The Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development will be holding the “Life on the Edge” Program.

Heather Angnatok is the Regional Youth Administrator.

She says they are looking for youth only between the ages of 15 to 35 years to take part in Nain only.

The tentative date for the ships arrival is Wednesday, March 25th.

Unfortunately, the classroom sessions about ice safety and avalanche safety, basic GPS and mapping, basic winter safety will not go ahead because of all NG office closures.

Angnatok says youth will have the chance to watch the ship sail by, absorb the Sikumiut team to watch them lay down the bridge, have a boil up, and practice on how to make an emergency shelter.

She says during this program, the youth will have to maintain a 2 arm lengths away while out on skidoo.

She will have a first aid kit and a satellite phone.

She says she encourages the youth to take their own snacks but are not allowed to share any beverages or food, and they must dress appropriate.

She is also asking the youth to smoke away from the group and not to share their cigarettes.

If you are interested to join this program, please call Heather at 922-2126 ext. 241.

The OKâlaKatiget Society called most of the stores in the five Nunatsiavut communities on how they’re coping with the COVID-19.

Here is a list of the procedures at the Quick Stop in Nain:

– The Lottery is now shut down
– There will be no candy handed out
– They are cleaning and disinfecting everything
– The employees are sanitizing themselves thoroughly
– They have face masks
– They have marks on the floor for social distancing
– You are asked to have one member per household to shop and asked for others to wait outside
– They will have the same hours
– The washrooms are for staff members only
– You must stay home if you’re not feeling well and ask someone else to do the shopping for you
– Do your part of having good hygiene, be 2 feet away from other people, and practice social distancing

For the Franks store in Nain:

– The store is open for senior’s ages 60 years and older from 9 am-10 for dedicated shopping hour for people with compromised immune systems and disabilities.
– They now have a limit of 8 shoppers at a time
– Prepare a shopping list ahead to lesson your time in the building and leave children at home if possible.

At the Hayne’s Store here in Nain:

– The hours are the same
– There are no limits
– Cleaning and disinfecting everything all day
– Opens from 9 am-5 pm on weekdays and 9 am-4 pm on Saturdays

For Northern in Nain:

– The hours are the same, 9 am-7 pm on weekdays, 9 am-6 pm on Saturdays and 12 pm-5 pm on Sundays.
– Employees are prepared for hoard shopping if necessary
– Employees will make marks to show people for social distancing
– Cleaning everyday

For Sheppard’s Variety in Postville:

– They have the same hours.
– From 9am-10 am is for seniors only
– Hand sanitizers are on the counter and is required to be used before and after shopping
– There are marks on the floor 6 feet apart for social distancing
– Cleaning everything all day
– Closed on Saturdays

For the DJ’s Gift Shop in Hopedale:

– There is a limit of 5 shoppers at a time
– Prepare a shopping list to lesson your time
– Get someone else to do your shopping and stay home if you’re feeling sick
– Wash your hands frequently, cough in your sleeve, practice good hygiene, stay at least 2 meters apart from other people and practice social distancing
– Will be closed on Mondays but will be open from Tuesday to Saturday at 10 am to 6 pm and on Sundays from 12 pm-6 pm.

Election for President set for May 5th, 2020. Nunatsiavut’s First Minister Tyler Edmunds announced that the election for President of Nunatsiavut will be held on May 5th, 2020, as per Section 3.4.3 of the Labrador Inuit Constitution.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

Nominations will close at 12 noon. (AST), on March 31st, 2020, at the office of the Nunatsiavut Electoral Officer, 14 Corte Real Road, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL.

Advanced polls will be held on April 28th, 2020 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (AST).

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement are advised that measures will be implemented at all polling stations to prevent potential exposure and transmission of the coronavirus COVID-19.

Measures may include restricting the number of people at polling stations at the same time, and ensuring safe distances (of at least two metres) between all individuals.

Hand sanitizers will be available, and all areas within the polling stations will be disinfected regularly.

Additional measures may be implemented as required. Any inquiries regarding the election should be directed to Nunatsiavut Elections Officer, Nannette Blake.

She can be reached at (709) 896-5683, or by email at nannette.blake@nunatsiavut.com.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald announced three new cases of COVID-19 in Newfoundland and Labrador Sunday.

All three new cases are in the Eastern Health region. Two of the cases are related to international travel.

That brings the total number of cases in the province to nine, with five cases presumed positive in the last few days.

970 people have now been tested in the province, with 961 of those cases being negative.

Fitzgerald said she expects to see more cases of COVID-19 soon, adding “[I] wouldn’t be surprised if it’s double digits in near future.”

“We are at the beginning of this in Newfoundland and Labrador,” Fitzgerald said.

Health Minister John Haggie said rules surrounding COVID-19 could continue into the coming months, saying some rules could stay in effect until July.

According to Premier Dwight Ball, the House of Assembly will meet next Thursday to bring forward a loan bill to ask for financial assistance from the federal government.

Ball added the province will “not hesitate” to escalate the public health emergency currently in place, if necessary.

Story courtesy of CBCNL.

The OKâlaKatiget Society was in contact with all the angajukKât on the North Coast to see what their plans are for their community members and staff about this COVID-19.

We spoke with Joe Dicker the angajukKâk for the Nain Inuit Community Government.

And we also spoke with Marjorie Flowers who is the angajukKâk for Hopedale.

They would like to inform their residence about what their community governments are doing to help their community members about this COVID-19.

Click here to find out what Dicker and Flowers have to say to inform their residence in their communities.

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District released a memo stating that NLESD has suspended all extra curricular activities involving interaction between different school populations until further notice.

This came into effect today Friday, March 13th, 2020.

This includes regional and provincial sports tournaments, heritage fairs, science fairs, drama festivals and any activity that sees multiple school populations gathered for showcase events or competition.

This is an unfortunate measure but a prudent step that the district is taking in an effort to contain the potential community spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

In other news, The National Hockey League (NHL) is pausing all game play, this came into effect yesterday Thursday, March 12, the NHL is pausing all game play because of the corona virus outbreak.

Due to precautions being taken surrounding COVID-19, Postville recreation made the decision has been made to CANCEL Carl Memorial for this year.

A well known 86 year old Labradorian, Robert (Bob) Lyall of Happy Valley- Goose Bay was made a member of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador on Friday, March 6th.

Lieutenant Governor of NL, Judy Foote and Premier Dwight Ball were in attendance for the ceremony in HV-GB’s Long Term Care Home.

Lyall has been involved in many projects in the community, including the Founder and First President of the Labrador Friendship Centre.

The Friendship Centre was named after Lyall in 1992, and offers a hostel, seniors transportation, a facility for training and education and a community Food Bank.

Lyall was also involved with OKalaKatiget Society, the Labrador Inuit Association, Labrador Legal Services, Lions Club, the Moravian Church, Melville Native Association, and the Labrador Correctional Centre.

He is also a life time honorary member of the National Association of Friendship Centres and a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2002 and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2013.

“Robert (Bob) Lyall has spent decades working to make Labrador a better place and strengthening services for Indigenous People in the Province” , said a release from the office of Judy Foote, Lieutenant Governor of NL.

The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador has been around since 2004 and is the Highest Honor of the Province.

And according to the Provincial Government, the Order is to ” recognize individuals who have demonstrated excellence and achievement in any field of endeavor benefitting in an outstanding manner in NL and its residents.”

Story courtesy of Saltwire Network- (The Labradorian)

This year is the George Lane Memorial Darts Tournament is from March 20th to 21st.

The tournament will be at the Nanuk Centre in Hopedale

The team must consist of four players and must have two males and two females on one team.

The registration fee is $80 per team or $20 per player to register and the deadline to apply will be on March 19th.

The cash prizes for first place is $2000, for second place it is $1000 and third place will be $500 and also there will be trophies for various categories.

If you have any questions or would like to register, you can call Nitsman at 709-933-3316 or you can email her at nitsmanjill@yahoo.ca.

Nitsmans would like to add that the Amaguk will be serving dinner and supper with delivery and menus will be available at the Nanuk Centre.

Eastern Health is implementing measures in preparation for a possible COVID-19 outbreak in the province.

In an internal memo to Eastern Health staff acquired by VOCM, Eastern Health says an Emergency Operations Centre has been established, and a COVID-19 assessment clinic is being set up at the Waterford Hospital which is expected to be up and running by next week.

Eastern Health is also limiting face-to-face meetings and is taking a look at rescheduling large-scale events.

An algorithm is also being developed to screen for potential cases of COVID-19.

Story Courtesy of the VOCM.

The 2020 Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race has concluded for this year.

We spoke with Rob Pilgrim who is the chairperson for Cain’s Quest Racing Company.

He says that a lot of people have been at the finish line to see who won the 2020 Cain’s Quest race.

He also gave us an update on how Team 01 Bernice is doing and says they are doing okay.

Tune into our Sunday Program this Sunday to hear more on what Pilgrim has to say for the 2020 Cain’s Quest Race.