Staff from the Environment climate change Canadian wildlife services will be in traveling to the north coast communities this month.

They will be holding Caribou Consultation Meetings in Nain Hopedale Makkovik North West River Sheshatshiu and Natuashish.

They will be speaking with all Nunatsiavut community members to discuss the proposed listing of the Torngat mountains caribou population and the Eastern migratory caribou population, which also includes the George River herd.

The committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada recently assessed each population as endangered, and the federal government is considering adding these populations to the list of at risk species under the federal species at risk act, or also known as ‘SARA’.

The Canadian wildlife service is seeking input to inform the minister of the environment’s recommendation to cabinet on whether to list these caribou populations as endangered under ‘SARA’.

The meetings will be a space to share information and knowledge about caribou, as well as learn about the species at risk act, and what would happen if the caribou populations are listed.

Before Christmas, Canadian wildlife service biologists visited Rigolet, Postville and Goose bay to talk with Nunatsiavut members.

Over the next week and a half they will be visiting Nain on January 28, Hopedale January 30, and Makkovik January 31 and North West River February 5th.

If you have any questions or would like more information on meetings you can contact Paul MacDonald at paul.macdonald2@canada.ca or call 709 896-6166.

The Students on Ice Expedition are looking for youth to take part in their Arctic 2019 Expedition.

Youth between the ages of 14 to 24 years of age can apply.

The Arctic 2019 Expedition will be held from July 23 to August 7, 2019.

This expedition will bring youth together with more than 100 high schools and university students from across the Arctic and around the world.

Also there will be inspiring scientists, elders, artists, musicians, dignitaries, historians, thought leaders and innovators there throughout the expedition.

Students will be inspired, motivated, educated and challenged.

Updates are added regularly so check back for more information. In the meantime, explore this site to learn about the Itinerary for the 2019 Arctic Expedition, Participant Resources and How to Apply.

Full scholarships are available for a majority of participants. The deadline to submit the Arctic 2019 application form is 11:59pm (local time) on Sunday, February 17, 2019.

Jonathan Lidd will be volunteering his time at the Nain Community Freezer to
Help with the application process for those who are interested in applying.

Deadline to apply for this great opportunity is: February 17th, 2019.

The Jens Haven Memorial Huskies went to Sheshatshiu for the 2018-2019 Table Tennis Regional’s last Friday.

Julie Dicker is the Coach for the Nain Huskies.

She says after competing with the Sheshatshiu Innu School Eagles on Friday January 18, 2019.

And added the matches were fun and exciting.

The JHMS Huskies and SSS Innu School Eagles were the only 2 teams competing.

Dicker says the Huskies placed first in the team event against the SIS Eagles.

The Team Huskies will be traveling to compete at the Table Tennis Provincials in March at Lethbridge, NL.

The results are as follows: for the Huskies: For the Boys Singles: the Gold went to Stephen Denniston, the boys Bronze went to Jeremy Holwell.

Girls Singles: Gold went to Madison Dicker; Silver went to Samira Kohlmeister.

For the Boys Doubles: Silver went to Stephen Denniston and Tristan, for the Girls Doubles: Gold went to Madison Dicker and Samira Kohlmeister and the Mixed Doubles were: Gold went to Tristan Denniston and Blake Martin; Silver went to Ryan Andersen and Samantha Saksagiak and for the Most Sportsmanlike Male Athlete of the Tournament was presented to Stephen Denniston.

Way to go Huskies.

The Young Men’s Day celebration kicks off tomorrow January 25.

We spoke with Gabriel Suarak who is the AngajukKâk.

He says Isaac Kohlmeister is his assistant.

Suarak says 13 young men will be having their day, out those 6 are having their day for the first time.

He says they attend their Preparation Church Service at 3pm today, and hold a meeting at the NG boardroom after.

They are having their Day at the Nain Pentecostal Church.

Suarak says the Young Men Celebrating will gather at the Pentecostal Church at 6am, and have breakfast at 7am and then go around town by foot.

He says the first Church service is at 10am, with a Love Feast at 3pm and the Closing service is open to the public at 5 pm.

Suarak says the parents of the Young Mens whose going for the first time are invited to a meal at 3pm, also they will be going to the elders to sing a hymn after lunch.

After supper at 6, they are having a contest for the best decorated cap or hat, they’ll have judges for the contest.

He and Kohlmeister thank all the supporters and donations they received from different organizations, the Northern Store, Haynes Store, Nain Community Freezer, Atsanik Lodge,Youth Center, Quick Stop, and Big Land Groceries.

The young men will end their day with a Dance with help from the Nain Rec Department at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Center at 7pm, and big thanks to the CYN for helping with Prizes and games.

Every year on January 27, Family Literacy Day is recognized all across Canada and this year everyone is celebrating the 20th year.

We spoke with Charlene Lyall the Grade 4 teacher at the JHMS 4-12 School.

Lyall says Family Literacy Day is held on Jan 27 each year but this year it falls on a Sunday so the elementary grades from 4-6 will be holding their FLD on Friday Jan 25.

And the Grades Kindergarten to grade 3 will be holding their family literacy day on Monday January 28.

She says they usually hold this event at separate times just in case there are any parents who would like to attend for both schools.

Lyall adds that the Family Literacy Day was started as an event to promote reading and other literacy based events between children and their families.

This year is a different theme, and every year, but since this is the 20th anniversary this year’s theme is “take 20” encouraging 20 minutes of reading/reading activity everyday with your child.

The event on Friday will consist of roughly 20 minutes of family buddy reading time and 20 minutes of a literacy game with prizes, teachers at JHMS are very much looking forward to this and the students always enjoy time with their parents or guardians.

The elementary grades 4-6 event will be held at 11am at the K-12 library this Friday and the Primary school will be holding their event on Monday Jan 28, time is yet to be determined.

Today is Jordin Tootoo Day.

The Nunatsiavut Group of Companies have sponsored a trip for Jordin Tootoo to visit the North Coast Communities.

Tootoo is a well known retired Professional Hockey player who was the first Inuk to play in NHL.

In addition to his on-ice skills, Tootoo is known for his charity and community outreach work, especially in northern communities.

Edward Flowers, who is the Nain Minor Hockey Coach says he has set up a hockey camp with him for all the kids registered in Minor Hockey Program that will be starting at 6pm tonight at the Nain Husky Centre.

He says this will be a good opportunity to come and meet and take photos of the very first Inuk player who played in the NHL.

And here is the Arena Schedule:
Today at 3:30 pm, they will be starting off with a Novice.
And at 4:30 will be General Skating.
At 5:30 pm, will be Novice, Atom/Peewee, Female, Bantam/Midget
At 5:55 pm. We will be welcoming Jorden Tootoo with Labradorimiut sung by Joan Dicker, Chaim Andersen and Sam Dicker .
At 6:00 pm, will be Novice skate with Tootoo and skating drills!
6:15, will be Skills comp for atoms n peewees, female bantam n Midgets, followed by photos on the ice with Jorden Tootoo and all our Torngat Mountains Nain Minor Hockey players at 6:55 pm.

He will also be holding a minor hockey program in Makkovik at the Makkovik Arena tomorrow on Friday, January 25th, at 3:30pm.
Tootoo arrived Nain this morning. We had 2 of our OK radio producers recording and our TV crew to film his arrival.

Stay tuned to hear the audio of Tootoo’s arrival to Nain on our Teen Rockers Show at 3:30.

A commemorative plaque ceremony was held last Friday at the Pulâpvik Community room here in Nain on January 18, 2019.

This event was held to honour the former residential school students, their families, and communities with a commemorative plaque and ceremony followed by a supper.

We had one of our radio producers attend this event and says it went well.

This was also an opportunity to learn more about the work completed on the Newfoundland and Labrador residential schools healing and commemoration project over the past year.

To hear the audio in English that was held here in Nain clickhere. And within the next week, we’ll have it translated in Inuktitut.

There are many interesting stories that people can talk about in their Inuit language.

Jessie Wyatt is an Inuk elder from Nain.

She says her husband Dennis and her started growing a garden few years back out behind their house.

They grew vegetables such as potatoes, turnip, and carrots to name a few.

Wyatt says before they started their garden, they first set up and fixed up the ground.

She says over the years they started a garden out in Springdale on the Island.

It has expanded where they have more vegetables growing and they also grow, pigs, turkey, chicken and sheep.

To hear Wyatt talk more about their garden, click HERE.

The Jens Haven Memorial Huskies went to Sheshatshiu for the 2018-2019 Table Tennis Regional’s last Friday.

Julie Dicker is the Coach for the Nain Huskies.

She says after competing with the Sheshatshiu Innu School Eagles on Friday January 18, 2019.

And added the matches were fun and exciting.

The JHMS Huskies and SSS Innu School Eagles were the only 2 teams competing.

Dicker says the Huskies placed first in the team event against the SIS Eagles.

The Team Huskies will be traveling to compete at the Table Tennis Provincials in March at Lethbridge, NL.

The results are as follows: for the Huskies: For the Boys Singles: the Gold went to Stephen Denniston, the boys Bronze went to Jeremy Holwell.

Girls Singles: Gold went to Madison Dicker; Silver went to Samira Kohlmeister.

For the Boys Doubles: Silver went to Stephen Denniston and Tristan, for the Girls Doubles: Gold went to Madison Dicker and Samira Kohlmeister and the Mixed Doubles were: Gold went to Tristan Denniston and Blake Martin; Silver went to Ryan Andersen and Samantha Saksagiak and for the Most Sportsmanlike Male Athlete of the Tournament was presented to Stephen Denniston.

Way to go Huskies.

Labrador Marine Inc’s MV Qajaq W will start transporting passengers and vehicles across the Strait of Belle Island later this month, approximately two months earlier than expected.

The ferry arrived in St. John’s on Sunday morning and departs for St.Barbe Wednesday.

The eight year old MV Qajaq W (pronounced Kajak W) replaces the 49 year old MV Apollo to service the Strait of Belle Island.

The vessel can transport as many as 300 passengers, 120 passenger vehicles and 8 tractor trailers – 60 passengers and 35 vehicles more than the MV Apollo.

The 7 year old MV Hiiumaa is currently undergoing modifications in Norway and will begin serving communities on the north coast of Labrador and Black Tickle in June, as scheduled.

The two vessels improve the way passengers, freight and vehicles are transported throughout Labrador and across the Strait of Belle Island. Both vessels are accessible for passengers with disabilities, A1 ice class certified and capable of operating heavy sea ice conditions.

The contracts with Labrador Marine are valued at approximately $11.9 million per year for a 12 year term on the Strait of Belle Island and $14.6 million per year for a 15 year term for Northern Labrador.

The contract serving Northern Labrador will be delivered in working partnership with Nunatsiavut Marine Inc.