On the Labrador.

By demand, more pictures by Aimee.

Yesterday, Friday, was an almost perfect early winter day. Mainly sunny, temps around -4, cept for that bloody wind. Man it was insistent, mainly gusts up to 80 with occasional to 100 clicks.
The roads are now like bitumen with little rocks sticking through; all the nice snow has been compacted or blown away. It did help keep the dust to a minimum, but made for some careful walking.
The Astron came in around 6 or so Thursday evening, left about 12 hours later. Lots of mixed freight at the dock.
I checked 5 times during the day for my little lot of 10 boxes. Very slow going with only one forklift working for most of the day and about 20 containers to unload. On a couple of visits one of the store operators was using the second fork lift to unload there stuff, it did take some pressure off the one wharfinger employee.
Fran received a call about 3 pm that our freight was off, down I go again, all our stuff was there on the ground. The second forklift by that time had broken down, but the second wharfinger employee was there.
I’m told that there will be another run for the Astron, but most people have all there winter stocks. So the pressure is off now as far as getting your freight in, it’s a constant battle for most, big or small shippers, it’s no difference, except more constant headaches for the bigger shippers, not sure why it has to be so. It does seem that if you raise shortcomings to the powers that be, or suggest ways that things could be improved you are looked upon as being some sort of an imbecile.

So bring on the snow Yahweh, me is ready.

Touch of winter.

Nice crisp sunny morning, -7 with wind chill of -17. Might have to put the long johns on.

The roads have enough snow on them for ski doos; sadly it brings out the ones with pea soup for brains, idiots speeding around all hours of the night and early morning, not to mention in the day. The roads are narrow enough and hard enough for some to navigate without having to worry about pea soup brains coming at you at 50k and hour.

The ponds have been frozen for several weeks allowing people to go off wooding, hunting.

The Astron is on its way north, some say there is another trip to make, but will wait and see on that. If this cold keeps up people with things like drinks etc may be in for a few unexpected frozen treats.

We have our fuel prices frozen too. It costs $1.26 a liter for gas. Heating oil costs $096.88 a liter at the pump, plus taxes brings it to $1.1141 a liter. So a 45 gallon drum cost $228.60 plus delivery, ouch.

Ronald McDonald gets the big red boot

Ronald McDonald gets the big red boot

Well bout time some one had the internal fortitude and common sense
to tell the corporate leaches where to get off. My hat goes off to this guy......
no, not the idiot being carried off.

Hu's on third?

Hu’s dat 3Rd from the left…………..Ooops, sorry, from the right.

Is that a beer bag he has under that silk, of just extra dim sums?

Young stud Peter McKay may be having thoughts of another canine outburst if he spots this nice number. http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/wlm/bitch/

Serotine Rememberence Day.

I was a bit reluctant to post much about remembering. My father was in several campaigns in WWII, he is still going at 92. Anzac Day, April 25, is the big day to remember them days down under, I had many a good time with the returned service persons over the years. Having said that, I found this story by Kenn Harper just today, it is more in keeping with where I live today.
http://www.nunatsiaq.com/opinionEditorial/columns.html
I’m sure Kenn wont mind me linking to it, he and his wife had a nice little visit with us this summer, I learnt a lot about Inuit history in the north in that short time.

Boonie this n that.

Pity about the trapped belugas near Tuktoyaktuk NWT.
The killing of these beautiful mammals won’t be all bad; the meat will be an added bonus to the Inuvialuit larder. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2006/11/17/beluga-hunt.html

Weather here been down in cloud and or fog and or light drizzle and or freezing rain and or light snow to snow for three days. Had a nice snow fall yesterday evening, big flakes, kind of heavy and wet but it built up for an extra coverage on the ground. Environment Canada said we had 9 mm; water does not build up so we must have had some sort of cm.

The second to last freight boat arrived Thursday morning. I checked to see if any freight for us, non on the manifest I was told.
Being an old hand I wandered down to the dock after 1 pm, the wharfinger said, “There is some frozen product for you in the shed, I think”.
Low and behold there was, 26 boxes, all loaded together on a pallet with boxes for 3 other people. Being an old hand [there it is again] I proceeded to take off the plastic wrap and go through the stack sorting out my stuff. Luck had it that another of the names on the pallet arrived, with some helpers, so that made lighter work of sorting it out.
Lucked out again when the same bloke gave my boxes and self a ride up to the house.
So I have the frozen all tucked away in the freezer, just have to wait on the dry goods to arrive on the last boat.

Nice little piece on CBC Here and Now last night on Jim Andersen [Uncle Jim] of Makkovik. At 80 odd he is becoming a bit of a media star, and rightly so. Jim has been involved with still and moving picture taking for a long time, his archive is a great look back at life in Makkovik and Labrador. This week Jim is in Goose Bay at the Creative Arts Festival showing and giving talks of some of his work.

For all my foody fans out there.

Well the 4 of you.

Had couple people over the other night, here is what we had.

Fresh home made bagels, smoked char with cream cheese and red onion.
Followed that with leek and sweet potato soup, followed by pork chop/cabbage/potato sort of sweet and sour thing, followed by red berry squares [no picture].

Other things consumed is a state secrete, but I awoke fresh next morning, how things change with maturity?

Getting better at the bagel making, the forming and making the hole is the time consuming thing, think I have it worked out after the fourth try.

C. G. Armundsen on the Labrador.

Nachvak Fiord.


Geting the sea legs.
Aimee dressed for the job.




Spy in the sky, Saglek.







Pictures by Aimee.

Dam fine two days, sunshine and in the -3 range day time, though the wind chill yesterday was around -14, just makes you walk faster.

Another day, same spot as yesterday, quite the contrast.

Remembrance Day here was very quite, only one store opened.
Weather was snow or freezing rain all day until about 3 or so when it cleared some what.
The weather projected a stillness and calm over the town, at least in my mind, very appropriate for the day imo.

After baking up some bagels and a red berry squares I took a walk down to the dock, the Astron was in and a tanker was anchored off. Even there with the restricted access to the lay down area the scene had calm about it, at least outwardly.


This old timer was on a flat bed, not sure of the owners intent, but it has seen better times.

Bush flying, or bush league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKdDJ-fRA8w

Above is a link to a youtube video, looks like from a cell phone, but you get the general picture.

Its relevance is: The plane is operated by Innu Mikun, one of the two schedule airlines on the coast, plus Innu Mikun supplies all the air support to the Voisey’s bay mine/mill.

The location of the video is Otter Creek, the float plane base for HV-GB.
The plane had been on floats all summer, and had just been converted over to wheels.
Subsequently, after this very hairy take off from the dock, the plane landed at the Goose Bay air port. On touch down one of the wheel supports broke or came off from the fuselage and the plane skidded to an abrupt holt to the side of the runway.
A report on CBC on the crash only said that an investigation is under way, but no damage was done to the under carriage.

Silly me, I thought that changing from floats to wheels, or visa versa was done at the hangers at the airport, not at the dock. I understood that the floats had wheels and recessed back into the floats, enabling them to land on hard surfaces when needed.
What ever the reason for this, it sure looks reckless and irresponsible.

Transition time.

Well it’s looking like the prolonged fall is over, wintry like conditions seem to be evolving nicely. Well nicely in terms of the expectations of good snow coverage and brisk crunchy sounding walks. It has been down to -10 at night with days up to -3 or so. Winds are consistent and persistent with chills in the -10 during the day
For now it is kind of bleak, the roads dried out about five days ago, while the sun is nice it has left the roads dry as an African desert. The vehicles and the wind kick up this very fine rock dust; it can’t be conducive to ones healthy well being.
Getting some light snow this AM, so that will deal with the dust for now.

We are still waiting for our winter food order to be shipped out of St. John’s. Not happy with the situation, but the company we dealt with for years has a new owner, and in the interest of fairness to him I am putting up with the late [last boat out of Lewisport] shipment.

There will be no way I will put up with it again next year though. It is just too much stress wondering if the order will get here with all the variables.
One thing that is not a variable is the deplorable and third world like service supplied by the operators of the boats, Labrador Coastal Marine, and the service providers and owner of some of the boats, Government of NL.

There is a community welcome happening this Thursday. A service group in the community has this gathering and welcome for all the new arrivals in town each year. They do some entertainment, bit of a nosh and present the newbie’s with a welcome basket of goodies. Looks like about 30 this year.

I have heard that there is a group of young people being schooled in the art of Choir singing in Inuktitut. Twenty people involved at the moment, will have to find out more about that.

Heeerrr comes Aimee back from the Armundson.

Reduplicating of Fibrer optic cable.

While I agree that THE PROVINCE needs a superfilious fiber optic network to the rest of the world, the way the Danny Government is going about ensuring there is one has certain gaminess about it.
It is not my intention to smirch any one, but the whole proposal has a certain frowziness about it that should have people concerned.

First up are the very close and personal and past business relationships two of the heads of two of the players in the deal have with The Danny. It’s the perception stupid, even if there is nothing agley with the deal.

Second up is the proposed routing of the proposed fiber optic proposal. It is looking like the INTEGRAL portion of the Province will not be given the opportunity to avail of this redundant service. We on the coast are beholden to just one supplier, Aliant. Sure Aliant has improved service over the past few years, but imagine what would be on offer with another player. Let’s not forget we are Integral.

Thirdly is how come this deal is not dependent on FEDERAL FUNDING? Why, for us being INTEGRAL means that any and all projects must have a major portion of FEDERAL FUNDING anteed up before any Provincial funds are SPENT.

I’m starting to think that maybe it is best if we were taken off the INTEGRAL list and become just part of NewfoundlanLabrador. Because it sure looks like this place called NewfoundlandLabrador is getting sweeter deals from Provincial coffers than us here in NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.

On other topic; wish I could report an improvement in the marine shipping of goods to the North Coast. Just when you think things can’t get more absurd and ridicules we get reductio ad absurdum, in spades. The only positive of the arrival of the Astron early yesterday [1am] was that it was not raining or snowing, weather was quite pleasant. Well that and the fact that FINELY some goods in quantity are arriving.
I won’t go into the details, but several people have brought the whole thing to the attention of WST, not that that has done any good these last years.

Addendum to previous post.

I should point out that the ‘food by mail’ described in the Nunatsiaq News editorial is a little different for the Labrador coastal communities.
While the aims and objectives are the same the logistics are somewhat different than described.

It is similar with the ground portion, goods being trucked into Happy Valley-Goose Bay from Montreal; they have to be brought in for there anyway.
If the goods were air lifted to GB there still would be multiple handling to and fro, people got to get there cut, so that much is parallel with the article

There are at least two wholesalers who handle the goods; they take them out to the airlines.
There Canada post inspects the product for freshness; quality, correct storage, and puts there stamp on it. I believe that the two air lines servicing the coast, Air Labrador and Innu Mikun, divide the communities between them, but I can be corrected on that.
The goods are then taken into the communities where the retailers pick them up and rush them into the shelves without much fancy fan fair.

The program is a good one, helping keep the prices of fresh produce and dairy reasonable. It works well most of the time, but for reasons that I can not figure out things do regress at some time during a twelve month period.
If no one does or says anything it will slowly get worse, things like the plane not coming in when it is contracted to. Produce clearly not fresh when it was taken up to the air lines. Items not stored or packaged correctly.

I usually give it time to sort itself out, usually it does not, and then I’m off to the races contacting the overseers at INAC in Ottawa. I get good co operation from two of the store managers here, so it usually does not take that long before things get back on the rails. They know me at INAC by now.

As to if we [the consumer] are getting the full value of the savings in the program that I can not say. I have seen no evidence to the contrary, but I have heard rumblings at times to the effect we may not be, but that is for the fearless leaders who were elected to protect the public interest.

One aspect of the INAC program that is little known is that consumers can take advantage of it also. For example; I could place an order with a supplier in Montreal, have it trucked to Goose Bay, air lifted for the same price as the retailers get. The only catch is I would then be responsible for any spoilage due to weather delays, incompetent handling and the like. Believe me there is a hell of a lot of that.

Nunatsiaq News

This from the best darn news on line in the north. Works for me in Labrador too.

Nunatsiaq News: "October 27, 2006
The food mail farce
The challenge that Canadian North airlines mounted recently against Ottawa’s latest food mail air transport contract sheds new light on one of Indian and Northern Affairs’s most absurd northern programs: food mail.
The program’s stated goal is necessary and laudable: to supply northern communities with fresh, nutritious food at prices close to those in the South, using subsidized postal rates.
Calling it “mail,” by the way, is a bureaucratic fiction. It’s an air cargo subsidy program. Under it, food is handled, shipped and stored by airlines, not by Canada Post.
It’s also a dysfunctional mess. That’s because you can’t ship food mail directly by air from places where wholesale food costs are actually low, such as Ottawa, Montreal or Winnipeg. Instead, Ottawa demands that you ship it from ridiculous places such as Val d’Or and Churchill.
For example, if you do buy cheap food from Montreal, you have to ship it along a seven-hour truck route to Val d’Or before you can use the low food mail rate. The most likely explanation is political patronage: Ottawa’s desire to subsidize the ailing economies of Val d’Or and Churchill. The greatest benefits appear to flow towards a handful of business people who operate wholesale businesses in those places, not to northern consumers.
If Canadian North’s recent allegations are accurate, Ottawa may also be using food mail to subsidize inefficient airline monopolies, such as that enjoyed by First Air in northern Quebec and many routes in Nunavut.
Ninety per cent of food shipped under the program goes to eastern Nunavut and Nunavik. If it were made to work well, it could become a vital tool for combating our unbearable cost of "

Whew, that sure is a relief.

Boy I sure am glad that Lorraine Michael of the NDP won in Signal Hill/Quidi Vidi. With all the hype from the head hypster and help from the townie media, I thought the PC’s may have taken the seat.

Congratulations to the winner. A low voter turn out again, a pity, seems democracy is on the ropes all over.

I do see it as a win for the little guy, as an advocate for the little guy all my life it gives me some heart to keep at it.

One can hold out hope that the electorate will come to their senses and turf this megalomaniac premier out next time around. From the perspective up here Danny is the worst government we have seen for some time. That sure is saying something after the previous lot he replaced. Never thought I would get to say that, but it is true.
I thank the Minister for WST for letting me use the word perspective. He seems to have a monopoly on it of late, thank you kind sir.

Chopper story two.

Not so positive, but still important.

Up this way the fall out from the botched medi-vac of a badly burnt man outside Sheshatshiu last week has yet to happen, as far as we know.

Talk about one big balls up. Seems that just recently the ambulance and air ambulance co ordination for the whole province has been shifted to ‘Eastern health’ way down there on the Avalon Peninsular. That would be fine if they knew anything about the province they purport to co ordinate.

RCMP in attendance at the scene of the incident put in calls to Labrador Health to get this badly burnt man out ASAP. Following ‘set protocols’ the call goes to Labrador Health thence to Eastern health. Someone there does not know shit and says it will take at least four hours for a chopper from Gander to get to scene.
All this time there is a well known service in Goose Bay called the 444 Rescue Squadron that does this sort of operation all the time, but no one calls them.

The long short, the RCMP call in a boat and get the man to hospital over wind swept waters and a rough North West River Road, he is then airlifted to St.John’s in critical condition.

Now we have people calling in to CBC with comments like, the RCMP officer [interviewed] sounded like he was disinterested and very wooden. I can say yes he did, but rightly or wrongly that’s the way they are trained, and the protocol for those things.

The head of the Labrador Health Board was on this morning trying to explain the debacle and what will be ‘discussed’ to make sure it does not happen again. He sure sounded wooden and overly bureaucratic, until he got defensive when interviewer asked if the ‘local’ people had to answer for any short comings.

It was stated by CBC that the head of the Emergency Response for the province commented that she was “not aware of the existence of the 444 air service in Goose Bay. Bloody hell, how stunned can you get.

I say lets get passed all the rhetoric and saving ones arse bullshit, lets have some heads roll, and quick, if they don’t then lets have some head honcho heads roll.

Chopper story one.

Zoe Webb is in the media again, at least a couple of townie media outlets.
Zoe, from Webb’s Bay outside Nain was in the news some time back when she obtained her co pilots ticket to fly Cougar Helicopters out to the offshore oil rigs.
Now Zoe has obtained her pilots ticket, the only woman in the Cougar fleet to have same.

The Lady has come a long way since getting the odd ride on choppers dropping into the Webb home ‘up the bay’.

Correction on the nice weekend.

After a nice early yesterday morn a large black front came in from the east. Light rain to sleet turning to snow overnight, accompanied by winds gusting to about 70 KPH. Dam ugly boy.

Also, blogger is acting up, very strange things happening from the edit file, hence this repeat of the weather.

Bits n that.

Our granddaughter Aimee should be on the Amundsen http://www.amundsen.quebec-ocean.ulaval.ca/amundsenenglish.htm by now, she was given time off from college in HV-GB to go on this trip down the Labrador coast. It will be only a week but very good experience for her. They depart from Iqaluit and head south, do research in some of the fiords and bay’s north of here, then into the Voisey’s Bay area and on to Goose Bay.

Our daughter gave us a link to an online scrabble game a week ago http://www.scrabulous.com/index.php. Fran loves the game but gets frustrated that she can’t get many people to play with. After both of us trying to figure out the idiosyncrasies of the site for a week, and getting a few games in, yesterday evening I could not get Fran to stop playing, after all the Montreal Toronto game was about to start, and I wanted to watch a movie. Any way Fran won a lot more than she lost, even got a game with someone from Makkovik, small world eh?

Unreal day yesterday, sunny, mainly calm, looking good for today too, easy on the heating oil so far this fall.

I have been contemplating going down to the bar one evening for a draught on tap, it’s a new thing here. Kind of glad I have not yet, heard from a source that they had a glass of draught the other night; it was too warm so they put ice in it to cool it down. I’m pretty sure of what my reaction would be if that was served up to me, being weaned on nothing but chilled well pulled draught beers from a young age makes one very picky.

Update: Wow that was quick, clear sky early then a big dark front came over from the east, now snow on the ground, very labrador fall weather indeed.

Thanks to IGA.

The International Grenfell Association still does good work, especially in donating funds for worthy causes in the region.

In the latest IGA newsletter there is a small article of thanks by Fran Williams of the Okalakatiget Society.

In brief Fran gives a little bio of the OK society and its roll in promoting Inuit culture and language. IGA donated 41 grand back in 2001, helping to retain the newsletter Kinatuinamut illingajuk. Alas funding is hard to get for print so the magazine is at the moment dormant.
Fran’s words about say it all, “In times when Labrador Inuit are overcome by the domination of English information, retaining and preserving Inuktitut becomes all the more challenging”.

Fran goes on to mention the 15 grand IGA donated OKS this year for the re building fund. This money is much needed in OKS efforts in replacing the office, production space and archival material lost in the big fire March 2005.

Upperty date on , Fall for sure.

Since posting last I have learnt that the Northern Ranger is operating on ONE engine. So my speculation that common sense maybe in play was just that, speculation, darn. Though some common sense must have played a role in that they did not proceed into the storm with one engine.

Which brings me to the fact of; I pointed out to the Minister of WST some time back that a disaster was in the offering due to the lack of reliability of the engines on the Ranger? I gave him dates and trip of problems of one engine. Mr. Minister pooh poohed my concern and said he had no information that there was any problems with the engines on the Ranger.
Like the Inch Arran, it is reasonably fine to sail in fine weather with inferior equipment, but this is the Labrador and this is fall. Like I said, it’s the bureaucracy stupid.

Fall for sure.

This latest storm has shut down marine shipping for the north coast from Nain to Lewisport. Safety first is a good thing especially considering the age and mechanical state of the fleet; see the mv Inch Arran incident Wednesday.

I know the fleet has not been in the hands of this government overly long, but the minister for WST still is trying to have his cake and eat it, as is his want at times. He blames the former government and rightly so, but then he goes on to defend the condition of the fleet and the competence of the bureaucracy in WST, he goes further and compares the fleet with owning an old car, or having 25 year old diesel engines in hydro generation plants. They break down too he says, but then says that all vessels have been inspected therefore all is copasetic.

With the Northern Ranger hunkered down near Natuashish since yesterday I have to wonder if common sense is starting to creep into the fleets operation, there was a trip last year when the Ranger steamed right on up the coast through a worse storm than this latest.

I still maintain that all the problems with the fleet are not all political. Some where someone up the line of the bureaucracy is not doing a competent enough job IMO, and IO of others, but no one wants to deal or talk about that.

Seeing that it's mauzy out thought I would post some pictures, two taken by unknown Moravian photogs. The group one is of a Joal Ford, his wife and adopted daughter, Hebron 1909. The solo guy is my wifes grandfather Nathan Frieda, Hopedale 1916.
The colored one taken by me of the remnants of the Brass Band in Nain circa late 1980's.

Moravians in Labrador.

I have been mulling over what to write about next without a lot of enthusiasm. NL-Expatriate in comments section has given my some ideas that I am a little knowledgeable in.
While I do not have a theological bent, forced to go to church and Sunday school until I was 14, I am interested in the history and present day influence the Moravian Church has/had on the Inuit of Labrador. So here is Moravian 101 as I see it.NL ExPat quotes in Italics.

Thanks for the link on the Morovian Bible.So do people still practice the Moravian faith? Or is it still a faith? Sorry for my ignorance but the religious studies I had during my school years didn't cover Labradors Moravian past roots to my knowledge. I learnt more about the Prairies other canadian religions than my own province :(

Yes, the Moravian faith is still practiced in Labrador. It is not as strong as 30 years ago, but it is still functioning in the following communities; Happy Valley-Goose Bay/Lake Melville, Makkovik, Hopedale and Nain. For some years now there has not been an ordained minister in any of the communities, the world and North American bodies of the Brotherhood have cut Labrador loose to operate as best they can on their own. Both bodies used to send ordained ministers in, the one and only Inuit ordained minister, Rev. Ray Hunter passed away some years ago, one of his daughters is a lay minister now.
In all the communities there are lay ministers, these usually come from the church elders or chapel servants.
Attendance is not strong on the coast normal Sundays; I am told HV-GB gets a reasonable turn out though. ‘Special days’ Easter and Christmas and new years get good turn outs, and of course weddings and funerals.

Moravians have left some unique traditions that are observed. Advent is a big deal up here, good for the stores too. Christmas fills the church, they have to have 2 sessions in Nain, and then Nulliuks [old Christmas] is still observed in a big way, good for the stores again too.
The ‘special days’ are really a nice touch. Young people’s days, separate for girls and boys, get the church elders and chapel savants involved in cooking meals and supervising church doings all day. The young people get dressed up in more traditional dress; have colored ribbons around hats and the like.
Then there is old peoples day, widow’s day and maybe more but they escape me now. 50th birthdays are special too, people get together and cook meals and you invite people into your home and eat, it’s usually done in shifts so there is no hanging around much after you are full. Some hold the day in the hall these days.

What I like about the physical church is that they are not heavily ordained with icons and the like. Just plain wooden construction, a lectern, maybe a photo or two of past chief elders. Of course a spire with a bell, these bells used to be used as fire alerts too until the volunteer fire bodies procured there own sirens. I imagine that could have been confusing at times.

Nain church has a balcony at the rear housing an organ as well as space for the choir, the brass band used to sit up there too. Hopedale has a raised section at the rear where the string band used to play.
A funny little anecdote I have is. My first Easter here we attended a service; the place was blocked, during the service there was the usual sermons, hymns along with what I thought was a recording of the brass band. I thought it a recording because every time the band started up I looked around trying to find them, they were nowhere in sight inside the church. On leaving the church I asked why there was a recording played when the band members were around, Fran said “look up there”. I look up at the roof of the church, here were the brass band guys standing, some what precariously, on the roof of the church. Bloody cold evening too.

That is another thing I liked about the church here. The Nain brass band is not functioning now, either is the string band in Hopedale, but in their time they used to play when the ‘first boats’ arrived in summer, as well they used to go around town playing at different spots on special days. One thing still going is on peoples 50th birthday the choir will come into your home and sing if asked.

The lose of the bands is sad, some of the members are still around but getting on. Hard on the hands out in the cold. They had these big felt mitts and covers over the instruments. The music was something else too, old German influence, the music sheets have garnered an interest from a musicologist from the south, will try and get some links to him later.
Another lose is the tradition of a church service leading up to midnight on New Years eve. You would go to church for a brief service, on leaving the bells would ring at midnight, the usual greeting would ensue, then people would go around for several hours visiting homes, some would have big meals cooked. That is mainly lost what with modern society catching up here, but some families still do the big meal and visiting is mainly restricted to family and close friends, and the church service is still held I should add.

Some more traditions here; woman and men sit on opposite sides of the church, woman left men right. Unless the woman is in company of husband, she can then sit on the right with him. Chappell servants sit the same way and up at the front at right angle to the rest of the congregation. Other communities have different seating arrangements I believe.

While not religious I still find the brass band music moving, I especially like hymns in Inuktitut, it has a certain melancholy about the sound. Some years back a choir from Cuba visited Nain, they did some numbers with the Nain choir, some thing else man. I have also heard a regional ‘coming together’ of members from each community choirs, that was something special too.

Think I should break this up, to be continued.

Peaceful. for some

After a promising start to the day, t’was mostly clear early, it ended up one mauzy day all round.

We headed to the store around 1o.30 in a light mist, very quite in the stores, no one around town much at all. Not the sort of day you would want to ‘go off, but spotted a couple of speed boats skimming across the harbor heading east.
Later in the afternoon took a walk around town with grandson tagging along [or rather ahead] on his bike. Down to the dock, only action at all seemed to be there, a crew putting in posts for a fence around the lay down area, trucks still off loading freight from the containers left by the Astron.

I have to retract my retraction on the oil tanks being removed from the site. Only 4 were removed, I’m told they are headed for Rigolet. So 9 of them still remain and in the way.

It was the kind of day that makes one wonder what the rest of the population is doing behind the walls. Are they hunkered down because of the weather, resting after a long weeks work, hung over from a bit of a too good time at the dance?
I do not lose sleep over such thoughts; guess it’s just that type of day that gets the mind wondering/wondering. Why even the 5 puppies across the road spent all day hugging the wall of a house instead of playing out on the road.

To return to the dance bit. Word is that an incident there Friday evening resulted in an innocent person receiving head injuries from a thrown chair. Be interesting to see if any charges are laid, and what if anything the Nunatsiavut Government does considering all the rhetoric about accountability and implementing changes. I’m no prude, but things cannot keep regressing like they are, time for people to grow up, well actually way past time, but it is never too late they say.

Marine shipping on the Labrador 2.

Wow, my influence is all powerful. The Fuel storage tanks are being loaded onto the Astron as I write. Just kidding with the influence assertion...............Or am I?

Hopefully they are going straight to Rigolet for quick installation, those guys have suffered long enough without modern access to heating fuel and gas.

Marine Transport 2006 on the Labrador.

Yes it is 2006 but it's hard to tell it's not 1981.

Here are some shots taken this morning down at the dock. The mv Astron came in early, looks like all of the trailers with containers and freight [reefers] on them are off. Talk about chaos. Those oil storage tanks are taking up at least one third of the lay off area. The tanks were bought in and put there from Voisey’s Bay about 5 weeks ago, this is just a transshipment place for them.
This area is not a storage area for the Woodward Group, but for use by the people of Nain for freight delivery.
This is the busiest time of year for freight coming in, plus it is the worst weather time with RDF, sleet, snow more the norm.
So for these bloody tanks to be taking up all that space is totally unacceptable, hello leaders, WTFAY

For freight to be picked up most people go down and do it themselves, there is a local contractor who picks up some freight for people who are working or do not have a vehicle. Under normal working space it takes time and effort, but today it was like sardines down there, people will have to wait in the rain and wind unnecessarily.
Sure hope the tanks area taken out soon as the weather will get worse and the freight will increase.

New eara?????????? 3.

There is an old saying that goes something like, “Get the small things right and the big things will fall into place”.

Out of the opening of the first sitting of the newly elected NG come these little things.

There was an opening prayer, and then on with the show, nothing wrong with that on the face of it.

Later an Inuk person [it’s the week of the person] noted to an Assembly civil servant that the Kullik [stone lamp] had not been lit. Said civil servant, “I did not think of it”.
Later than that two other persons noted to each other that there was no sign of the Nunatsiavut flag anywhere. Why have a flag if you’re not going to use it.
Also noted was fact that the official Nunatsiavut anthem was not played any time. The official anthem is a great moving tune called “Labradorimut”, written and preformed by the late Sid Dicker. Why have an anthem if you’re not going to use it.

These may be picky little things, but picky little things add up to be really big pain in the arse issues that rile people up no end. They can be avoided with some common sense.

I mention these little things to put in perspective all the rhetoric being spread, like being “defenders and promoters of the Inuit language culture and values”. A missed opportunity one would gather.

So this first sitting was halted for now without all the business being attended to, it will convene in 2 weeks in, dare we say it………… Hopedale.

New era????? 2.

In light of my first post on this topic, plus what I’m about to post I have upped the outer security system and added canine to the inner security.
Just kidding boy………………………………or am I? Haw haw haw me hardies.

So the NG assembly is starting to take form.

There is now an Interim President, then newly elected 9 ‘ordinary members’ in the assembly, plus 5 AngajukKâk and 2 chairs of Community Corporations.

Only ordinary members can be ministers, to date from that group we have a speaker and deputy speaker, a first minister, 3 ministers in portfolios similar to what was in place during the interim NG, and with what looks like 2 more ministers after 2 new portfolios are created from breaking up 2 of the larger portfolios. Breaking them up makes sense on the face of it, they were rather large.
If/when this all takes place that will mean only one of the ordinary members will not have a ministership [is that a word?]. That will leave it up to that person plus the 5 and 2 mentioned above to act as opposition, if any is needed, and to hold the government to account, if needed. Notice my facetiousness?

There is some optimism out there, mainly cautious optimism that the NG will finely be able to deal with issues that have long been neglected. Issues that effect our lives on a day to day basis, to mention a few; women’s issues, youth, language and culture. Then there is the ever increasing cost of living that is broad based, marine shipping that is regressing back into the 1980’s.

All is not doom and gloom, lots of advances have been made over the years in post secondary education, health issues, infrastructure and others areas. Unfortunately as mentioned before, other areas have been given short shift, or just lip service.

Communicating with the population has to be improved too; these glossy news [read 3 month old and very basic information] releases end up on the floor of the post office. Much more could be done locally and utilizing local people IMO.

With the new bodies in the assembly maybe grass roots issues will be dealt with, more time will be spent by elected people and bureaucrats in listening and dealing with the populace and dealing with the issues that they raise, I hope. More visibility on the ground, more visibility in the media, show the people that you do care, and point out this is what you are attempting to do about it. This stuff about saying “we had a meeting with minister so and so and it was a good meeting” is just so much BS. People need to know their representatives care and are at least trying to make things happen.

A good example of non visibility is the Take Back the Night March here in Nain a little time back. Not one elected or non elected official from the interim NG was in attendance. There have been marches or rallies by youth and others on suicide prevention, no one from the LIA or the interim NG ever show their faces. I think this has to change, and I hope it will. There is always some one ready to show their face when a free trip to a conference or workshop on these issues is in the offing, usually not the ones who do the grunt work on the ground, it’s the faceless ones who get to gallivant all over the place on these trips.

There seems to be reluctance in encouraging citizen intervention [surprising when so much is not being attended to] or having civil society getting involved in a pro active way. Too much circling the wagons takes place when constructive criticism is offered. Get over it; you are supposed to be working for the betterment of the people, not covering your own arse and protecting your job.

To finish off an interesting fact. Of the 15 people sworn in to the NG this week only one was sworn-in in Inuktitut.

Break to clear head.

CBC has done a good job covering this nice story.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/10/17/moravian-bible.html

Plus some stories on different issues are trickling out of Rigolet by Paul Piggott; perhaps he will work his way north.

Some one did note that there was no coverage of substance, to date, by CBC of the NG swearing in and first sitting of same. Can’t expect too much I guess.

New era?????

The first Nunatsiavut Government [NG] was sworn in yesterday around 2pm, taking over from the Interim Government.
The swearing in took place in Nain, the administrative headquarters of the new government, not in Hopedale, the Legislative capital.

This first session will be partly taken up by workshops for Government Members as well as the bureaucrats by a group from Ottawa. The workshops will be on governance and the like.
At 2pm today the first minister and ministers of NG will be sworn in.

I’m sure there are lots of proud people around, and some who are proud but apprehensive of the unknowns ahead.
Then there are the ones who are a puzzle, like the 62% of Nain’s eligible voters who did not bother to vote for the candidates in the election for Ordinary Members of NG. I would think, and hope, that this would be one of the first orders of business for the new government to address, like why is there so much perceived apathy by the electorate, and what can be done about it.

Another order of business I’m told is to table the Interim Governments report on the hearings held on Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Inuit Communities. It will be very interesting to see the report once it is made public, as well as what the New Government decides to do with the reports contents. Any carrying out of solutions offered up may be problematic for some people, given the recidivist addiction problems some of the Government members have. I’m talking specifically about the two I know about, the members for Nain. Until this is addressed by the Government and the individuals themselves any directions and efforts to address this long ongoing and “unspoken” problem will mainly fall on deaf ears.
No more is it; do as I say, not as I do. People want good honest accountable sober leadership. When that is achieved then perhaps there is a chance for people to take seriously their own issues and address them.

This second to last installment in the long transition to self government [the interim president will be replaced by an elected one in 2007] was/is not without controversy.
The people of Hopedale fell slighted by the decision to have this Swearing In held in Nain instead of Hopedale. It has turned into a sort of ‘he said she said’ match of words and accusations.
The outgoing mayor of Hopedale claims that the town spent quite an effort planning for this important and historical event. She claims that adequate accommodations and meeting space is available, and that the town has still not been advised officially of the relocate. Hopedale feel let down and insulted the mayor went on to say.
The outgoing interim first minister of NG claims the decision to move the event was due to insufficient accommodations and meeting space, especially considering the ‘invited guests’ and the workshop facilitators, about 40 in all. The first minister added that all other sittings of the NG will be held in Hopedale [seem to have heard that before] and all haste will be taken to construct the new Government Building there, this could take up to two years minimum.
He also claimed this was not an ordinary NG session because of the workshops, and that the government members NEEDED THERE OWN ACCOMADATION SPACE TO CAUCUS. So much for Inuit culture and traditions of the Labrador eh?
Hopedaleimuks are quite adamant that they have been wrongly done by.

Who ever is correct, this problem could have been minimized by some common sense pro action and advanced decision making by members of the interim government and the bureaucrats. Proper prompt communication would have helped too.
Let’s hope this is one of the things that can be ironed out in this week’s workshops, I won’t hold my breath though, entrenched systemic problems can take quite awhile to change.

Iz

With the winter ahead I thought this would get people in the mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5neuWiAlpm4&mode=related&search=

snagged it from 'man of lettuce'.

Shipping news: Well not to most of us.

I see the NL government has released the latest report on the state of Marine Transport.
http://www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2006/tw/1006n05.htm
Not a lot surprising there, plus recommendations that are troubling. The report stated the obvious, things like the age of the vessels and mechanical preparedness, or rather non preparedness; this should have brought some pro action response from the government. Alas the minister of WST spent quite a lot of time stating that there are really no safety and mechanical issues with the fleet. All is copasetic according to the minister; Transport Canada issues certificates of efficiency every year, so all is OK. Just like the Titanic was OK to be full speed ahead as “she was unsinkable”.
The report also recommended 10 new vessels be built ASAP. The government had issued calls for expressions of interest for two new vessels; it is realistic to not expect this government to come up with all the answers ASAP since the previous governments had neglected the fleet for so long.

Two things stick out in this report pertaining to the Labrador routes of the provincial ferry service.
The first one being that it does not address the Labrador service at all. This is supposed to be addressed in another report a couple of years down the road.
The second one being the recommendation that the ferry service be turned into, or sold off, to be run as a private operation. The recommendation was to model the new entity perhaps on the lines of the BC Ferry system, a not for profit private corporation, a hands off, at arms length corporation answerable to the Government.
This proposal should bring fear to the hearts and pockets of the users of the ferry system in this province. Three words that best describe what could happen come to mind, Canada Post Corporation. I need say no more, the people in rural and remote communities fully understand.
Further to that, it seems that in the BC case, since the inception of the arms length ferry system started up, fares have increased by about 20%, business operators who use the system have seen fees rise by around 40%, we know who bears the brunt of those increases. Also the workers on the ferries have a lot more disgruntlements.

I think that a lot of discussion has take place, by all players including consumers. Actually especially consumers, as we always seem to be left out, or given short shift on these things.

A point I would make in the strongest terms is; why treat the ferries any different to the highway system. After all marine transport in this province is an extension of the highway and road system. Why insist that ferries run at a profit, or pay their way when highways and roads are run at a huge loss. Ferry users pay the same taxes as road users, privatize the ferries, and privatize the roads. Imagine what would happen the election after that was done eh?
It is a way for the government to shed it’s respocibilty to a section of the community onto an unanswerable arms length corporation. “Don’t talk to us, talk to them” is what will happen. Rather hypocritical considering the government appoints the board of said arms length corporation.

Just because.

Going through old albums to scane.
Top is fall 1996, taken up back of town at Annainuks looking west'ish. Annainuks is the back up water supply to the dam.

Bottom is me old cat [RIP] about to bounce at snow birds feeding, spring 1996. Ariel hit the window many a time trying to get a free feed.

Thanksgiving afternoon, thanks.

Well that was a quick change in color from this morning, white white white, does not do the last of the poppies much good. Environment Canada got this one right.
Thought I better harvest the last of the beans from the greenhouse just in case the temperatures drop dramatically too.

The bright reds and oranges have gone, the yellow will soon disappear and all that will be left will be the greens and browns. No knowing how long that will last, falls seem to be longer of late, but that maybe just impatience on my part.
There are still lots of blue berries of a good size and condition; alas the sweetness has gone out of them.
It’s always exciting waiting for the first falls of snow, and hope it sticks around.

The last days have seen the winds insistent and consistent, many gusts up to 60 plus. Sky has been ominous with many cloud formations, but most blowing on by. It makes for uncomfortable boating; still some go out for the chance to get a bird or fauna. Most get back safe under there own steam, some have to be brought home by the coast guard auxiliary, the risk ya take.
No real below zero conditions yet, Friday night it did not get below plus 10, it did dip to minus 3 briefly at the house last night.
I have finished painting the kitchen, drawn out job, but the results are worth it. Will ponder if and what to tackle next.

Danny short changed?

I think Danny Boy should dump his advertising people [or himself according to some] and scramble to get these guys from down under. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/revealed-the-face-of-sydney/2006/10/05/1159641464886.html Makes the picture plant NewLab brand name passé.

Just think of huge pictures of Danny Danny [or potentially even Danny Jerome] projected on the walls of The Rooms or the Cathedral. Enough to make some jump off the peace tower eh?

Say wharh? what election.

The election for ordinary members of Nunatsiavut government was held yesterday.

The only stat that I have, and it sticks out like a sore thumb, is that 62% of the registered voters in Nain chose not to exercise their democratic right.

Bout says it all for here.

Goose Bay was about 50%, very low too considering that ten people put their names up.

Other coastal communities fared better with the turn out, but do not have the numbers yet.

Toot toot toot.

A little of the old blowing ones horn today. If I don’t who will eh?

This is not in the category of the Arar family battle, but it has effected many hundreds of people across the north.

My battle with Bell ExpressVu through the CRTC seemed to be in flux, that being my fault for taking a little break to do other things. But I did send our MP Todd Russell a back grounder of the issue and asked him for assistance. It being summer, and not hearing back from the MP’s office I called twice to ask of their intent. I received assurances that Mr. Russell would get on it and put something together.
Last week I received a copy of a letter Mr. Russell had sent to the Chair of the CRTC. The letter was accompanied by my e mail to the MP and asked the chair to look into the problems out lined in my correspondence, as well as other complaints from dissatisfied ExVu customers.

So Wednesday the 17 I receive a call from Telesat Canada, the same person who earlier had told me I had to deal with ExVu to fix the problem, and was asked if I would be available to monitor a tweak of signal strength the following day. No problem with that I told him.

So Thursday he calls and it takes about two hours total, with him calling me back about 6 times and Telesat doing at least three tweaks to boost signal strength on the eight problem transponders. They got signal strength up between 18 and 23 % without overly affecting other transponders.

I felt pretty good and vindicated after that. I also sent an e mail to Mr. Russell thinking him for his input.

This morning it was tested with rain and misty cloud early. I checked the system and all transponders were at acceptable levels. Before Thursday we would have lost some of them with similar weather conditions. The signals are still not up to past levels, but we should be OK in everything except heavy wet snow.

So tenacity, hard work and not being afraid to take on the system can pay off, take note all you folk out there in Nunatsiavut and elsewhere.

On the weather front; we almost broke the official day high yesterday, came within a smidgeon of the 50 odd year old record of 16.7, although we got over that at our place with 18.6.

Anyone spare a couch?

Did any one hear the interview Cindy Wall, of CBC Goose Bay, did with the premier this morning? I do not have any medical degrees, but from life’s experience I have come to the conclusion that Danny needs a break, at least some sort of medication to help him calm down, or get back to reality.

I would like to see a transcript, or better yet hear a re-run of the interview, hi WJM. Actually I think all of NL should hear it so they can hear/see for themselves that we are in a very bad situation with the political leadership.

From memory that interview was the most incoherent, rambling, bumbling bordering on the insane interview by a political leader I have heard since Brian Peckford. Danny really needs a break when he comes out with stuff like, “The Quebec Government, I like the Quebec people, but the Quebec government is laying claim to Labrador”. I’m paraphrasing, and this statement only days after he said, or was it minutes, that he had no “worries about the boarder issue, it was a done deal back in 1927” or what ever. Danny went on to say that “Quebec is taking everything out of Labrador but not putting anything back in, things like social programs and infrastructure. They [Quebec] are taking it all out while WE [Govt of NL] are putting hundreds of millions into Labrador and getting no return”. Or words to that effect.
Danny was talking so fast, and so incoherent, that not much made any sense at all, or maybe I’m just slow.

He made a major foe par; he was in Labrador, when Cindy asked about his stand on no private wind power development in Labrador. Danny said “the government is developing a comprehensive energy plan yada yada yada, and wind power will be developed in the Province of Newfoundland…………and in Labrador”. Oooop’s.

Bogie persons under the beds, behind spruce trees, under the dust of the TLH, dragging themselves out of the lakes to plunder and rape the riches of Newfoundland in Labrador.

Weired x two, plus.

took some time off to watch RCMP commissioner Zaccardelli in parliamentary hearings and his press conference yesterday. This whole Arar affair/debacle is becoming more bizzaro by the day.
The commissioner says he takes full responsibility for what happened to Mr.Arar and his family. He says mistakes were made, the buck stops with him. Yet, he says he will not resign, no one else involved in the case has or been asked to, no one will be admonished, transferred, demoted, narda. In fact some of the officers involved in handling the Araar case have been promoted. Talk about the big blue machine closing ranks and protecting its own, man oh man.
Zaccardelli said that he will handle things his way, the people who made mistakes have had a talking too, my favorite is “operational guidance”.

Mean time Mr. Arar has a 400 million buck law case against the Canadian Government. Well bugger that, I think Mr. Arar deserves compensation, but not at Canadian tax payer’s expense. I think any financial compensation should come from the antagonists of Mr. Arar, let the buck stop where it should. A percentage of the nice little retirement packages of some of these cops, any politicians and bureaucrats who can be identified should anti up to compensate for there mistakes or incompetence. The Government stands behind the RCMP on this, well let those who make these statements/decisions come up with the money, if any is awarded, see how they stand behind the RCMP then.

Then last night on CNN they had this nuter Musharraf of Pakistan all over the place. I kept skipping to something else then coming back hoping he would be gone. But one flick back did provide some very funny stuff. Seems Musharraf has a book coming out soon, so CNN took his book to the streets to see if any ‘ordinary Americans’ could identify who this guy is. The usual parochial answers abounded.
But one bloke came up with a beauty. When asked if he new the author of this book, the guy hesitates, hums and hars, then says, “Yeah, I think he is related to Moo Sheriff”. This takes the reporter back a bit; she then asks the guy “who is Moo Sheriff”. “I’m not sure” says the guy, “but I think it is a cow with a lot of authority”.
Either a plant or one guy who can think on his feet, either way it cracked me up.

Came across this recipe the other day, thought it different, for us, and looked easy and only one pot used, so yesterday being busy decided to give it a go.



Pork chop, cabbage, potato. Turned out tasty, I have no baseline German cooking experience to compare it to, but I think it is on German lines, be good with dough boys [dumplings], and may try them next time. I served this with a carrot parsnip puree, mashed we call it.

Did not get below 11c last night, man that is warm for this time of year, in the evening, will see if we can break the record today, looks possible.

adscititious to last post.

This was the sunrise just after 7, was working away when CBC morning show in Goose Bay mentioned the sunrise, so I took a look.

Life as it should be.

Busy with sprucing up the house the past week. Have nephew outside scrapping and painting the Eves, plus other odd jobs.
After doing a bit of preventative maintenance on the furnace I have been painting the kitchen walls and the kitchen cabinets. Just the top cabinets to do, it’s a slow job, what with so much stuff on the walls to remove and put back, doors to remove and sand, get it all cleaned up each day ready to cook, but it is starting to look great.

Had the little family up for their anniversary on Tuesday, cooked up my second last leg of lamb, did the usual Oz style roast potatoes, had some Oz beans and peas, washed it down with my home made piesporter, very nice indeed. Oh yeah, had Nain blue berry cobbler and cream to finish it all off.

Picked some of the pansies and a poppy that are still miraculously blooming in the front of the house, made a nice centre piece for the table.



This is a picture of my mother in law, Verona Winters. We are not sure of the year it was taken, but it shows where Fran’s good looks come from. Verona is on the right. Picture is from the late Bella Lyall collection.










I see Alex Baumann is being brought back to Canada to work on developing the Olympic program. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2006/09/26/baumann-canada.html
One of the few positive things coming out of Ottawa these last years. Why they let him go down under years ago is beyond me, Canadians do not correlate intelligence and common sense all too often in developing elite athletes, of foreign affairs for that matter. Alex has a little bit of an Oz twang, hope he keeps it, it will remind the powers that be of their past follies.

Happy Birthday Aimee.

It's Aimees second birthday away from home, her first with no family, but with freinds, so it wont be too bad.
Have a good one, we wish we could be with you, Love grandma and grandpa.

Rumor.

There is a rumor that the steel workers local on strike has reached a tentative agreement with VBNC. If it is true then there is to be a vote on Tuesday to ratify the deal.

One rumor that had been going around for several weeks finely came to fruition today. Over a dozen pieces of heavy equipment came in on the Astron destined for Voisey’s Bay, some sort of road construction. Guess they held off till the blockade was over.
Most people are under the impression that the Astron is dedicated to bringing freight in for the coastal communities, or at least it was.

Drink milk; well the kids can now, if your in school that is.

Below is a copy of news release by the Labrador School Board.


It’s interesting in that the cost of shipping fresh foods into coastal communities has been an ongoing issue for many; some are trying to deal with it, with varied success.
The federal Government department of Indian Affairs has a ‘food by mail’ program that works to a point. That point being, trying to get all the players on the same page, and run the program to its fullest efficiency.
The province also has a program to supplement the federal program, but it only operates in the winter, plus it is continually under threat of not enough funds or being cut completely.

This summer Nain went without milk or severe limited supply for three weeks. The rest of the time milk and dairy products were available in a spotty manner, parts of weeks etc. Main culprit for this was the deplorable way the province runs the coastal boats, but the airline that carries the food by mail was also at fault. After some lobby efforts the air problem seemed to have been corrected. The problems with the marine shipping are still in question, I’m not sure if it has been addressed but will check on it.
Any way, kudos to all involved in getting milk to the children in the schools, especially Andrew Battcock who seems to have been the mover behind it.

What chance the proleteriat ll

This baby was in harbor this morning http://www.ral.bc.ca/news/2005_10_21.pdf#search=%22RCMP%20boat%2C%20murray%22, nice rig. Seems it has been in the area between here and Voisey’s Bay for several days. Been some air traffic of RCMP fixed and rotary outfits too since the weekend.
Maybe there are illicit substance runners in the area, or maybe something else was in the wind and the Mounties arrived late.
Back to the illicit substance runners for a moment. If that is what they are after then the machines are overkill, any blind, dumb and deaf person could figure out who is selling drugs or alcohol in the communities, but very very few people get busted.
If all the rigs were to protect the shipping lane into Voisey’s Bay, then that would be called overkill too.

What chance the proleteriat?

The Nunatsiavut Government is working on a partnership, or has one already, with Fednav. Fednav own or operate around 70 vessels all of bulk cargo type, they operate the mv Arctic and many ships with Federal in the first name of them. These are the vessels that are removing ore, and will be in the future from Voisey’s Bay.
I mention this just to point out the hypocrisy of the leadership at Nunatsiavut. The leaders are saying that they will stay neutral on the strike at Voisey’s Bay by many residents of Nunatsiavut.
It puzzles me how you can be neutral when you are in a business arrangement with one of the companies that is helping to break the will, not to mention ruin many people financially. It’s like Danny Boys government saying they are natural all the while making stements that the strikers must be hurting financially, and the finance guru says the strike is hurting the provinces coffers.
Politicians eh? Best I not say what I really think of them

Take back the night 1

I attended the annual “take back the night march” last evening. First time I have attended, thought I should support my wife and all other women.
Only 16 souls took the time to participate in what I consider an important event, more on that later. We meet outside Moravian church, walked around the central part of town down to the woman’s shelter. We lit up candles and had a minutes silence followed by two short speeches.
Short but fulfilling.

Our poppies suffered some frost bite yesterday morning, down to -3 at the house overnight. Surprisingly most of them perked up once the sun hit them and looked quite sprightly later in the day. Sort of reminds one of what a lot of women go through.

So.

The concentrate is off to Europe some place it seems. There is a clause in the VBNC/NL Government agreement that allows them to ship OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

Upertydate strike info.

CKOK radio interviewed five strikers on today's AtjiKangitut show.

From different communities one woman and four males gave their views and thoughts on the eight week strike, in two languagess yet..
One said they supported the principal of the strike but was finding it difficult for them as well as the family financially. They went on to say there is thought of finding another job and even contemplation of leaving the area.
All four others said it is difficult financially and physiologically for them and their families, all added, when asked, that they strongly believe that they are being treated unfairly by VBNC with the wage and benefit package being offered and vow to see the issue to the end. One said his job at the site is the most money they have eared in their life, but fairness takes precedence over personal gain. Wouldn't it be a great world if that could rube of on others I can think of?

Oh yeah, seems an RCMP chopper is flitting too and fro in the area, now that is an anomaly.

Thar be evil deeds afoot in that thar bay.

The blockade by the strikers is over, for now. The two vessels that were anchored off until this morning are free to go about there evil deeds.

Could be two ship loads of copper and one of nickel at the loading dock; be interesting to track where they end up.

I’m waiting, with baited breath, a pronouncement of support for the strikers from our fearless leader Danny. He did say he would not get involved with side taking, but then went on to say he was worried about the fincial situation of the strikers and their families. Batter up Danny boy.
In a totally unrelated matter, the concentrate taken out in the next couple of weeks could be worth up to a quarter million bucks. Scrooge McSullivan, minister for money, must be salivating in his jeans knowing all that provincial revenue will be on its way to his coffers.

The president of the local is on his way from the north to St.John’s for meetings with his people and VBNC. Word is that VBNC did not want to meet with the union in Goose Bay, too many strikers.

The president of the local wanted all to know that no laws were broken while the blockade was under way; the ships captains respected the picket lines by not crossing them.
Wonder what the other workers at the site will now do? Very delicate situation indeed for future negotiations in the compensation and binefit area.

Slumber broken.

CBC radio Happy Valley Goose Bay is on the job. Two reporters from that bureau were on the regional ‘on the go’ show this afternoon. One interviewing the President of the union local on strike, the other giving a news brief.

Latest is that the blockade of the VBNC site is still in effect. The president said that the strikers have not been notified in any shape or form of any court injunction ordering them to cease and desist. So until they do the blockade is in effect.
The mv Arctic is still sitting about 6 K from the dock, another vessel is due in today the mv Osula. The third vessel on the way, according to the VBNC shipping schedule, is the mv Danbue. I can’t find anything that fits that description. Could be a typo on the site, it could be the mv Federal Danube, a six hold bulk freighter, or the mv Danube Princess, a 54 cabin river cruiser, maybe the board of Inco are coming in to take a geek.
CBC reported a VBNC spokesperson as saying that the company had not made a decision as to if it will load the stockpile of concentrate at the site. Yeah right, and it don’t rain in California in the summer time. I’m told there is about a shipment and a half of nickel and two shipments of copper concentrate in stock.
Also reported was that the talks between the company and union are not going that well from the union perspective. If the concentrate is allowed to be taken out it will just prolong the strike and further hurt over 100 odd strikers, as well as others who will be caught up in the stand off.

Time for the local politicians to step up to the plate and show who/what they are.

Nip in the air this AM.

Temperatures are dropping since early this AM. More like fall weather with fog out over the harbor and that usual in wind.

CBC St.John’s have a ling up to the court injunction on the Steel workers local. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2006/09/15/voiseys-court.html

Rather strangely, CBC Goose Bay had nothing on it this morning. Well I don’t find it strange, but given the mandate of CBC one could perhaps challenge why there is little to no coverage on issues that concern people of the North Coast of Labrador by the NATIONAL PUBLIC BROADCASTER. Especially out of the Labrador bureau.

Yogi said.

Afghanistan today reminds me of some of Yogi’s sayings. One is; déjà vu all over again.
Why am I reminded of this saying? Well it’s the 15 Leopard tanks that Canada is readying to send to Afghanistan to protect the troops from the so called terrorists. It sounds like a good idea until you put some thought into it.
I have visions of burnt out Soviet tanks, downed helicopters, hundreds of Soviet mothers with pictures of their dead sons.
Seems to me if the aim of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan is to rebuild and democratize then sending tanks is not the proper way to go about it, tanks destroy things.

Another saying was; when you come to a fork in the road, take it. Seems to me the west is ignoring this advice in Afghanistan and speeding head long straight over the cliff.
Take a look at the history of the place at www.mongabay.com. Does this look like a place that will accept invasion, forced democracy and other western ideals and culture, not bloody likely mate.
The fighters who today are being called terrorists, insurgents, Muslim extremist are the same people, or their descendents, who yesterday were freedom fighters fighting the good fight against the evil Soviet invasion. They are using the same tactics in the same environment against similar military strengths and weaponry, only the weaponry is more sophisticated today. The Afghani weapons look very similar to 20 years ago, only funded by a different source one would hope.

Wake up and smell the camel shit folks; you will not tame this fierce wild place with weapons.

Some times the law is an ass.

CBC Radio NL regional news is reporting that the Supreme Court of NL agreed with the VBNC appeal or whatever, that the union local was in breach of some sort of law. The court ordered the steel workers local to cease and desist in its blockade of the VBNC loading facility at Anaktalak Bay.
CBC reported that the cargo ship was held up about 6 K from the loading facility by two speed boats. The RCMP and the coast guard would not come to the aid of the multi national company and remove the pesky blockaders, [well gee whizz] so VBNC went to court.

More and more CBC radio is an ass as well.

Several times CBC has reported that a a "cargo ship" was held up by the strikers. Well it does carry cargo, but it is more a bulk carrier http://www.fednav.com/en/fleet/57_arctic.html . So is this http://www.atlant.hr/fleet/MB_Orsula.html . The VBNC shipping schedule web site http://www.vbnc.com/MarineTrafficSchedule.asp states that both vessels are due in soon. It also has only two vessels scheduled; CBC reported that three vessels are due into Anaktalak in the next several days.
That's a lot of freight to be brought into a remote mine site, that is not producing anything, by large bulk carriers, am I right or am I right?

On the strikers themselves. I wonder if anyone in the community of Nain has thought of perhaps doing a fund raiser for the strikers, at least for the ones who have stuck to the principles of being on strike and manning the picket line here. A number of so called strikes have been working at other jobs since the walk out, presumaby with the locals permission, not kosher IMO.

The sun rise was quite spectacular this morning. Sun was one big reddish orange ball. This shot does not do it justice, tried various settings, digital does not allow as much freedom as SLR, but any way you get the general idea. At first I thought it may be related to the storm hitting the east coast of the Island, but then I heard that smoke is coming into Labrador from fires down in Ontario. Good on ya Ontario, take our resources and send back smoke.














It was up to 21c yesterday, getting up that way again today, good for the little flower garden out front, still lots of buds to bloom. May the pollen of peace, happiness and good will touch all. Boy do we need that, but it will take more than my little garden patch to produce the material needed sure.















Seems the predicted arrival of heavy equipment for Voisey’s Bay on the mv Astron was a no show. The ship came in last evening with nary heavy equipment on her. Nary of much else for that matter, just par for the course unfortunately.

Uperty date on VBNC Voisey's Bay strike.

Thanks to Okalakatiget Society [CKOK] we have some news on what is going on with attempts to get ships into Voisey’s Bay mine/mill.

Union local representative said they have a couple of camps set up on Islands that cover the shipping track to the mine. He said they would stay there till freeze up if necessary. A rotation of picketers would be set up if it is needed.

The mv Arctic attempted to get into the loading dock Sunday 10 September. Union local members contacted the skipper by HF radio and explained who they were and what the situation was. Skipper responded by asking for permission to enter the narrows with the intention of turning around, this was given the OK by picketers. The Arctic is laying off waiting for further instructions.
VBNC spokesperson says that the union action is illegal, that the Arctic has supplies to repair damage caused by recent fire to concentrate storage area, and VBNC have no intention of loading concentrate.
Union people say this is “bullshit” as they have information that VBNC has intentions of loading concentrate for shipping overseas.

RCMP in Fisheries boat was observing the goings on from a distance. Union spokesperson claimed that an RCMP officer approached them later in the day and commended them for the way the situation was handled by the picketers.

I know where I was.

This morning five years ago I was laying in bed in my sister Pam’s spare bedroom in Asquith, Sydney. I was suffering from a bad head cold caught up in the Blue Mountains the week previous.
In a funk of half sleep and half awake I’d bee listening to what I thought was some sort of radio play take off of “War of the Worlds. Some over hyped on air persons describing planes crashing into tall buildings and the chaos those acts brought.

The rest of the house sounded rather quite, so I forced myself up and staggered out into the living room. The Television was on and the three others in the house were watching in silence as re plays of planes crashing into the world trade centre in NY City.

It still took some time for all of us to realize this was not a play of any kind, unless you count power play.

Sad that so many people died and suffered, then and since. Doubly sad that that day unleashed on the world so many crazed zealots with initials like ABL, SH, GWB, DR, RP, TB, JH and now SH.

PS Sydney is 13 hours ahead of us here.

Nominated candidates, or not, for Ordinary member of Nunatsiavut Assembly.

Results are in.

Only two of the sitting mayors ran for AngajukKâk in the 5 coastal communities, one was elected, Herb Jacque of Makkovik. The other winners are; Danny Michelin in Rigolet, Judy Dicker in Hopedale, Glen Sheppard in Postville and Sarah Erickson in Nain. Mina Campbell in NWR, Mackie Winters in GB [elected unopposed] are the two leaders of the corporations in the Lake Melville region.
Good luck and good wishes to all of them, and to the other candidates who ran.

Voter turn out was disappointing in the two predominately Inuit Communities; Nain had 51%. Hopedale only 49% bother to vote. Others were Rigolet 74%. Makkovik 91%. Postville 85% and NWR with 81%.

Seems there is a shortage of people putting there names forward for the community governments in each community, which is following historical lines.

Headachy stuff.

Seems the speculation I made about something on the go on the strike front at Voisey’s Bay did not materialize, silly me. It’s very quite on that front, long weekend maybe? Some of the speculation was just that from various sources.

Today is the first of several elections in the formation of the Nunatsiavut Government structure. We have elections for AngajukKâk [formally mayors] of the community governments [formally town councils]. This is in the 5 coastal communities of Nunatsiavut.
In the Lake Melville area there is elections in HV-GB and NWR for chair persons of the Community Corporations.
These seven elected people will be part of the Assembly of the Nunatsiavut Government, but will not be able to be Ministers.

Later this month we have elections for members of the Community governments, 6 seats in each of the coastal communities, as to the two Community Corporations I’m not sure what happens there.

Then later still this month there is elections for members of the assembly of Nunatsiavut, these elected people will be eligible to stand for Ministers positions.

The leader of the Government position will remain unelected [previously elected as president of LIA] until next year some time.

People eligible to vote today are; all beneficiaries who are 16 years of age and over, as well as residents in the Land claims area who are Canadian Citizens.
People who are eligible to vote in the other two elections is a bit of a gray area so I will have to check out the constitution.

Good thing the sun is out so I can go for a walk to clear my head.

Scans from yon days.

While BBQ'ing yesterday Fran was looking through some old photo albums. Two that came out was one of a cook out in -15 c. I did this quite a lot to beat the flies you see.

Other picture is one of how not to over winter your boat. The boat survived that winter, but the next year the owners tried the same thing just off the shore in Nain Harbor, needless to say she was broken up by ice pressure.

Another great day.

Sunday was another warm one, west wind, clouds built up most of the day, quite dark ones at times. but all moved off into the labrador sea.

The little flower box in front is finely producing some color, the pink ones are taking forever to bloom. I like the cream ones, they go to sleep and close up as soon as the sun disappears.

Down the dock there was some action, scallop boat crews doing their weekly maintenance, plant workers getting ready for the new week, crews unloading of the freight boat, quite the idyllic day. In the fish plant workers are getting up to 80 hours a week, that's a lot of scallop and smoked char.
Not sure how much freight came in, sure be nice to see some new stock and new items on the store shelves and the in the freezers.

Great weather but with a cloud.

The weather yesterday was quite unbelievable, got up to 26c, sun splitting the rocks, warm west wind. Looks like it will get up near that again today as it was still 15 at 5 AM.

Emotions are rather mixed though, Katie Dicker passed away on Friday morning, Fran had visited Katie in the nursing station just hours before, the funeral was at 2 yesterday.
Katie was very good at traditional crafts, especially seal skin boots, she made the most fantastic water proof black boots.
Our thoughts go out to her family.

The day being so nice we were thinking of going blue berry picking in the morning, with very little wind we decided against that.
Later around 6 the wind was up quite nicely so Fran asked if I would go up the hill with her. What with all the fuss over bears this year Fran is reluctant, as I’m sure others are, to go up alone.
We were only up there a short time; even with the wind the black flies gave us some trouble. On the way up we came across three people who were in shorts and t shirts, man the flies must have had a good time on them.
We managed about 2 liters of berries, they are just so plentiful and the berry bush seems higher than usual. I made a comment to Fran we almost need rakes like they use on the Island.
Fran had a big bowl of berries last evening, but still plenty for a few breakfasts.

We don’t have pancakes that often but I decided to give them a go this morning. Cooked up a bit of bacon, made the batter and rested it in the fridge for a while, and presto, some very nice blue berry filled multi grain pan cakes topped with home made bake apple syrup. Who needs fusion and reductions in high priced restaurants eh? Not that we have restaurants of any kind.

I always have breakfast in front of the computer, the slide in key board tray is handy, never had an, accident to date.







Our Granddaughter heads out to college in Goose Bay today. Aimee should not have too much trouble being away from home, she knows GB well, has friends and some family there, plus the traveling she has done with us should lighten the cultural shock thingy. The courses are a pre university year, a good idea I think.