The Department of Health and Social Development offices in Nunatsiavut are very busy with different services and programs in all the NG communities this year.

Kaila De Boer is the Director of Mental Wellness and Healing with the DHSD with the Nunatsiavut Government.

She dropped by to the Ok radio studio yesterday.

De Boer says with a lot happening they wanted to inform beneficiaries on what programs and services they offer.

Some of the issues she discussed were Mental Health and Addictions Services, Trauma and Addictions, Youth Programs.

To hear part one on the interview with De Boer, click HERE.

For more information about any of these topics you can contact Kaila de Boer at (709) 922-2942, ext. 276 or by email at kaila.deBoer@nunatsiavut.com.

The Nigivik Centre in Nain has been very busy with different programs that are being offered to the public.

Shelley Dicker is the Community Food Security Coordinator.

She says they are looking for hunters, guides and youth to go hunting or wooding for the elders.

Dicker says they have ski-doos and Kamutiks, for anyone who is interested in participating.

She adds they are looking for four guides and they will get paid for that day.

For any youth and guides who are interested you call Shelley at 922-2968.

Nunatsiavut Government continues dealing with lots of issues which they hope to rectify. There are also many concerns included.

Johannes Lampe is the President of NG.

He says the issues include: the Nain Airstrip, the new vessel to serve the north coast communities, the George River Caribou Herd which keep declining.

Lampe says the housing situation particularly for Nain and Hopedale is also a big issue, other two issues are the Major Muskrat Falls Project, and the health subject on Tuberculosis (TB) in Nain.

To heat the Inuktitut version of Lampe on the issues, click HERE.

The deadline to apply for the trail marker positions is tomorrow January 17th, 2019.

The Nain Inuit Community Government is initially looking to hire four people to mark the trail between the communities of Nain and Natuashish.

And they are looking to hire two people to maintain the trail and four people to gather the markers once the season is over.

Job requirements are:

• Applicants must have extensive knowledge of the land and sea ice between Nain and Natuashish
• Must be reliable
• Must own a Kamutik and a snowmobile in good working order with provisions to mount a 12-volt adaptor for GPS

Duties include:

• Prepare and paint markers
• Make storage boxes for safety equipment
• Place markers on trail
• Make weekly inspection of the trail and replace markers if necessary
• Provide weekly written reports to the Nain Inuit Community government

Rate of pay is $15.50 per hour plus $50 per day for rental of snowmobile and Kamutik.

If required, an extra $20 for snowmobile/Kamutik rental if overnight trip.

Interested applicants can apply in writing to the town manager on or before January 17th, 2019.

The Young Men’s Traditional Festival Day is next week, Friday, January 25 th and is fast approaching.

Right now they are looking for a place to hold their Special Day.

Gabriel Suarak and Abele Ikkusek are the two AngajukKat.

Suarak says there are 8 young men who will be celebrating their day and 3 of them are first timers.

He says they held a meeting last Monday at the Nigivik Center.

The volunteers cooks for their day is Maria Ikkusek and Pauline Tuglavina, and Mikkie Obed and William Matt Barbour will be the helpers.

Suarak says so far the donations they’re approved of is from local businesses : ham from Haynes Store, turkey and vegetables from Northern and the Nain community freezer will donate char and moose meat.

He says the Nigivik center will also provide food which is needed for their meals.

Suarak says they still need to raise more funds for food and miscellaneous.

The fee for the Young Men whose participating is as follows: first timers pays $15 and the ones that joined before pays $25.

He adds that they’ve written a letter to NICG/CYN to ask about holding a dance at the end of their Festival day, up to now there is no response.

The next young men’s day meeting will be held tonight at 6pm at the Nain Husky Center Lobby.

Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries are advised that the 2019 polar bear licenses for the Labrador Inuit Settlement area will be issued under a draw system.

Beneficiaries who are interested to have their name entered into the draw for a polar bear license must present themselves at the NG office in their community within the Labrador Inuit Settlement Area and fill out the applicable form.

The application form must be filled out and submitted to your local conservation officer by 12pm on February 1st for your name to be entered into the draw.

The 2019 hunting season will open on February 4th.

If you require further information, you can contact your local NG conservation officer.

The Third edition of the Post Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP) Graduate Book is now available.

Lucy Brennan is the Program Director for the PSSSP.

She says graduates in Nunatsiavut, Upper Lake Melville and St. John’s can pick their books up at the Nunatsiavut Offices in their community.

For those who have completed any of the PSSSP programs in the last 10 years, will receive the Graduate books.

Brennan says the Graduate books were sent out a few days ago.

She added that they ask all graduates featured in this book living in the Canadian Constituency outside St. John’s to please send their mailing address to PSSSP@nunatsiavut.com so we can send them a copy.

For more information Please contact the PSSSP office if you have any questions toll free at: 1-877-777-2589 or 709-754-2587.

The Cowan’s eye team will be coming to Nain end of April or beginning of May.

Edna Winters is the Team Leader for DHSD.

She says the eye team has to travel to the other communities before they come to Nain.

So, if anyone who would like to see the eye doctor, you can call 922-2126.

Staff at the Housing Hub in Happy Valley Goose Bay is saying that no one has ever been turned away for any financial or space reasons.

But a recent Facebook post that was posted on Concerning Happy Valley-Goose Bay group motivated a lot of conversation about the local homeless shelter, called the Housing Hub.

The conversation revolved around whether a person would be turned away if they did not have the $40 fee required to stay there.

Scott Hudson, who runs the shelter, said that has never happened and it would not happen.

Hudson says “From the moment we’ve opened, no one has been turned away for lack of space and certainly not for financial reasons,” he told The Labradorian.

“The only people we’ve turned away are those who show up extremely intoxicated and may be a danger to themselves or others.”

Hudson said in those cases they don’t just turn people away either, they contact the RCMP or the hospital to assist the person, depending on what’s needed.

He said they have to have that rule in place to protect clients and staff at the shelter.

Regarding the fee, Hudson said a fee is standard at most shelters, to help with operating costs.

As a non-profit they use the money to help keep the shelter going, which isn’t cheap. Most of the time the fee is covered by social services, he said, and if it isn’t there are other avenues to help with payment, such as the local Salvation Army.

They can fit 13-14 people at the shelter but have hauled out cots to fit more, Hudson said, and the times where they can’t physically fit more people they’ll help get them alternative accommodations.

He said community partners, such as the Salvation Army and Labrador Friendship Centre, are always there to assist if needed.

They help find other accommodations and will cover the cost of a hotel room if that’s what’s needed.

“I can say with all confidence that when it comes to that it won’t be a problem,” he said. “They’re always there to help.”

Story Courtesy of the Labradorian.

Nunatsiavut Government continues dealing with lots of issues which they hope to rectify. There are also many concerns included.

Johannes Lampe is the President of NG.

He says the housing situation is always one of the big issues particularly for the communities of Nain and Hopedale.

Lampe says the other two issues are the Major Muskrat Falls Project, and the health subject on Tuberculosis (TB) in Nain.

To hear Lampe discuss more details on the issues NG is dealing, click HERE.