Labrador-Grenfell Health wishes to advise the public that the safety of patients and families is our utmost concern as we focus on continuous improvement within our facilities.

The public using the Labrador Health Centre will notice that we have relocated the Security Department to the Emergency Room Department (ER). This will help provide a safe environment for our patients. Thus initiative will have no impact on the seating capacity in the waiting area.

The public is encouraged to share their feedback on this and any Labrador –Grenfell Health services by completing the Client Experience Survey or by contacting the client Relations Department by:

Phone: 1 833-505-1178
Email: client.relations@lghealth.ca

The 13th Annual Rhubarb Festival in Hopedale will begin Tomorrow, July 17, 2018 with plans for a fun-filled week.

The events start off tomorrow at 4:30pm at the Nanuk Centre with a fireman’s Challenge then a beauty Pageant at 6:30pm.

Other events throughout the week include: DHSD Seniors Luncheon, Mini fair/Carnival, Rhubarb bake-off, VALE Community BBQ, and many more.

The last day of events will be on Saturday, July 21, featuring a Fishing Contest and Community Bonfire.

Nunatsiavut Marine would like to advise the public that the MV Northern Ranger is currently behind schedule due to the unfavourable ice conditions encountered at the beginning of the 2018 season.

The vessel will not depart Happy Valley – Goose Bay for her south trip on Friday July 13th as scheduled, but is tentatively scheduled to depart on Saturday, July 14th at 12:00 PM. Boarding will commence at 9:00 AM and all passengers should be on board by 11:00 AM.

The MV Northern Ranger will continue to operate on a load and go basis in an effort to get back on her regular schedule, and is expected to achieve this by early next week.

Please continue to monitor our vessel updates page for the latest estimated departure and arrival times.

Facebook Canada announced it would be adding Inuktitut to its Translate Facebook app (facebook.com/translations).

It’s a starting point to getting a fully operational version of assuming there’s enough response from people who know the Language.

Johannes Lampe is the President of Nunatsiavut Government.

He says he is not a Facebook user, but believes Facebook efforts will, regardless, be positive for the recognition of the Inuit Language and the people of Nunavut.

Tune into AtjiKangitut show next week to hear Lampe talk more the Inuktitut Translation that Facebook Canada will be starting up 2019.

Labrador’s first and only television series has been renewed for a second season.

In June, Bell Media, the parent company of Discovery Channel confirmed it will make another 12 episodes of “Last Stop Garage”, the comedy-reality show set in North West River’s CRB Rebuild and Recreation shop.

‘Last Stop Garage’, aptly named as it is the only one in North West River, which is literally at the end of the road, features Baikie and a cast of characters, all CRB employees, pulling off MacGyver-like fixes and builds on Frankenmachines of all kinds.

Baikie’s highlights from season one were two episodes in particular: episode 12, in which they helped the town of Mud Lake recover from flooding by building a barge to move construction materials; and episode 1, in which they fused a broken-down tow truck with a giant skidder to create an off-road rescue machine.

One character that won’t be on screen much, if at all, is the sharp-witted, bombastic former manager of CRB (and Labradorian columnist) Stan Oliver. Oliver suffered a heart attack recently and is still recovering, Baikie said.

Innu Leaders are outraged by yesterday’s announcement that Canada’s Department of Crown-indigenous Affairs will enter into “exploratory” land claims talks with NunatuKavut (NCC), an organization formerly known as the “Labrador Metis Nation”.

“The NCC is a settler organization”, stated Innu Nation Grand Chief Gregory Rich.
“Canada’s decision to engage in land claims talks with NCC is a slap in the face to the Innu. We’ve fought for generations for the recognition and affirmation of our rights. But now Canada is giving priority to the claims of a group which didn’t even exist when we began our struggle, and to people who have only recently declared that they are indigenous. Where does this leave the Innu?”

Innu Nation has been in land claims negotiations since 1977. In 2011, the Innu Nation, Canada and the Province of NL entered into the Tshash Petapen(New Dam) Agreement, a milestone agreement-in-principle towards a land claim and self-government agreement.

“The invitation to NCC to engage in land claims negotiations will have implications not only for the Innu- but for indigenous peoples across the country”, stated Innu nation Deputy Grand chief Etienne Rich. “Governments and settlers used to take our land because they thought Indigenous people had no rights. Now that we are able to assert our rights, settler now say that they have the same rights as we do, and the government is right there to support them. This isn’t reconciliation-it’s a new kind of colonialism.”

Innu Nation is demanding an immediate explanation from Crown-Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett about how NCC talks will affect the conclusion of an Innu land and claim and self-government agreement.

Nain Inuit Community Government would like the residents of the community know that we are having problems with the pump at the trouser lake pump house and that we are down to one pump.

Joe Dicker is the AngajukKâk for the Nain Inuit community Government.

He says that they had someone come from the island through Budgells to haul up one pump and take it apart so it can b shipped out for inspections.

Dicker added that they have the situation under control and we are working towards a solution and we should have that taken care of by the end of August.

And the town is still under Boil Water advisory until the water samples are sent back.

To hear Dicker discuss more about the water situation here in Nain, click HERE.

The Nain fish plant is now processing char, after char fishermen landed in their first catch yesterday.

John Ikussek is the Manager for Nain fish plant.

He says there are 15 employees cleaning char.

There are 6 commercial char fishermen.

He says a total of 1,800 lbs was landed.

Ikkusek says Duane Lawrence is the Engineer.

He adds they will start smoking char tomorrow.

Makkovik fish plant is busy with crab as well.

Junior Andersen is the Production Manager.

He says 224,221lbs of crab has been landed to date.

Andersen says there about 50 employees working at the plant.

And there are 2 crab boats fishing.

Alana Johns is a retired Linguistic Professor of University of Toronto.

She says she’s in Nain and want to touch base with people here in town and do a research and collect information on Inuttitut.

Johns says they will meet this evening at the Nunatsiavut government building from 7-9 pm.

To hear more from Johns, click HERE.

The Nunatsiavut Government Department of Health and Social Development and Environment division are looking for eight youth adults interested in participating in a food skills and research assistantship program being held at the Torngat National Park Base Camp form July 21-Auggust 2018.

Applicants must be:
-18 years of age or older
-Able to travel between the dates of July 19th and August 6th 2018.
-Willing to spend two weeks in camp conditions
– Interested in learning about traditional food, skills and wildlife and environment research.

For more information or to apply Contact Kristeen McTavish at 709-922-2942 ext 283 or 709-922-2968 or email kristeen.mctavish@nunatsiavut.com.