The moose meat has been distributed and is in the process of being sent to the communities.

Todd Broomfield is the Director of Renewable Resources with the Nunatsiavut Government.

Broomfield says the community of Rigolet got their bundle of moose meat, for the other four communities, it is still in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. They are hoping to get it out onto the next MV Kamutik W trip.

The communities of Nain and Hopedale won’t be getting all of theirs, but they will put the rest of the meat sent out by plane.

Broomfield also says there are 16 spots for moose licenses out of 19. Those three spots were filled in Nain.

Scott Hudson originally from Black tickle who now lives in Happy valley Goose Bay has been mushing for 20 years. He says he owns 15 Inuit dogs, and says he does quite a bit of travelling on dog team.

Hudson says his fother and his grandfather were also dog team owners. Hudson says he has travelled to northern communities and also to communities south of Goose-Bay.

We spoke to Scott about his travels. Stay tuned to our Labrador memories show today at 3:30 to hear what he had to say.

Christmas games and programs will be starting today for day programs, and the “12 Days of Christmas” for the night program continues at the Youth Centre in Nain.

Keryn Andersen is the Regional Youth Program Coordinator.

The games and programs start today at 3pm, until December 21st, 2023, these are for the range of 13 to 30 years of age but there are some days where only certain ages are permitted for the programs.

Every day you attend, your name will be put in a draw for a prize that will be drawn when the programs are done before Christmas.

For today, December 11, is craft day starts at 3pm, for anyone between the age of 16 years of age to 30 years.

Tomorrow, December 12, youth ages 13 years to anyone 30 years of age will be having bingo day.

There will be Christmas baking on Wednesday, December 13, for anyone between the ages of 13 to 30 years.

On Thursday, December 14, Youth ages 13 years of age up to 30 years, will have a Christmas Game Day.

It will be Movie Day, with snacks, on Friday, December 15, for anyone between the ages of 13 years.

There will be more updates about the games and programs down the Youth Centre as the week goes on.

The Nain Art Studio is located at 15 Ikajutauvik road.

Lucas John Terriak is the Studio Maintenance worker.

He says right now they are still open for anyone who Is willing to come and learn how to make handmade jewelry.

With Christmas in two weeks, Nunatsiavut communities of Nain, Makkovik, and Rigolet are getting the Christmas hampers or vouchers ready for residents.

Edna Winters is the Team Leader in Nain.

Winters says the committee are talking about it in their meetings and still looking to finalize everything. But the hampers will go ahead, donations will be from Frank’s General Store.

In Makkovik, Carol Gear is part of the Pantry and Wood Box Committee.

Gears says the notice have been posted on December 4, and will end on December 20, 2023, at 12 noon.

Each household can shop for $100 worth of food from A&K Variety or Frank’s General Store in Makkovik.

The Pantry and Wood Box Committee would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas

Ines Shiwak volunteered to help with the Food Bank.

Shiwak says they put the notice out last Tuesday, and the deadline was yesterday, Sunday.

There are names put in but they are waiting on the minister to get in town to see how much each household is getting, depending on how many is in the household.

The OK Radio will see if there will be hampers or vouchers in the communities of Hopedale, Rigolet and Postville when it becomes available.

Respiratory illness is on the rise across the country, but provincial health officials aren’t expecting a surge in new flu, RSV and COVID cases over the holiday season.

Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Janice Fitzgerald says while they do anticipate that the incidence of respiratory illness will increase during and after the holiday season, they aren’t expecting it to be extreme.

She says as is usual, they expect to see an increase in cases including flu and COVID through late December and into early January.

The number of confirmed cases of influenza have risen a bit earlier in the season, but that wasn’t unexpected given similar trends in the southern hemisphere.

Dr. Fitzgerald urges people to stay home if they feel unwell, and to employ the usual precautionary measures including sanitizing your hands regularly and wearing a mask when out in public if necessary.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is extending the deadline for residents to apply for the home heating supplement.

Those who qualify now have until January 15, 2024, to apply to the program.

The supplement, which ranges between $200 and $500, is available to residents of the province whose adjusted family income for 2022 was $150,000 or less and have directly incurred costs for the purchase of furnace or stove oil to heat their principal residence.

Residents can apply online. In order to ensure the most efficient processing time, please make sure your application is complete. This includes:

A copy of your invoice for the purchase of furnace or stove oil which should include the delivery address.

Invoices must be dated no later than December 31, 2023.

Residents who received the home heating supplement in the fall of 2022 are welcome to apply again this year if they meet the eligibility criteria.

As announced in Budget 2023, maintaining the home heating supplement for furnace or stove oil is part of how the Provincial Government continues to help with the cost of living.

Government has provided more than a half-billion dollars in targeted short- and long-term cost-of-living measures since March 2022.

For more information, please email OilSupplement@gov.nl.ca or phone 709-729-4645 (toll-free 1-844-729-4645).

The town of Happy Valley Goose Bay held their annual Tree lighting last evening.

The annual tree lighting was held at the HVGB town hall at 6:30pm.

Free skating was held at the EJ Broomfield arena from 7pm to 7:50pm.

There was hot chocolate served along with

And the Hopedale ICG will be holding their tree lighting ceremony on December 11, starting at 6pm.

The Hopedale ICG have a Best Decorated House contest made with the first prize of $500, second place get $400 and third gets $300.

The winners for the contest will be announced at the ceremony.

Merry Christmas to everyone on the north coast.

The Nain Canada Post office now have their Christmas tree up.

And they are asking for a little help with decorating the tree.

Nain residence can come and add a Christmas decoration or a Christmas bubble and your name will be put aside for a chance to win a Christmas basket donated by Brenda Dicker and Jake Kalleo.

They will find a winner for the basket on Friday December 22.

Santa Claus and his elves will be travelling to the North Coast again this year.

We spoke with Philip Earle the President of Air Borealis.

He says that Santa is partnering with the Rotary club in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Air Borealis.

Santa will be travelling on plane to Nain and Natauashish this year.

Next week on Saturday December 16 Santa will be handing out gifts to children, weather pending.

Earle says that Santa will be leaving Happy Valley-Goose Bay then head to Nain then to Natauashish and back to HVGB.