The OKâlaKatiget Society had an update from the Community Freezers all along the coast.

Nain has a full stock right now, with char and cod fish, seal meat, along with some chicken and veggies that include potatoes, carrots, turnip, cabbage which was left over from the Sports Meet and donated. Nain residence are welcome to the Community Freezer daily, during their business hours.

Hopedale also has a full stock for their Food Pantry, with the basics, and with Caplin, Cod fish, Musk ox and Caribou meat, along with Mattak and Porpoise meat available in the community freezer. Seniors are allowed to go once a week, with the remainder of the town once every 2 weeks during business hours.

Makkovik’s and Postville’s community freezer still has Char and a few Cod fish available, residence are welcome during business hours as well.

Rigolet’s Community Freezer had supplies in, consisting of cod fillets, Char and chicken, and had it open on this Tuesday passed. They try to do it once a week or every two weeks for the residence but it all depends on their supply. Depending on what’s available for next week, they may go ahead with another opening giveaway on Tuesday, October 24, but it is still to be determined.

The Labrador Marine inc would like to notify listeners that the deadline date for accepting freight is Thursday November 9, 2023.

We spoke with Dave Leyden the Operations Manager with Labrador Marine.

Leyden says this season is pretty good so far, with very minimal delays with freight.

He adds that they are basically full end on the fall schedule, with lots of freight expected to arrive to Goose Bay and to the north coast.

Leyden says there is several weeks left to have your freight to be ship on the north coast.

He also adds that this season was good for passengers on the Kamutik W.

Operations Manager would like to thank everyone for cooperating this season.

He also says that the Kamutik W will be still in operation until the first week of December, but you must have your freight shipped before the deadline date.

Rigolet’s craft shop will be opening its doors once again with cash sales only.

Jane Shiwak has been working at the Rigolet’s craft shop for a number of years, and now has a schedule set in place. The following times and dates are;

Mondays from 1-3pm
Wednesdays from 2-4pm
Fridays from 1-3pm

If you have any questions, please call the RICG at 709 947 3382

Nany Gear is the Indigenous Justice Navigator at the Labrador Friendship Centre in Happy Valley Goose Bay.

There will be a wellness gathering for missing and murdered indigenous people in Happy Valley Goose Bay from October 24th to the 26th at the Birch Book Chalet and It’s open to families of missing and murdered people ages 12 and up.

Gear says it will now be an annual event, and from last year’s event it was very successful, with hopes of a great turn out this year as well.

Gear mentions that, the seating is limited, but, advice people to still put their name in, as there is a waitlist started for next year’s event.

click here to hear the full interview with Nancy Gear.

The SmartICE northern lead production center recruited workers for their 2023 employment readiness and technology development program.

Which started on May 23rd, 2023.

We spoke with Siegfried Merkuratsuk who is one of the youths recruited for the Smart ice.

The program is open to youth ages 18-30 and will run from May 23 – June 22, 2023. Taking place Monday – Thursday from 9:00a.m – 3:00p.m.

The youth participants learn skills such as digital and financial literacy, resume building, skill building (Lean, WHMIS) and STEM skills such as how to assemble the Smart Buoy ice monitoring sensor, which are then shipped to communities across the Arctic.

The goal of the program is to prepare participants to success in the current labor market. Ongoing career support will be provided by WRDC following completion of the training program.

The Provincial Government introduced a five-point plan designed to increase the availability of housing that is affordable in Newfoundland and Labrador by helping stimulate private sector development and stabilize or reduce housing prices.

Through the targeted actions, valued at more than $65 million, there will be upwards of 500 new housing options added to the market.

Similar to other jurisdictions across Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing increased demand for housing that is impacted by a number of factors, including the province’s sustained growth in population, demographic shifts, and higher costs.

The new initiatives will incentivize the rapid construction of housing that is affordable and support the transition to home ownership.

They include Removal of the GST/HST on new purpose-built rental housing. This could potentially save developers hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on the size of the build.

A low interest financing program that will provide financing to assist in constructing purpose-built rental housing, including modular, or converting non-residential buildings into purpose-built rentals.

Use of available Provincial Government-owned land and buildings for construction or conversion for purpose-built rental housing, including modular.

A home ownership assistance program for first-time homebuyers with lower-to-moderate incomes who qualify for a mortgage to access the required downpayment to purchase a home. The program will also assist with closing costs of up to $1,500 to match the Federal First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit.

A Secondary and Basement Suite Incentive, which will be a pilot project, whereby homeowners will be able to access a forgivable loan of 50 per cent of the cost of renovations, up to a maximum of $40,000 over five years.

These actions are in addition to the extra $3 million to repair and renovate approximately 143 vacant Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation units announced today, along with the more than 750 new public housing options that have been advanced over the last two years, and the $140 million record high investment in housing in Budget 2023.

Through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, the province has seen more than 2,000 individuals and families access permanent housing over the last two years, and expansion completed or underway of 165 emergency shelter beds 76 supportive housing units, and 12 second stage housing units, and shelter beds for women.

The Nunatsiavut Government has completed inspections of the homes of the Labrador Inuit who applied for repairs under the Program in 2021.

Following the inspections, in total five (5) homes have been approved for repairs in Nain (1), Makkovik (2) and Hopedale (2).

All tenders must be received no later than November 03, 2023, at 4:00pm AT in accordance with the requirements of this Call for Tenders.

The Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development Mental Health and Addictions counsellors are partnering with the Labrador Grenfell Health team in Nain to hold the Nain Mental Health supports Clinics for residence in Nain.

Kathryn Kerns, HBSW, RSW Mental Health and Addictions counsellor Shelby Caravan, B.Sc. BSW RSW Mental Health, and Additions Counsellor can be reached at 922-2912 ext. 4.

Nain DHSD Rutie Lampe the Mental Health and Addictions worker, health and social development can be reached at 922-2126 ext.: 231.

Or Elsie Russell, Mental Health, and Addictions worker, at 922-2183

811 Health line nurses are there to listen, provide support and offer suggestions to help, kids help phone is 24/7 and help and support can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.

Notice to Nain residence, The Nunatsiavut Government in partnership with DLCT will be offering a free space at the NG building to individuals who would like to trace patterns.

Donna Dicker will be is at the NG boardroom upstairs to support Nainimiut trace patterns, any patterns at all.

Dicker mentions that there’s some atigik, akulik, atajuk, pualok and kamek patterns to trace if you don’t have them already.

Dicker is in partnership with DLCT for this project for the community.

She was at the NG board room this morning up until 11:30 And she’ll be there to guide you again tomorrow afternoon at 1:30-4 this afternoon.

Dicker will also be there from 9am to 11:30am and 1:30-4pm tomorrow, Thursday October 20, 2023.

Go and trace your patterns, get some new patterns, and its all free.

The Nunatsiavut Assembly sitting was held in Hopedale last month.

We have the recordings for the Oral questions that happened at the assembly.

Here is one of the Oral questions done by ordinary member for Nain, Roxanne Barbour.

Barbour asked questions about the guidelines for services within the Inuit Child First Initiative.

The Inuit Child First Initiative ensures Inuit children have access to the essential government funded health, social and educational products, services and supports they need, when they need them.

Click here to hear the audio from the Assembly sitting about the Inuit Child First Initiative.