The vision of the Imappivut Marine Management plan is to fully implement the Labrador Inuit Land claims Agreement in the entire coastal and marine waters of Nunatsiavut and guarantee that for generations to come, these waters support a healthy marine ecosystem and prosperous Labrador Inuit.

In support of Imappivut Marine Management Plan and the Federal Oceans Protection Plan, the Nunatsiavut Government is working with the Government of Canada on Marine protection and safety initiatives.

Input from maritime users is critical to this process.

The CCG would like to meet with community members and organizations to discuss maritime activities on the Labrador Coast.

Meeting schedule as follows:

In Hopedale, on July 17, 2018 at the Nanuk Center at 7pm.

In Nain, July 18th at the NG Boardroom at 7pm.

In Postville, July 19, 2018 at the Community center at 10:30am and in Makkovik at the Community Hall at 7pm.

In Rigolet, on July 20, 2018 at the Community Hall at 2pm.

For more information on these meetings, please contact Rodd Lang, Director of Environment with NG 922-2567 or 922-2380.

Or Krista Elvidge, Senior SAR Program Officer, at 902-407-7625 or 902-221-0186.

Department of Health and Social Development will be holding information sessions for seniors 55+.

On Monday July 16, 2018 at the NG boardroom from 2-4 pm this session will be on additional programs and services that you would like to see in Nain.

Snacks and beverages will be provided along with some door prizes.

Any questions please call Alice Okkautisak or Jane Merkuratsuk at the DHSD building at 922-2114.

An archeologist plus four students will be in Okak this summer.

Peter Whitbridge is an archeologist who will be going Okak to do more research and mapping.

He says the group will leave Nain on the 21 of July and return around August 5.

Whitbridge says he was having a complicated time in trying to make their travel arrangements, but he says he was lucky to get Willie Fox to take them up on his longliner.

He says they will be getting picked up on speedboats to come back to Nain.

To hear Whitbridge talk about the work they’ll be doing in Okak this summer, click HERE.

The Municipal Service Department will be flushing out the main water lines in Nain today and tomorrow July 10.

This will cause discoloration (brownish).

The town will be on a Boil Water advisory until further notice.

The Nain Inuit Community Government would like to apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact the NICG at 922-2842.

There are projects on the go with Department of Health and Social Development in Hopedale.

McKinley Winters is Team Leader with DHSD in Hopedale.

He says community gardens and green house are set up, where they grow potatoes, carrots and turnips.

He adds they have land base outings scheduled for this month and next month.

To hear Winters on The DHSD projects in Hopedale, click HERE.

AnânauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women’s Association has a three year project called Explore, Examine and Empower on the go.

Kim Campbell-Mclean is the Executive Director for AnânauKatiget Tumingit.

She adds that the project is almost into its first year already.

The project is for Inuit women all along the North Coast.

Campbell-Mclean says that women involved in the project meet once a month in their communities to talk about the project.

To hear Campbell-Mclean tell you more about the three year project with AnânauKatiget Tumingit, click HERE.

Torngat Wildlife, Plants and Fisheries Secretariat released the full report on the results of a spring 2017 aerial survey of the Torngat Mountains Caribou Herd.

The first aerial survey was conducted back in 2014 with an estimated herd size of 930.

The second aerial survey was conducted in 2017 with an estimated herd size of 1,326.

It is still too early to predict if the increasing population trend of the Torngat caribou will continue in the short term.

Survey findings can serve as a baseline for further monitoring of the herd in support of management considerations.

Despite positive signs over the last several years, the Torngat herd is small and isolated, appears to be completely absent from southern portions of its historical range, and should be managed with care.

For the full report you can visit www.torngatsecretariat.ca.

OK Radio will have more on the report of the Torngat Mountains Caribou herd once it becomes available.

The OKâlaKatiget Society’s Radio transmitter in Nain has been down now since around 3 pm on July 4, 2018.

OK Radio contacted a technician the following day to try and relieve the problem.

Only to find out that the transmitter is broke.

We were told that the technician will possibly only be able to make it in on Wednesday July 11.

An email was sent to us stating that CBC will be replacing antennas on the tower at the transmitter site.

This work will start tentatively anytime after July 16, 2018 for approximately a week.

The CBC and the OK Society transmitters will have to be turned off periodically for safety reasons when workers are on the tower.

OK Radio will have more information on this matter when it becomes available.

Residents of Makkovik are cautioned about polar bears after one was recently removed from the area.

Polar bears are moving back north at this time of the year and depending on ice conditions can come close to shore and be attracted to communities. Conservation Officers with the Forestry and Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, with assistance from local Nunatsiavut Government officials and the RCMP, successfully immobilized and relocated a polar bear to an island north of Makkovik on Thursday.

Residents who live in areas where polar bears have been known to frequent are encouraged to take appropriate steps to avoid encounters with bears. This includes being aware of your surroundings, keeping pets inside or under close supervision, travelling in groups when possible, never approaching a fresh kill or carcass, and adhering to the proper storage, collection and disposal of garbage to avoid attracting bears into communities.

Under no circumstances should residents approach polar bears. While every encounter is different, if an individual encounters a polar bear, they should first take note of the bear’s behavior. If the bear does not know you are there:

• Quietly back away and leave the area;
• Try and stay downwind of the animal;
• Keep an eye on the bear; and
• Never get between a bear and her cubs.

If the bear has seen or smelled you:

• Remain calm;
• Give the bear space and a route to get away;
• Back away, get out of the situation, never run;
• If you must speak, do so calmly and firmly; and
• Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.

Anyone sighting a polar bear is asked to contact the local District Forestry and Wildlife Office in North West River at 709-497-8479 or 709-897-7116 after regular office hours.

One new home will be constructed in Makkovik by Torngat Regional Housing Association this summer.

William Lucy is the Coordinator.

He says a new home was allocated last week.

Lucy says Shaun Edmunds and Darlene Harris will get a three bedroom home.

He says, in the other communities, repairs are being carried over from last year, while they wait for more materials.

In Hopedale there’s half a crew working, and Nain is also doing few repairs.

In Rigolet, 3 new homes will be constructed, and they’re waiting for a Contract from the Inuit Community Government to do a land lot for two of the houses.