As some of you know, the weather has created problems with passenger travel and freight along the coast.

Lela Evans is our MHA for the Torngat District.

Evans says she spoke to Air Borealis this morning.

There will be a one time-sensitive travel for those trying to get to the William Tuglavina Memorial Volleyball Tournament in Hopedale, which begins tonight.

Evans says she realizes a lot of people outside of our communities doesn’t understand the importance of sporting events, especially Memorial Tournaments that allow us to come together and celebrate the lives of people we have lost.

The William Tuglavina Memorial Volleyball Tournament is such an event.

The weather has finally lifted and now they are going to route a flight to travel Goose-Rigolet-Makkovik-Hopedale-Goose.

This will ensure that passengers (and freight) that was bypassed due to weather will be able to move.

This will allow people to make it to the tournament as well.

I TRULY appreciate Air Borealis seeing the value of ensuring, when possible, people get to travel for all important events and recognizing what impacts our youth.

These tournaments are so important to our youth’s life-journeys, collecting good memories and friendship bonds that will stay for them for life.

Colin Gilbride is the Director of Planning and Infrastructure with the Nunatsiavut Government based out of Makkovik.

We had the privilege to get an update from Gilbride on the information of the new airport that’s being planned for Nain, Nunatsiavut.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear the update from Gilbride.

OKalaKatiget Society is pleased to announce that our station in HV-GB CKOH 99.3 FM is back on the air as of today. Welcome back! They have been off air since March due to technical difficulties.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has approved $89,000 in one-time funding to support the Roots of Empathy Program for 2023-24.

The Roots of Empathy Program is delivered to elementary children in Newfoundland and Labrador who are coached to recognize and connect with a trained Roots of Empathy instructor.

In alignment with government’s commitment in Health Accord NL and our path of resilience to invest in children and youth, this funding will help support the continued success of the Roots of Empathy Program, which has benefitted more than 30,600 children in over 155 schools in Newfoundland and Labrador since it’s launch in this province in 2001.

The OKâlaKatiget Society contacted the schools in all five Inuit communities to see what dates their school closures will be and the following dates are:

Makkovik’s J.C Erhardt Memorial School will have their last day on June 21st for students.

Nain’s Jens Haven Memorial School, which includes both Primary and High School, and Hopedale’s Amos Comenius Memorial School will have their last day on June 22nd.

Postville’s B.L Morrison School and Rigolet’s Northern Lights Academy will have their last day of school on June 23rd.

If you need any more information, you can contact your local school.

We spoke with Vaness Gauntlette, Coordinator for the Food Security Program in Hopedale.

She gave us a brief update on what programs she holds for the community.

Each month she hosts Soup Kitchen, where people from the community go in to make pots of soup to give out of the community. There is also a monthly Salad Bar, Women’s Wellness, Meals For Men, Kids in Kitchen, Teens Cooking Sessions and Adults Cooking Classes. For any of these programs being held, you’re allowed to bring your child or children.

She also offers gardening during the summer season, offering planting of different fruits and vegetables. During the winter season she still offers gardening for certain veggies through container gardening and hydroponics.

She offers jerky making with the dehydrator for anyone who is interested, sends healthy snacks to the school for grades K-12 and tries to offer taste testers so people can try new recipes, and if they like it, take the recipe home.

She will be trying a new program for a fruit salad bar, as well as a veggie and dip bar.

Vanessa would like to add that if anyone from the community has any other ideas, they could contact her at Hopedale’s DHSD’s office.

Nigivik Centre organize food security programs for the people of Nain each month.

Ethan Angnatok and Debbie Lyall are the local workers for the Nigivik Centre, and we spoke with Ethan Angnatok for an update on what June’s schedule is looking like.

They plan a schedule each month, which is changing constantly, but each day they have a schedule for what their plans are.

There is no limit in how many people could attend their programs, Wednesday’s are family cooking from 12-7 pm, Thursdays are Elders Program from 8:30 am to 12 noon, closed for lunch hour, then open to the elders again from 1-3:30 pm.

Ethan would like to advise the residents of Nain to keep an eye out around town, to look at their monthly schedule as they plan for different programs each month.

For more information, you can call Ethan or Debbie at the Nigivik Centre at 922-2968.

We had an update from each community freezer, although it’s looking a little bare.

Nain, Hopedale and Postville’s community freezers are currently empty, but once an update is available, they will be letting the residents of each community know.

Makkovik’s community freezer is currently only stocked with cod fish, but residents of Makkovik are more than welcome to take what they need.

It was a special day for our children as they celebrated their Inuttitut UKâlalautta event yesterday, June 7th, it was a great outcome.

The community of Rigolet had 7 students, Hopedale had 4 students, 3 students from Makkovik, and 5 students from Nain participated in this special event.

It was great to see more students interested in learning their own language and keep up the good work, congratulations to all.

Stay tuned to Teen Rockers to hear more of the Inutittut UKâlalautta.

Melva Williams is the First Minister for Nunatsiavut.

We had the privilege to speak with her on an update on housing repairs and the different programs that’s being offered.

The starting date for housing repairs is July 2nd, ending December 31st, 2023.

Stay tuned to AtjiKangitut today to hear more from First Minister Williams.