A long-time advocate for treatment and addictions is asking serious questions about plans to develop a $40 million shelter in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Simeon Tshakapesh wonders if the facility will address the issue related to people travelling to Goose Bay from the coast and living and drinking on trails in the woods surrounding the community.

He has had family members who have died for want of adequate shelter, and his own son made use of shelters, only up continue drinking, knowing he had a place to stay, at the end of the night.

Tshakapesh says he would like to see more public consultation on the matter and questions whether the $40 million might be better spent on programs in communities like Natuashish to help those living in addiction.

“What’s the safe house going to do for addicts?”, he asks it simply provides a bed to sleep in and a place to wash up and the addict goes right back out and start drinking again.

Tshakapesh has written to the Chiefs and Grand Chiefs of the Innu Nation Board Councils questioning the process and asking for greater public consultation.

Story courtesy of VOCM.

The Executive Director of the Northern Coalition Corporation has written to the Federal Fisheries Minister, Joyce Murray lending support for the call from grieving mother, Jeanette Russell for dedicated marine search and rescue resources in Labrador.

Russell made an impassioned presentation before a safety conference in St. John’s last year following the loss of her son Marc and his crewmate, Joey Jenkins off the south east coast of Labrador in September 2021.

Their bodies and boat was never recovered.

Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world, and Allister O’Reilly said climate change means sea conditions are only gong to become more dangerous and unpredictable.

The Northern Coalition has fishing vessels that operate all along the Labrador coast and into to Davies Strait and having dedicated resources in the region would be of benefit to the many people they employ.

Story courtesy of VOCM.

The Nunatsiavut Government is continuing to work with Labrador-Grenfell Regional Health Authority (LGH) in an effort to alleviate the impacts of reduced service delivery at the Labrador Health Centre (LHC) in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

LGH announced this week that, because of staff shortages, temporary service delivery changes announced prior to Christmas, and scheduled to end January 13, will remain in place until at least January 23.

As a result, all obstetrical services will continue to be diverted from the LHC to the
Labrador West Health Centre in Labrador City. Expectant mothers will be contacted to discuss birth plans options.

All coastal medevac patients will continue to be diverted to a LGH facility, other
than the LHC.

With respect to transitioning to home and community care, early discharge will
continue to be arranged for patients who do not require acute services at the LHC. The health authority is working with patients and their families to coordinate home and community placements that best meet their care needs.

There are no changes to emergency services at the LHC.

A lot of past radio and TV employees remembers their first time ever being taught the radio and television roles.

Gordon Obed is a senior of Nain and was one of those who took the first training.

Click here when Obed talks about those days with radio department.

The IlinniaKatigennik Show will be starting again today January 17, 2023.

Any recordings are done over the phone and will be aired on OKâlaKatiget Society.

You will be compensated for your time of $50 for adults and promo for children.

Please note that it must be your own Inuktitut story to get the $50, and if you are reading someone else’s story or reading a book you will get $25.

This is for anyone along the North Coast and in the Canadian constituency.

IlinniaKatigennik airs Tuesdays from 3-4pm on OK Radio.

For more information, you can contact Robyn Martin at (709) 922-2942 or email her at robyn.martin@nunatsiavut.com.

The 2023 Commercial Fishery Applications are now available at the Nunatsiavut Government Offices in Upper Lake Melville and Nunatsiavut.

All applications and required documents must be completed and submitted to the Fisheries Specialist by February 28 at 4:30pm. For additional instructions, please see application form.

For more information, you may contact Todd Broomfield, Director of Renewable Resources at 709-923-2004, or by email at todd.broomfield@nunatsiavut.com.

Do you want to return to school or work?

If you’re a single parent, here’s a great opportunity for you. Check out this free employment program.

Here’s what you’ll gain:

• Resume developing, Networking, and interview preparation.
• Financial planning, and communication skills.
• Information sessions on many other subjects and services.
• Priority access to other SPAN programs upon completion.
• Update your date wardrobe at Margaret’s closet, and
• Ongoing one-on-one support.

This is a 9-week program. Participants must be a single parent receiving income support, have dependents under the age of 18, and have access to a home computer/ laptop.

Your regular support income will not be affected by your attendance. The next class session will be held virtual and is scheduled for Monday, January 23.

Talk to one of the Employment Service Officers in Happy Valley-Goose Bay:

– Aletha Palmer, Program Lead at apalmer@spanl.ca
– Abbey French, Rural ESO at afrench@spanl.ca, or call 709-738-3401, ext. 2
– Amy Tatchell, ESO at atachell@spanl.ca, or call 709-738-3401 ext. 4.

One of the big goals for the province’s public health team this year will be what Dr. Janice Fitzgerald calls the “reinvention of public health.”

The pandemic has had many to think of Public Health simply as communicable disease control, but it’s duties are far broader than that.

Fitzgerald said the office is very big on public health promotion., addressing social determinates of health and health equity.

Case on points, said Fitzgerald were the inequities brought to the surface during the pandemic.

She said they are working on a population health assessment right now and hope to release that in 2023, as well, as they are working on developing a public health plan for the next five years.

The ice along the coast took longer to form this year than other years.

We spoke with most of the conservation officers in the Nunatsiavut communities.

Ian Winters is the Conservation officer for Hopedale.

He says the ice has not quite frozen over yet and people are getting around the bay, west of the community, and they can’t travel north or south as of yet.

Todd Broomfield is the Conservation Officer in Makkovik.

He says the ice on the bay is good and people are travelling up the bay. The ice outside is starting to freeze over but it isn’t safe yet.

We spoke with the Conservation Officer in Rigolet, Tony Wolfrey.

He says the ice around the community is beginning to freeze up and that some places are good but other areas are not safe yet.

In Postville, Samantha Jacque is the Conservation Officer.

Jacque says the ice froze about a week ago, it is good most of the way but some patches aren’t as thick, so some places aren’t safe.

We will talk to one of the Conservation Officers in Nain to see how the ice is around the community when it becomes available.

SmartIce is now getting ready in all five Nunatsiavut communities and have some plans for the upcoming ice season.

Rex Holwell Jr. is the Manager of Nunatsiavut Operations.

He says they’re looking for two or three operators and at least three youth trainees from each community.

The trainees will be doing a lot of online training from other SmartIce employees to learn how to do the Smart Kamutik runs.

Click here to hear more information about the SmartIce positions with Holwell Jr.