George Murphy of the Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices is forecasting a week of increases in local fuel prices.

According to Murphy’s calculations, consumers should expect gas to go up by just under a half a cent a litre (3/10ths) and diesel to rise by almost two cents (1.9).

As for heating and stove oil, they will go up by close to two cents a litre as well (1.8).

Murphy points out that winter blending is now in effect, so the numbers for distillate fuels may be off slightly until springtime.

He also states that the Irving refinery outage is a warning.
Murphy says there may be some possible issues if the refinery has to close for any extended period of time in the event of extensive repairs.

On behalf of the Nunatsiavut Government and Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, President Johannes Lampe extended his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of respected Nain Inuit elder Julius Merkuratsuk, who passed away last Monday.

“Julius made tremendous contributions to the community of Nain, to Labrador Inuit and to Nunatsiavut as a whole,” says President Lampe. “A person’s life is measured through the lives they impact and the memories and sorrow they leave behind. Today we mourn a huge loss, but we also celebrate a life that was well-lived. Julius will be sadly missed, but his legacy will live on for many generations to come.”

Mr. Merkuratsuk relocated to Nain from Nutak as a young boy.

Over the years he was often called upon to offer up his traditional knowledge on a number of land-use and wildlife matters.

He was a long-time board member of the Labrador Inuit Association, and served as a land claims negotiator, a member of the Nain and North of Nain land selection team, and as a lay pastor in the Moravian Church.

The NunaKatiget Inuit Community Corporation Inc. put out a notice of the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

They will be holding its AGM at the Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development multi-purpose room at 14 Corte Real Road.

The NunaKatiget Inuit Community Corporation will be holding an election for six board members for four year terms.

There will be light refreshments and door prizes.

This will take place on October 10, 2018 at 7 pm.

For more information you can call Patricia Kemuksigak, Chairperson at the NunaKatiget Community Corporation office at (709) 896-7352.

The Makkovik fish plant has wrapped up in processing fish for the summer.

Junior Andersen is the Production Manager.

He says the Turbot boats finished fishing last week.

And 457,000 lbs of Turbot has been landed.

Andersen says there are eight employees cleaning up the fish plant this week.

The Labrador Friendship Centre in Happy Valley Goose Bay is busy this month.

Jennifer Hefler-Elson is the Executive Director for the centre.

She says on October the 4th, they will have a Vigil for the murdered women and girls.

Hefler-Elson adds that the Aboriginal Family Centre is closed, because of the mold in the building.

To hear more of the Labrador Friendship Centre in HVGB, click HERE.

The Labrador Aboriginal Training Partnership will have an open house in Nain today, October 1st 2018.

It will be held at the Nunatsiavut Government building.

The Open House will start at 2 till 4 pm and again 7-9 pm this evening.

And again tomorrow morning from 9-12 pm, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.

Come out and listen to see what they have to say about LATP.

The Labrador Engineering Awareness Program (LEAP) is beginning workshops today, Monday October 1, 2018 at the JS Centre from 6-8 PM until Friday.

This program is geared towards high school/university-age individuals but all are welcome.

Your week with LEAP will include workshops that bring out your inner engineer, while getting the chance to play with some cool tech, and meet some practicing engineers to see what it’s really like to be an engineer.

There will also be snacks, and free program t-shirts.

If you wish to participate, you can contact Raylene Mitchell at rmm021@mun.ca, or Erin Bobicki at erin.bobicki@utoronto.ca

“I’m honored to be serving another term as ITK’s president” says Natan Obed who was re-elected on August 16, 2018.

He says that he was amazed of how quickly the three years went by in his first term.

“There’s a lot of work that I think still needs to be done especially in re-doing the relationship of the federal level and fighting for issues like suicide prevention and helping the education so that’s what led me to run again, I felt like I can continue on the work that was started” continued Obed.

To hear Obed tells discuss being re-elected as president and what his plans are for ITK, click HERE.

The Nunatsiavut Government, working with the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council will be selecting a number of Nunatsiavut artists to attend the 45th annual Christmas Craft Fair.

There is no craft fair/booth experience necessary.

Crafts/art/products will need to pass the craft council standards.

The annual Christmas Craft Fair will happen from November 7th-11th 2018.

The deadline to submit your name is on October 5th 2018.

Interested artists/crafters can find more information or submit their name by contacting:

Chantelle Andersen, Arts program co-ordinator, Nunatsiavut Government at (709) 923-2365 ext 233 or (709) 923-2005 or email chantelle.andersen@nunatsiavut.com.

The Department of Education and Economic Development (Post-Secondary Student Support Program) is working on a 10-year Graduate Book. If you graduated from a post-secondary education program under PSSSP funding from September 2007 up to August 2017, we want to hear from you. Attempts have been made to try and track people, but there are still a large number who we have not been able to make contact with and some who have not responded to our communications.

It’s not too late, so please get in touch.

We need you to submit a photo of yourself and your current employment information, job title, name of employer and location.

We really want to celebrate you and your successes.

Please contact Lucy at lucy.brennan@nunatsiavut.com or call 1-877-777-2589 or 754-2587.