The town of Makkovik is without an operator at the Gas Station since Monday.

Barry Andersen the AngajukKak of the Inuit Community Government.

He says on top of that the phone line broke during the last winter storm we had on the north coast communities.

Andersen says the gas station was open for people to buy gas and stove oil but the fuel had to be paid by cash only. And of course there is not much cash around in the community.

He says they are waiting for Woodward’s Group of Companies to get into the community including Bell Aliant to repair the phone line.

We hope to hear more of how everything worked out tomorrow.

The Nain and Rigolet DHSD have Christmas events planned for their communities.

Lorraine Allen is the Community Health Worker for the Rigolet.

Today, December 4th, 8th, and 11th, there will be Craft Nights from 6:30-9:00 pm.

There will be a Christmas Diabetes Meal at 5 pm tomorrow, December 5th.

A Christmas event will be held for the elders at 5 pm on December 9th.

There will be parties for the youth groups next week at the Youth Centre at 3 pm.

The party for students from K-3 years will be on Monday, December 9th, for Grades 9-12 will be on Thursday, December 12th, and for the ages 13-18 will be on Tuesday, December 10th.

For ages 19 years and up, there will be a Community Kitchen on December 15th at 1:30 pm.

There are ten seats available for the Adult Paint Night on December 16th at 6:30 pm.

A Christmas Community Supper will take place at the Community Hall at 5 pm on December 17th.

A dinner for Residential school survivors will be at 12 pm on December 20th.

Jane Merkuratsuk is the Community Health Worker for DSHD in Nain.

She says on Sunday, December 8th, there will be a Family Paint Night at 1 pm.

Merkuratsuk says there will be another paint night with limited seating on Monday December 9th at the Nain Moravian Church.

The Power Hour will be themed for Christmas.

There will also be a Christmas Supper for the Honouring Abstinence Group on December 17th.

The Jens Haven Memorial Huskies is ready and will be heading out to the Provincial Volleyball Tournament in Newfoundland this week.

Julie Dicker is the Coach for the JMHS Huskies.

She says 8 boys and 8 girls will compete in the volleyball tournament in Gander’s Academy School and the Collegiate School.

Dicker says three chaperones are going to help the coach including another teacher and two other chaperones.

She says the Huskies will be leaving tomorrow, December 5th.

The Huskies will be coming back separately; one group on Monday, December 9th and the other group on December 10th.

Please drop down to the airport and support our Huskies before they leave.

The Department of Health and Social Development in Postville are set for their Christmas events.

Barbara Edmunds is the Community Health Worker.

She says there will be a Gingerbread House Making this tomorrow, December 5th at the Recreation Hall at 6:30 pm.

Edmunds says there will be a Seniors Christmas Tea party for ages 50 years and over on Thursday, December 12th at 6:30 pm.

The Daycare and Child Development Christmas party will be held on Thursday, December 19th.

Edmunds says on Friday, December 20th, there will be Christmas games for ages 19-49 at the Community Centre at 7 pm.

The Hopedale UjagaKutik Recreation/CYN is also busy with their Christmas events this year.

On Friday, December 6th, 2019, they will be having their Christmas Tree Lighting at 6 pm.

They will also have a Family PJ Contest and the winner will receive a month pass at the Nanuk Centre.

Starting on Monday evening, December 9th, they will be holding Christmas Parties at the Nanuk Centre.

There will be an Ugly Sweater Contest for all age categories and snacks and prizes will be provided.

The Hopedale Recreation is also giving the Hopedale residents a chance to win in the Best Decorated House Contest until December 19th at 4 pm.

The Annual Christmas Bingo will be held on December 19th at 7 pm and will then announce the winner for the Best Decorated House.

Nunatsiavut President, Johannes Lampe announced today that Kate Mitchell has tendered her resignation as First Minister and Minister of Nunatsiavut Affairs.

“Ms. Mitchell acted inappropriately in discharging her duties as Minister responsible for housing by interfering in matters that are the sole responsibility of Torngat Regional Housing Association” says President Lampe.

“Given the sensitivities around housing issues, it is important that all steps be taken to ensure the credibility of the Nunatsiavut Government and TRHA is maintained. We accept Ms. Mitchell’s resignation from Nunatsiavut Executive Council.”

The President also announced that effective immediately, Tony Andersen, Ordinary Member for Nain and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources will assume as the role as Acting First Minister and Minister of Nunatsiavut Affairs on an interim basis.

A new First Minister will be nominated and appointed by the Nunatsiavut Assembly when it convenes on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020.

Kate Mitchell will continue to serve as the Ordinary Member for Makkovik in the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

The Nain DHSD has been busy with follow-ups with the community since the TB outbreak last year, 2018.

We spoke with Megan Hudson who is the TB Public Health Nurse for Nain.

She says since she started her position in January of 2019, they have certainly seen a big decline in active TB in the community since last year.

The screening process is wrapping up and over 80% has been discharged but the active cases in Nunatsiavut are still ongoing.

Click here to hear more of what Hudson has to say about her update on TB.

According to Labrador Marine Inc. the Kamutik W is making its second last trip to the North Coast Communities.

Last we reported the Kamutik W departed Goose Bay with the remaining food shipments for the North Coast communities.

OK Radio got in contact with Labrador Marine Inc. and this is the update they gave us.

The Kamutik W is expected to arrive in Nain early tomorrow morning, Wednesday, December 4th at 5 am.

She will be heading back down the north coast to load up in Goose Bay, where she will make its final run up to the communities.

There will be upcoming caribou sessions taking place in the north coast communities starting next week.

Jason Dicker is the Wildlife Manager for Nunatsiavut Government.

He says he will be doing presentations on the research results he did on the George River Caribou Herd, since the ban.

Dicker will be in Makkovik on Monday, December 9th, in Hopedale on Tuesday, December 10th, in Rigolet Wednesday, December 11th, and in Postville Thursday, December 12th, 2019.

He says the Caribou presentations will all be held from 6-8 pm in each location.

OK radio will start playing Christmas Carols this coming Sunday, Advent 2, December 8th.

With Christmas fast approaching OK radio will gladly play your Christmas Greetings again.

We will start playing your Christmas Greeting Requests on Sunday, December 8th, 2019.

So anyone in Nain who would like to send in Christmas Greeting Requests to their family and friends can do so, by dropping off written requests here at OKalaKatiget Society.

People who are out of town may mail in their greetings to:
OKalaKatiget Society
P.O Box 160
94 Middle Path Road
Nain, NL, AOP 1LO

Or email okradio@oksociety.com to send your greetings.