruce) in Makkovik $60, Postville $50, Hopedale $100, and Nain $70.

Conservation officers will be at the following locations from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. to inspect wood:

Nain: Simon Kohlmeister & Danika Winters – NG Administration Building
Hopedale: Ian Winters – Assembly Building
Postville: George Gear – NG office Postville
Makkovik: Errol Andersen – NG office Makkovik
Rigolet: David Wolfrey – NG office Rigolet

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

President Russell today expressed deep sadness on behalf of himself, his family, the Governing Council and the people of NunatuKavut on the passing of James G Learning, a close friend and colleague. He issued the following message of condolence:

Jim despised inequality and inequity and believed we all share a responsibility to fight for equality and justice. He lead by example and he took his responsibility seriously.

I can say with great confidence that Jim has made a difference for the better in his homeland. He has been an advocate, a fighter, a liberator, an environmentalist, a man connected to the land and water, a knowledge holder and an Elder. To me and many others, he was also a source of strength and encouragement. For all he was and all he did, we are forever thankful.

Jim lived a full and vibrant life where he gave of himself selflessly. And at the heart of it all it certainly was family. The pride and love in his kids and how he spoke of his daughters Carren and Jennifer and son Matthew, the grandkids whom he adorned and admired and how he wanted them to remain connected to this place. And, of course Roberta, his closest friend and confident who he shared so much with and to whom he showed such respect.

Jim Learning was always a good traveller, just like his Inuit ancestors. I am certain that has not changed on this, his latest journey. In the words of another Labradorian, Jim has left beautiful “trails to remember.” I shall miss him deeply as shall many and all of Labrador will miss a true and loyal servant.
Nakummek, Jim, Nakummek.”

On behalf of the Nunatsiavut Government and Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, President Johannes Lampe extended his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of respected Hopedale Inuk elder Andrew Piercy, who passed away yesterday morning.

“Mr. Piercy made tremendous contributions to the community of Hopedale, to Labrador Inuit and to Nunatsiavut as a whole,” says President Lampe. “He gave freely of his time to help others, and was never shy to stand up for his community and for all Labrador Inuit. We mourn a huge loss, but we also celebrate a life that was well-lived. He will be sadly missed, but fondly remembered by those who were fortunate enough to have known him.”

It was announced yesterday that there are 5 new positive cases in eastern health region.

There are total of 256 cases in NL as of today. We have 4 new cases in Eastern Health.

The Provincial Public Health state of emergency is renewed for 2 more weeks (again) starting yesterday.

If you know of anyone who previously contacted the 811 Health Line with symptoms and were told they did not require a test, and they still have symptoms, please encourage them to call back to be re-evaluated for a COVID-19 test.

As of April 16th, testing criteria now includes anyone who presents with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection.

Testing has been expanded to include those who have two or more of the following symptoms:

• Fever or signs of a fever, which include chills, sweats, muscle aches, light-headedness
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat, and
• Runny nose

Thank you for your cooperation so far and remember, “Make a bubble of protection around yourself and your family, stay in that bubble, and don’t burst anyone else’s.”

A teleconference is held every Wednesday with the AngajukKât in each of the North coast communities along with MP for Labrador, Yvonne Jones.

Joe Dicker is the AngajukKâk for Nain Inuit Community Government.

He says these conference calls are held to see how everything is doing within their respective communities during COVID-19.

Click here to hear Dicker talk about what the Medical Health, the Province and Nunatsiavut says to stay safe, keep social distancing and stay home.

Yesterday, Tuesday, April 15th, it was announced that there are 3 new positive cases; two in the Eastern Health Region and one in the Western Health Region.

There are 247 total cases.

Cases are total cases since the beginning and not just the active cases. You would need to subtract the recovered case number to get the total active cases.

229 Eastern Health
8 Central Health
4 Western Health
6 Labrador Grenfell Health

53 percent females
47 percent males

8 people in hospital
3 in ICU
3 deaths in eastern health previously. Not today.

159 people have recovered
5166 people have been tested

“Stay inside your bubble, and don’t burst anyone else’s bubble.”
Wash your hands for 20 seconds, cough into your elbow or a tissue, and STAY HOME if you are sick – even if it’s just a sniffle!
For the most up to date information, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/covid-19.
The website has excellent resources for individuals and employers.
If we work together, we will save lives.

The Them Days Magazine in Happy Valley-Goose Bay is busy looking for stories.

Lorraine O’Leary is the new maternity Replacement Editor for Them Days.

She is working from home and would love to hear from you.

She is looking for stories from all across Labrador about your memories of hunting with an Elder.

Maybe your mom or dad took you out seal hunting, maybe your aunt or uncle took you out ptarmigan hunting, maybe an Elder took you rabbit snaring.

If you have a story to share with Them Days, please email Lorraine O’Leary at editorialassistant@themdays.com

The extended deadline is April 24th, 2020.

On April 8th, the Nunatsiavut Government announced details of a number of initiatives aimed at assisting Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, residing in the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area, deal with impacts associated with the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

Programs for Upper Lake Melville and the Constituency of Canada will be announced soon.

• Emergency Food Supplement Support Program
The purpose of this initiative is to ensure individuals and families impacted by COVID-19 and those most vulnerable to the virus have sufficient nutritious food to support their health and wellness. Adequate nutrition is crucial for maintaining good health and having the ability to fight off infection.

• Emergency Heat Subsidy
This program is designed to assist Labrador Inuit with heating their homes during the pandemic. It will subsidize the cost of acquiring and accessing wood, furnace and stove oil, and electricity. Provisions are being made to pay harvesters to provide wood to Inuit communities, as well as to financially assist those who are able to access their own wood.

• Harvesters Support Program
The goal of this program is to ensure community freezers are adequately stocked with country food for distribution to those most vulnerable to COVID-19, particularly elders. Funding will be provided to harvesters to cover costs associated with accessing country food. As well, provisions are being made to allow Labrador Inuit and harvesters to trade/barter country food they current have for gasoline, snowmobile oil and ammunition. Those who are able to harvest country food, but unable to do so because of financial constraints, will be able to apply for a gasoline allowance.

Beneficiaries and wood and country-food harvesters wishing to apply for any of these programs are asked to contact the following in their respective communities during regular business hours (8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday):

Nain
Rutie Dicker 709-922-2942
Mary-Adelaide 709-922-2942
Brenda Dicker 709-922-2968

Hopedale
Vanessa Gauntlett 709-933-3695
Dawn-Rose Winters 709-933-3777

Postville
Ruth Jacque 709-479-9867

Makkovik
Carol Gear 709-923-2365
Michelle Dyson 709-923-2365

Rigolet
Paula Sheppard-McLean 709-947-3383
Lisa Bennett 709-947-3328