Yesterday the Nunatsiavut Government made an Immediate Release, and it reads:

The Nunatsiavut Government stands with Innu Nation Fake Indigenous groups threatening health, wellbeing, and legitimate connections to lands Nunatsiavut President Johannes Lampe today issued the following statement:

“The Nunatsiavut Government strongly supports the Innu Nation in its challenge against the Government of Canada’s decision to sign the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC).

This decision drastically undermines and could indefinitely postpone the Innu Nation’s treaty process, which has been ongoing for over 40 years.

“The Nunatsiavut Government finds it deeply concerning that Canada proceeded to sign this MOU despite having categorically rejected NCC’s claims on four separate occasions over two decades, concluding each time that there is insufficient evidence to support NCC’s claim to be an Indigenous rights-holding group under s. 35 of the Constitution.

“The Nunatsiavut Government does not recognize NCC as a legitimate Indigenous collective capable of holding s. 35 rights. NCC members do not have a viable claim to land in Labrador.

Inuit know who Inuit are and Inuit in Canada do not accept NCC members as Inuit. The NCC’s proposed land claim lacks recognition based on their research, consultations, and the history of Labrador Inuit.

“The Nunatsiavut Government agrees that these fake Indigenous groups are becoming a huge threat to Canada’s legitimate Indigenous peoples’ sacred connections to our lands, our health and wellbeing.

“We stand with the Innu Nation in issuing a decisive call for non-Indigenous people, including those in positions of power, to stop enabling fraudulent groups like the NCC.” Media Contact: Bert Pomeroy, Director of Communications (709) 896-8582

The Nunatsiavut Language and Culture are seeking applicants from Rigolet for a Master Apprentice Program to learn Inuktitut one-on-one.

From October 2023, to March 2024. In this program you will set daily learning schedules, learn Inuktitut one-on-one with an instructor for 10-20 hours a week, and will be using useful resources.

The eligibility for this program is you must be living in Nunatsiavut, you must be a Nunatsiavut Beneficiary, individuals of families are accepted, and individuals aged 18+.

To apply, write a short letter stating why you are interested in participating. You can email Shirley.jararuse@nunatsiavut.com or fax 709 922 2931

This application is opened until filled

Judy Okkuatsiak is an elder from Nain, she reminisces about the times when she used to go to school, and memories of her family when she was younger.

Okkuatsiak says, she recalls stories told by her Dad and her brother.

click here to listen to Judy talk about her childhood.

This was the annual Thanksgiving weekend on Sunday October 8, 2023.

The Moravian Church in Hopedale held their annual bake sale and raised a total of $2383.00 on sales for the Church.

Shirley Broomfield is one of the Chapel Servants in Hopedale.

She says this year all the chapel servants were there and organized the event.

Items included in the bake sale were wood, baked goods, wild food such as fish, caribou, fresh turkey, berries, homegrown vegetables for their community garden, and grocery hamper.

In Nain, a total of $672.67 was raised at the bake sale.

Mary Binky Andersen was the main organizer for the event.

Andersen says there were donations brought down to the Nain Moravian Church, Lay Minister Harry Green held the Thanksgiving church service and accepted donations.

Mary Binky Andersen along with Abele Ikkusek and Joan Dicker held the sale at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Center, they would like to thank the Recreation Department for the Nain Inuit Community Government, Lisa Ivany and her staff.

Gina Dicker was the lucky winner for the 50/50 ticket draw that raised $122.50.

Donations included fish, seal meat, birds, berries, baked goods, jam and dried char and other items.

All proceeds go towards the operations of the Moravian church.

We will have information for you from the Makkovik Moravian church sale once it becomes available.

The Nunatsiavut Government Education Division is looking for high school students to explore in a career trip in November 2023.

This applies to Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries in grade 11 in the Nunatsiavut and Upper Lake Melville area who are interested in attending a career trip to Halifax.

Students will be visiting post-secondary schools and taking part in some activities in the city of Halifax.

If any youth who are Nunatsiavut Beneficiaries and are in grade 11 want to take part in this career trip, you must submit a paragraph explaining why you would like to attend and what your goals are after you finish high school.

Deadline for submissions is October 20, 2023, at 4:30pm tentative dates are November 19-25 including travel days.

For more information you can contact Amalia McNeil by email at: amalia.mcneill@nunatsiavut.com

The Driver Examiner will be in Nain on Monday October 16th, 2023, at the Jeremias Sillitt Community Center.

He will be at the JS Center starting on Monday from 2:30 pm to 5:pm and again on Tuesday October 17th, from 9:am to 12pm.

The Driver Examiner will be offering written and road tests and Photo ID’s.

There is no charge for the written tests, but you must have two pieces of ID for example: birth certificate, Passport, MCP card, Social Insurance number or Nunatsiavut Beneficiary card.

Once you have passed your written test you need to send $60.00 and your paperwork to the Goose Bay NL office.

In order to do the road test you must have your beginners permit for at least a year and your vehicle must be insured, plus you have to pay $78.00 for your road test for a class five drivers license.

In order to do this an account must be set up online prior to the day of the road test at www.gov.nl.ca.

You must have a credit card to pay for the road test or interact online.

We contacted all the Community Freezers along the coast for an update.

In Nain we spoke with Frederic Dwyer Samuel the Environmental Assessment Manager, with the Nain Community Freezer.

He says in Nain, they have some char for residents to take as of today, and they just ran out of seal meat this morning.

The Nain community freezer open from 9am-12. And 1pm-430pm.

And for the Makkovik Community Freezer, we spoke with the Angajukak Barry Andersen.

He says they have some Char and cod fish available for the residents of the community, they are open from 9am-12, and open again from 1-430pm.

And as for the Hopedale Community Freezer as of this morning, we spoke to
Matilda Dicker.

She says that they have some Caribou available as well as cod fish and limited dried goods.

Beneficiaries of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement in the Constituency of Nain will head to the polls on November 7th, 2023, to choose an Ordinary member to fill a vacant seat in the Nunatsiavut Assembly.

Nanette Blake is the Nunatsiavut’s Electoral Officer and she says that this term for this position will be until May 2025.

Blake adds this position is to fill Former Ordinary Members position Tony Andersen’s.

Nominations will close on October 23rd at 2pm, and forms can be obtained from Blake by emailing Nanette.blake@nunatsiavut.com or by calling 709-899-0369

The Nunatsiavut Assembly sitting was held in Hopedale on September 20, 2023.

Gerald Asivak is the Minister of Health and Social Development for Nunatsiavut.

Asivak summarized topics on the agenda on Mental Wellness and Program updates within the Health and Services with Nunatsiavut Government.

Asivak gives his condolences to Lisa Dicker and her family as she was the Community Health Worker in Nain prior to her retirement.

Lynn Blackwood delivered presentations to Nutrition North Canada and Visionary Board and staff in Nain on September 13th.

Programming has been limited to staffing capacity.

to find out more about the mental wellness and programs within Nunatsiavut Health and Social Development click here.

The Mental health and addictions worker, Pam Campbell based out of Rigolet, invites the residents of Rigolet on a walk October the 11th for the even of Celebrating life.

Public are asked to meet at 6pm at the Rigolet DHSD for the walk around the community, there will also be refreshments and door prizes.

They hope to see you there for an eventful evening, and a chance to win door prizes.

For further information you can call 709-947-3328