The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Inuit-led efforts to eliminate tuberculosis in Inuit Nunangat, as well as the factors that contribute to the spread of the disease, including inadequate housing, food insecurity, and poverty.

Yvonne Jones the MP for the Canadian politician for Inuit descent in Newfoundland and Labrador.

She says last year the Government of Canada and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami announced a commitment to eliminate tuberculosis across Inuit Nunangat by 2030, and reduce active TB by at least 50 percent by 2025.

Click here to find out more about what the Government of Canada is doing to eliminate TB.

The trail markers from Postville is marked half ways to Makkovik to Little Neck are still up.

We spoke with Glenn Sheppard who is the AngajukKâk.

Sheppard says that the trail markers will still be up depending on the ice conditions and temperatures.

There is also a trail marked from Postville to Hopedale.

The Postville area is responsible for the half way point, and Hopedale is responsible for the other half.

Sheppard would like to add if people are travelling on the trail, especially from North West River, individuals are to be cautious; it’s that time of year to keep your eyes open especially around the brook areas.

We also spoke with Marjorie Flowers who is the AngajukKâk for Hopedale.

She says the season for the trail markers for this year from Hopedale to Natuashish this year is finishing.

She says due to weather they couldn’t take them out this week.

So sometime next week, they will be taking the trail markers out on the next fine day.

She also said that they had trails from Hopedale to Iggiak.

And hoping by next year, Flowers says there will be emergency lodges between Hopedale and Natuashish for anyone who needs a place to stay for the night.

Charlotte Wolfrey the AngajukKâk for Rigolet says the trail markers that were placed in open areas on the ice such as the marsh were taken out on April 16.

We also spoke with Doreen Winters who is Acting CAO in Makkovik.
She says the trail markers from Makkovik to Drunken Harbour, Makkovik to Little Neck in Postville, and Makkovik to Burnt Lake are still in place.

Once the weather clears, the workers will be collecting the markers from Makkovik to Drunken Harbour, the other markers for the other 2 routes will be collected by next week.

Winters says the groomer’s season has come to an end and is hoping to have a more productive season in 2020 as their groomer is now repaired.

It’s always good to hear Youth and Elders reconnecting and spending time with each other.

The Youth and Elders Gathering to Iggiak made this possible.

We spoke with Maria Merkuratsuk who is an Elder from Nain.

She says the Elders and Youth went out to Iggiak for 3 days on Friday April 26.

Merkuratsuk says during the gathering, both elders and the youth had the opportunity to go seal hunting and fishing.

To hear from Merkuratsuk on the trip they took to Iggiak, click here.

The Nain Recreation Department recently handed a cheque to the Nain CARE committee.

We spoke with Lisa Ivany the Rec Director for Nain Inuit Community Government.

She says on Monday during the Easter game events the Nain Recreation Dept generously donated $10 thousand dollars to help towards the Nain CARE.

Ivany adds that they also donated to the Nain Moravian Church with a new snow blower.

The Rec Department holds Radio bingos every Tuesday and Thursdays; and with funds from profits made by bingo this is a great way to help with many ongoing community events, to members and to organizations.

Ivany says the Rec Department wants to bring back into the community in different ways, here is a few to name:

Donations are given back to the community by the Rec Dept by helping our very own K-12 School Jens Haven Memorial Huskies, to the Nain Minor Hockey teams, to our JHMS Grad students, Community events such as Community breakfast, Hockey banquets, and youth/adult Christmas suppers, Christmas presents for daycare children, sponsoring sporting events, and many more.

On behalf of the Nain Inuit Community Government Rec Department they would like to thank the community for their support and to continue for supporting the Rec Bingo.

As of today, May 1st, 2019, the Nigivik Centre will be very busy with running programs for the community.

The Nigivik center now has their monthly schedule for this May.

Today’s Youth program starts this evening at 6pm, Youth will make mini pizzas.

Every Thursdays is Power Hour at the JS Community Centre from 12-1pm.

On Sunday, May 5 will be Family Baking Program from 1-4pm.

On Tuesday, May 7, anyone wanting to learn how to make fish cakes can join in starting at 9am.

The next Tuesday, May 14 starting at 9am, the Nigivik Centre is offering to teach anyone how to make shrimp alfredo with penne noodles.

On Friday, May 17 through dinner hour, they will be serving soup for everyone.

The next day, May 18 at 1pm will be Family Cooking Program.

On Tuesday, May 21st at 9am the Nigivik Centre will be making Banana Bread.

On the next day from 6-8pm is Youth Evening Program making cupcakes.

Family Baking program will be on Sunday, May 26 starting from 1-4pm.

And on Tuesday, May 28, at 9am is Bread program.

So, anyone wanting to join in any of these programs can go see Shelley Dicker, the Community Food Worker at the Nigivik Centre.

The Rigolet Inuit Community Government cannot continue to operate their local Gas station due to financial situations.

Chelsea Morris is the Town Councillor for RICG.

She says on January 4, 2006 the RICG took over operations of their local gas station.

They were only supposed to be responsible for serving the gas station for short term.

Morris says that they will no longer operate the gas station; and this will come into effect on Friday May 31.

To hear more from Morris about their current gas situation, click here.

OK Radio contacted each of the coastal communities to see what their current ice conditions are like in their area.

For the ice conditions in Makkovik, we spoke with Barry Andersen who is the AngajukKâk.

He says the ice conditions are still good, except for Cape Makkovik and Cape Strawberry.

He also said on Wednesday, they’re gonna start removing the trail markers.

But other than that, he states that people are still traveling on the ice.

And for the ice conditions in Nain, we spoke with a member from Sikumiut.

Sikumiut would like to inform Nain residents to be careful while traveling as the weather warms up.

There are still a lot of people traveling on the ice.

And with the recent snow fall, will make the snow softer underneath.

A recent seal hunter was traveling near Dog island and mentioned that the ice is thin, due to ice broke up and has froze over again with new ice, travelers must be careful.

If you have any questions, you can call the Sikumiut Environment office here in Nain at 922-1999.

The ice condition’s in Postville is starting to deteriorate but is still good for snowmobilers.

Glenn Sheppard is the AngajukKâk for Postville.

He says that there is still snowmobiles’ travelling from North West River and anywhere around the Postville area.

He would also like to add that there is a marked trail from Postville to South Brook.

At both sides East and West is open water, as well as the area called the Rapids.

He would also like to notify the public that there are post signs saying “Open Water ahead, please follow trail”.

Ross Flowers is a hunter from Hopedale and the Ice condition’s in Hopedale is good to go o yet.

He says the rattles are opening up, and people have to be careful when they go seal hunting.

So Residents in Hopedale he would like to remind you to be careful when going hunting.

And for the ice conditions in Rigolet, we spoke with David Wolfrey who is the Conservation Officer.

He says the ice around Rigolet is still good, there’s a lot of snow yet, and people are still traveling to and from North West River.

He adds that the trail towards North West River is a bit slushy.

Wolfrey also says that there are still people out hunting and would like for everyone to be cautious.

The Nain HOPE Walk will be going ahead this coming weekend.

Rutie Lampe is the Mental Health and Addictions worker with the Nain DHSD.

She says there are about 11 people signed up so far, for ages 16+up, as well as 1 elder.

They have 3 to 4 drivers, 1 guide and a camp manager.

They will also have a cook and a cook’s assistant.

Lampe says depending on the weather, the HOPE Walk from Nain to Iggiak is planned for the weekend of May 3-5, 2019.

The overnight at the camp is cancelled but will still be holding activities, healing activities such as throat singing, drum dancing, setting off Chinese lanterns and a burning ceremony.

They will also have land based activities such as jigging and boil ups.

Lampe also adds that she is looking forward to this HOPE Walk and hope the weather cooperates.

The Nain Recreation Department pulled off another successful year with the Easter Games.

Last evening at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre a Beauty Pageant went ahead, followed by Minute to Win It.

1st place of the Beauty Pageant went to Liz Pijogge who was Inuk Trump, Nancy Ikkusek who was Sam placing 2nd, and Richard Haye who was Precious placed 3rd.

Inuk Trump received $300 for 1st place, Sam received $200 for 2nd place, and Precious received $100 for 3rd place.

This evening will be the Awards night at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Centre at 7pm.

Prizes will be awarded by participation.

To end the Easter Games this year there will be Family Firework’s at the Nain Harbour starting at 8:30pm.