The Nunatsiavut Government’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism are in the process of developing an “Okak 1918 Commemoration Committee” in partnership with the Tradition and Transition Partnership are looking for Beneficiaries that would be interested in being a part of the Voluntary Committee.

They are asking interested Beneficiaries to submit the following:

Detail on your connection to Okak, why you would like to become a member, and your full name, and best way to contact you if you are a successful candidate.

Seeking Committee Members to represent the following:

One representative Beneficiary per Nunatsiavut Community (Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, Postville, and Rigolet) and one representative Beneficiary for Upper Lake Melville and North West River.

If you are interested, please have the above information submitted by August 20, 2018 to be considered.

Please contact: Shirley Jararuse, phone: 709-922-2942, ext. 262 or by email: shirley.jararuse@nunatsiavut.com .

This year marks the 28th Annual Trout Festival for Makkovik.

The festivities will start on August 7th, 2018, and will finish on the 11th.

the festival began as part of Canada Day celebration 1988.

Over the years, its gotten bigger and better.

The festival now runs on its own every summer for five days in August, and has something for everyone.

Tune into OK Radio next week we will have a day by day schedule of the festivals events.

2018 marks the 100 anniversary of the Spanish Influenza Epidemic that devastated Labrador’s Inuit. Okak was hit particularly hard. On November 4, 1918 the Flu arrived aboard the ship Harmony which was dropping winter supplies. By November 8 people in Okak were very sick. As of December 1918, 204 of 263 residents of Okak had passed.

The years that followed were tough, but the resilience of the survivors is seen across Nunatsiavut today in generations of descendants that still return to the Okak area to fish, hunt and pick rhubarb in the village.

The Tradition and Transition Partnership between the Nunatsiavut Government and Memorial University would like community input for how to commemorate this anniversary. To gather your thoughts and ideas we have placed a post on Facebook, and shared posters with each community.

You can share your comments and ideas a number of ways:

1. respond to the Facebook Post on the tradition and Transition: PiusituKaujuit Asianguvalliajuilla
2. send a message by e-mail to traditionandtransition@mun.ca
3. leave a phone message at 709-864-4808

We are currently developing a community-inclusive committee to evaluate the ideas we receive and hope to have several events and commemorations between fall of 2018 (marking the 100 years from when the flu began) to spring 2019 (marking 100 years from the end of the epidemic)

OK Radio will have more information once it becomes available.

It is good to hear from Elders when they tell stories from them days ago.

Sue Webb is from Nain.

She says she started to teach Inuktitut in 1978 at the school.

The late Beatrice Watts contacted her to see if she can teach in Inuktitut in Nain.

Webb added that they used to go on the land with students, and they really enjoyed it.

Eva Nochasak is also an Elder from Nain.

She says they were relocated in 1956 from Tessiujak and they were the last ones to leave from her home town.

Nochasak says they left on dog team in January month.

She adds that the Nain Inuktitut language was different compared to her language.

To hear more from Nochasak and Webb this afternoon, click HERE.

It’s looking like gas prices are making a jump at the pumps this week.

George Murphy says gas is expected to increase by almost 3 (2.7) cents per litre.

Heating and stove oil will increase by close to 2 (1.9) cents while diesel is set to rise by just over a cent (1.2) per litre.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is completing an independent Review of the experiences of Inuit children and youth in the child protection system.

This is being completed at the request of the Nunatsiavut Government.

A number of programs of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development will be explored where Inuit children receive services.

Community visits will occur in July and August to help you learn about how the Review will work, answer questions, and to see how you can be involved.

More community sessions will take place in September and October where you will be able to share your experiences as well as your ideas for the future.

If you would like to learn more about this Review, community information sessions will take place over the next two weeks:

In Postville today, August 1 and tomorrow, August 2 with an Open House at Recreation Hall is a go August 1 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

OK Radio will have more information where the information sessions will be tomorrow.

The Makkovik fish plant has 50 employees working and processing crab.

Junior Andersen is the Production Manager.

He says 488,659 lbs of crab has been landed to date.

There are 3 crab boat fishing and they will be finished up next week.

Andersen adds in couple of weeks there will be Turbot fishing.

The Nain fish plant has 25 employees working at the plant processing Char.

Deidi Kohlmeister is the Office Supervisor.

She says 22,858lbs of char has been landed to date.
There are 8 fishermen fishing.

Kohlmeister adds that there smoked char, crab legs, fillets, whole char and cod fillets to sell if anyone is interested.

Nunatsiavut Government Ordinary Members for Upper Lake Melville will be holding an informal Meet & Greet for Nunatsiavut beneficiaries in North West River.

Marlene Winters Wheeler and Gerald Asivak will be at the Nunatsiavut DHSD Multi Purpose room on Thursday, August 2 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

There will be finger foods and door prizes.

Please drop by and have a chat.

Please note there will be a Meet & Greet in Happy Valley – Goose Bay and Mud Lake in the near future.

Details to follow.

The Call for Nominations for the 2018 Arctic Inspiration Prize is now open.

Katie Blasco is the Operations Manager for the Arctic Inspiration Prize.

She says this year up to three million dollars will be awarded across three prize categories.

One team could win one million dollars.

Up to four teams could win up to $500,000 dollars.

And, up to seven teams could win up to $100,000 dollars in the Youth Category for teams with members 30 years of age and younger.

To hear Blasco tell you more about this year’s Arctic Inspiration Prize’s Call for Nominations, click HERE.

Key Assets is seeking families to care for children, particularly large sibling groups and adolescents.

If you’ve ever thought of supporting a child in care in your home, then now is the time.

They are looking for energetic, caring, and all around awesome people to become Family-based Carers.

For more information check out our next info session in St. John’s on August 2nd, 2018 at 7:00 pm at our training site on 120 Lemarchant Rd.

You can also contact us for more information at 690-8290 or info@keyassetsnl.ca.