In the absence of fresh seal heart

I have been experimenting. The soup is a traditional Greek been soup called Fasolatha. For variety I added some boiled pork hocks ten minutes before serving, its different was Fran’s comment.

The pasta dish the day before was just sautéed lean ground beef, onions, garlic some spices and at the end a tub of cottage cheese and some chopped kalamata olives [on my portion]. Nice fresh salad with balsamic vinaigrette topped it off nicely.

The latest incident involving an RCMP officer seems to be creating some rumblings around town. It is just another incident in what seems like a growing problem with the way some officers treat woman both on a personal level and a professional level.

Some people are advocating replacing the RCMP with either community police or the RNC. Some year’s back I asked the Community Government [council then] to look at having some local police force formed, it was more as a supplement to the RCMP, seems as usual things have to get much worse before anything is done about it.

Still this time it looks like some pro active action has to come into play. I think the Community Government is meeting with the RCMP today, we need more than platitudes and namby pamby weasel words words from certain politicians.

No cuts to labrador Morning.

Just heard that CBC Labrador Morning will not be cut staff and program wise.

Denise Wilson told Tony Dawson that after an overview of programming across the province there will be no changes in Labrador [I hope that does not mean “no changes” as they need to increase coastal stories].

That aside it sure is good news, all those letters, e emails and phone calls from people within and without Labrador seems to have paid off.

A big raspberry to the limp dicks at Nunatsiavut Government for their gutless sitting on the fence approach.

And a big OOOps here, the second incident in Nain involving an RCMP officer but this time it is not rumors or speculation and perhaps some lessons learned.

Update: Constable James Woodrow has two charges laid against him, section 266 and section 279 under the criminal code.


Some light has also been shed on the previous incident where an RCMP officer was reported by some citizens to have been driving a ski doo erratically.
The RCMP decided to not lay any charges due to the low probability of a conviction.
That same office is now no longer stationed in Nain leaving on officer short.

Man it is taking long for it to warm up; constant cold winds are not making it easy to enjoy the spring.
Today is the first time it has climbed up above +3, it is +7 at moment but NW winds to 32 make it feel like less. Still it is nice and sunny for a change.

I have been taking a break from blogging, lots to write about but can’t bring myself to get at it as there are not a lot of positives.

We are still doing our walks but a little shorter, the trails up into the hills are either too slushy or mostly too frozen and rough making it hairy for walking.

I took this photo of the mission plane taking off this afternoon, we were seeing S & J off for their trip to the capital city, doctors appointment, long way to go eh?

On the way back from the strip I took the one of the new NG HQ under construction. I tried to get it from about the same place I took the one back in 1978. It was the school back then, it was then used as offices and then it burnt down, so hence the new building.

The B&W photo is from about 1980, it is the rear of what was then the LIA building. It was an old construction workers accommodations converted into offices.
Times have changed; I will leave it up to each individual to insert “for better or worse”.

At the risk of overindulging my indulgences I point out another article, or rather an editorial at Nunatsiaq news, on the Dargo report on the “food Mail” program. It is the May 1st editorial ‘An opportunity for Leona’ that I speak of.

It may be becoming boring for some but I am sure getting a great kick out of these constant condemnations of INAC and Canada Post officials who were and are involved with this program.

The little piss ants gave us here in Labrador no quarter when we were pointing out short falls and suggesting possible solutions some years back.

Their ruddiness and belittling comments and dismissals will never be forgotten.


With the weekend coming up and all this cold windy weather we are having I thought I would do a public service and recommend a new weather site that gives accurate ‘temperature now’ and ‘forecasts’.

You just type in your area code and hit FW button.

At the risk of overindulging my indulgences I point out another article, or rather an editorial at Nunatsiaq news, on the Dargo report on the “food Mail” program. It is the May 1st editorial ‘An opportunity for Leona’ that I speak of.

It may be becoming boring for some but I am sure getting a great kick out of these constant condemnations of INAC and Canada Post officials who were and are involved with this program.

The little piss ants gave us here in Labrador no quarter when we were pointing out short falls and suggesting possible solutions some years back.

Their ruddiness and belittling comments and dismissals will never be forgotten.

Food from the Land

Below is an article that was sent to me, you have to subscibe to the News North site to read the full article's, so I re print it here with thanks to the author Andrew Livingstone.

Food from the Land
by Andrew Livingstone
NWT News/North
May 18, 2009

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Northern community leaders are climbing on board a
recommendation made in a recent report on the federal government's food
mail program to invest $3 million in a country foods initiative.

Two reports released last month by the Department of Indian and Northern
Affairs, one completed by independent reviewer Graeme Dargo, recommended
the government look at creating a partnership with Northern community
leaders and organizations to invest in a subsidy program to reduce the
cost of hunting and help bring more traditional meats into communities.

"Country foods still constitute a major part of the diet of many people in
smaller, remote communities," Dargo said. "The cost to harvest those items
is just tremendous. To buy a snowmobile you could almost buy a small car
they're so expensive. It's the same with the cost of gasoline."

Lena Kotokak, deputy mayor for the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, said for 30
gallons (120 litres) of gas it costs more than $250.

"The cost is just outrageous," she said. "For hunters to be going in and
out all the time to get a good hunt done, it can become very costly. We'd
be all for a program like this to help us obtain more of the traditional
meats we need."

A report in the Annual Nutrition Review titled "Environment and
Contaminants in Traditional Food System of Northern Indigenous Peoples"
states traditional food has been shown to be lower in fat and contain less
saturated fats than store-bought goods. The report goes on to state that
further complementing dietary needs are nutrient-rich organ meats (e.g.
brain, stomach and intestines) not usually available on the domestic
market.

"It is the general consensus that the traditional food of indigenous
peoples is the best food available to them," the report reads.

"The nutritional values are much higher than in conventional store-bought
meats," Dargo said. "From a nutrition perspective it's a good thing to
recommend. From a social perspective, we all know how important that type
of lifestyle is to people in small communities. There is no reason it
shouldn't be a part of it."

Dargo said the disconnect between Ottawa and the North on what food is
necessary in Northern peoples' diets makes it important to have a country
foods initiative run at a local level.

"Well-meaning bureaucrats are responsible for putting together the list of
eligible items," he said, adding most of the people he met with in Ottawa
had never been to the North. "I said 'what about country food' and they
didn't really know what I was talking about.

"I felt it very important the department had to work closely with the
aboriginal groups. They know the activity better than people sitting in
Ottawa.

"They need to sit down and figure it out. If there are programs like this
already in existence, why not support them better and more rather than
coming up and creating something brand new."

Raymond Kaslak, senior administrative officer for the community of Sachs
Harbour, said the community would welcome an initiative that subsidizes
the high cost of hunting and would be willing to work in partnership with
the Canadian government to get a program like this running.

"It would expand the choices more with mainland traditional foods," Kaslak
said. "It will help the nutritional component of our eating here.

Kaslak pointed out the high cost of hunting makes it difficult for hunters
to be successful in their hunts.

"It's very expensive to go out hunting here," he said. "Gas is extremely
expensive. It would really help a lot to get some money from the
government to help us hunt more.

"Sometimes the wildlife, they are out farther and they're out and roaming
and move around. If they're way out there it makes it tough to get out
there without high costs."

Dargo said it's not an issue of finding more money to fund something like
this. He said with a more streamlined approach and a more simplistic,
cut-and-dry eligible food list, enough money could be made available to
fund a pilot project of this nature.

"Northerners have a way of keeping things simple," he said. "It's based on
what you need. If you do away with all the frilly stuff there, what a
Northerner would view as something they wouldn't typically buy, there
would be monies left over to invest in a decent country foods program."

Dargo said he believes the project would have a strong foundation to make
it successful.

"They (Northern regions) all have some shape or form of a program that
helps harvesters," he said, adding in Nunavik they have subsidy programs
in place for hunters to purchase necessary equipment and gasoline.

"It's different in every region I went to, but they try to encourage that
type of lifestyle surrounding healthy eating.

"The problem with the programs for them is they don't have enough money.

"What would be a better opportunity for Canada to get more of a bang for
their food mail dollar than to invest in already existing programs that
will benefit Northerners?"


There are no programs that I am aware of that help hunters get out on the land in Nunatsiavut.

I checked around a bit, there are only some programs that help get some country foods to elders and other less fortunate.
One program was just completed in Hopedale funded by NG DHSD. The first hunt harvested from 30 to 50 caribou, these were distributed to elders. The second hunt harvested an unknown [to me] number of animals. These were cut up and packaged and stored in the councils freezer for distribution to I know not who.
In Goose Bay the NG Corporation has a community type freezer program; county foods are given to elders but I am not sure of any or what criteria there is.

Nain has or did have a program run by a group of volunteers. It was little know and cloaked in some sort of secrecy. I do know country food was available to certain sections of the community, I hope it is still running and serving the people most in need.

Other communities may have some sort of program but I am unaware of them.

To my knowledge the hunters who harvest the animals in all cases are paid quite handsomely either by a department of NG or by monies that come from a trust fund administered by NG. So I guess in essence it is some sort of a harvesting subsidy.

“Hope there is no anecdotal solutions to any alleged anecdotal complaints”

The AngajukKâk of Nain was on Labrador Morning this AM handling questions about happenings here in the spring and things that are planed for the summer.
At the end of the questioning it was asked what the AngajukKâk thought of Minister Trevor Tailor’s contribution in the series “the Road Ahead”.
There was silence, some clearing of the throat, some hesitant words along the lines of not being very encouraged by the Ministers presentation. Then it ended with the words in the heading, very profound words indeed.

I am sure there are many anecdotal complaints on marine shipping and transport in general into Labrador and the North coast. But if the Minister would take the time to look back at minutes and notes taken at previous meetings with officials and previous ministers of his department I am sure he would have no difficulty amassing a large file of written evidence of the dissatisfaction's people have up here.

Nunastiaq News has a good piece [again] on the food by mail consultants report and some responses to it.
You can count the words on one hand that contain Nunatsiavut and Labrador in the report, well perhaps two hands. You can read it here. If nothing else read the recommendations section.
There is a flight of fantasy here from a CP media guy, IMO any configuration that eliminates CP from the equation would be a good one.

It is discouraging that Labrador continues with this status quo wall of silence. Amongst all the players the only real voice out there is the manager of BigLand here in Nain. I understand some what the medias frustrations with the wall of silence, but I am sure more could be done to put something together of substance.

We had a couple of nice sunny days agfer the long weekend, the snow is cutting away around town, the councils big cat did a cut along our road leaving almost a snow free middle of the road.

With that came the first of many clean ups [personal] of debris and garbage. I have noticed thousands of pieces of plastic bags ground into the gravel or sitting in water and or mud, beside the whole plastic bags that is. That was predictable given the happenings over the winter.

Gumption to the fore.

CBC news is reporting that 444 squadron out of 5 Wing will not be leaving today as planed. They were going to go on a 6 week training mission to Alberta, much to the chagrin of people in Labrador.
So some one some where has used some common sense, there is hope yet.

A bit late for Mothers Day but this is realy funny.

Ornithologicaly speaking.

Early days of spring indicate that this could be a good year for local bird watchers. There are several types of sparrows zooming around amongst the willows and open spaces. Snow birds are still around too and there was a picture on facebook of a mourning dove taken in the middle of town the other day.
We had several good years for some unusual varieties then last year it dropped off to just the normal gray jay and robin. Though I have not seen the usual flock of jays in our area, thought it may be the large population of ravens keeping them away, but they have moved on just leaving the resident pairs.
So let’s hope we get some interesting sightings.

I seem to have stumbled on a very neet gourmet meal. I was digressing about trying to think of something for last nights supper; having a guest has some responsibilities. I had already done up a large batch of stewed zucchini/tomato/onion, but what next.

We were down in Northern while the fresh supplies were being put out. They are starting to get various fresh herbs lately, this time they had bunches of savory/oregano and mint, but at 4.99 I passed. The were some nice bunches of Swiss chard, having never cooked chard I decided to buy a bunch and it was better value than the herbs.
So what to have with the chard. I suggested to Fran we have a meatless meal. That went over like a big lump of fried okra.
So I said what?
Bologna was the answer.

The new gourmet meal includes fried bologna, swish chard, sautéed portabella mushrooms and stewed zucchini/tomato/onion. The different taste sensations just seemed to blend in quite nicely.
I am going to call it Bologna Francois.

The Innu Nation has announced it will be taking over the running of the schools in their two Labrador communities come next school year.

Mean time back in Nunatsiavut.

Later;
At this point in time there is no podcast of Minister Trevor Tailor’s interview on Labrador Mornings ‘the road ahead’ series. This is a shame as I was awake at the start of the live interview but dozed off soon after, awoke just before 7.30.

Later later; The podcast of Trevor Tailor's interview is up. I am flabbergasted that nothing is close to being set in stone for new shipping configuration's, they have known this was coming for years, yet still nothing. This comes with so many changes in Ministers partly.

transition.

The four wheeler has come into it's own these days.



It is great for doing chores and picking up stuff from the airstrip. The condition of the roads are not really suited for ski doo's and not yet ready for vehicles.


Council workers are slowly getting the bulk of the snow and ice removed from the roads, they are working down the centre of town and the essential service areas first then make their way up into the upper reaches, they have not made it to our area yet, it would have been worse if not for several snow gradings during the winter.













The Labrador Morning series ‘the road ahead’ north coast panel concentrated mainly on marine shipping, its short comings and what the three wanted for the future.


Pointed out was the dilemma retailers and business people have to deal with. You can buy on the Island at a cheaper price with greater choice, then face the distinct possibility of freight delays and damaged freight in the fall months.

Or you can buy in Goose Bay, at a higher price and less choice, but with a good chance of quicker delivery and less damage in fall months.


Cartwright transshipment terminal seems to be the stick in the spoke.


The panel member from Makkovik briefly touched on the food mail subsidy. He wondered why things like potatoes and flour cost X amount in Goose Bay but on arrival in Makkovik the cost seems way out of whack seeing the shipping is subsidized. He wondered if some one is taking advantage to “jack up” the prices.

As I have said many times, we need an open, transparent and accountable system. It is easy to do, the will just has to be there.



Tomorrow is the ministers turn to respond to some of the issues.

Well the central and west panel on Labrador Mornings series on transport ‘the road ahead’ was most underwhelming. The pod cast will be up later.
Nothing new, nothing to see here, move on then.

Both southern and central seem to be pushing Cartwright as a transport hub for the north, not very convincing arguments and Dave in central was all over the place on the issue as is his want, Cartwright or maybe Lewisport or maybe Goose Bay, must cover all bases.

Given the road and sea routes at the moment, plus the lack of any wholesale distributors in southern how can they realistically expect that to wash with the end users.

Mushrooms.

Northern had some whole Portobello mushrooms, nice size, 4 to a pack for $2.44. BigLand had sliced Portobello’s for $6.99 a pack. Something out of whack there.

Any way I diced up two of the Portobello’s and half a punet of button mushrooms. . Sautéed them in three or four tablespoon butter. Added two table spoons brandy, some garlic and 1 cup sour cream.
Served them with a pan cake, they went well after a big bowl of what is becoming one of my specialties, leek and potato soup with croutons.

The first panel discussion of what CBC is calling ‘the road north’ was aired this morning on Labrador Morning. The pod cast is not up at time of publishing, hope it is later.
This morning it was southern Labradors turn, tomorrow will be central and western’s turn, I presume Thursday it will be the north’s turn.

There is no attempt on my part to correlate CBC and mushrooms; it is pure coincidence that they appear on the same post.
Now if it had of been NG and mushrooms, wink wink nudge nudge.

Good ol inclusionary days.

Back in the days when Inuit took more notice of what was going on and before inclusion became one sided, [if there is such a thing]. Therein may lay the problem.

Lately Fran has been hinting her pallet has a hankering for chines food.

In past years I did knock up quite a bit of the oriental dishes, that was when we traveled more and I was able to pick up some of the ingredients required to do the dishes justice. My larder of horded exotic ingredients has been empty for some time, hence no Chinese.
I know what has prompted these hints, Northern has all sorts of frozen processed meals, near the check out there is a whole freezer full on Chinese meals all ready to put into the micro wave or oven.
They ooze mono sodium glutamate or whatever the hell is in them; artificial color makes them look just plain yucky.
Then in the food warmer there are some times cabbage rolls and some other rice and sweet and sour chicken ball dishes. After succumbing to the temptation and trying their chicken and chip meal there is now way I’m going to waste money on the Chinese stuff.

We had some left over pork roast so last night I knocked up a pork, noodle, vegetable, egg foo-young my style.
Not too bad, no leftovers for Siutik so something must have worked.

Weather continues to be squirrelly, light wet snow and in winds. With the roads being in transition it is very dodgy getting around on foot, or even on machines. We did a lot of ouching and using the f word [that was me] yesterday, hard to see and the fresh snow covers all the frozen ruts and the deep pot hole like water traps.

I think there is a good argument to be made for some transport be made available for getting the elderly /infirmed /handicapped around it these conditions. People have to get to medial appointments, to the airstrip if they have to go out for medical reasons, and even to the store to buy food.

Actually that topic is on my list of cons at the NG information session last Wednesday evening. The lack of transport for the above mentioned was raised, not for the first time.

The politicians gave it nary any response. The bureaucratic response was; there is funding [from the feds] for transport at the Goose Bay end for to and from the hospital and airport but nothing available for the communities.

I think the friendship Centre runs a seniors bus there too, picks people up to go to the shops and for medical appointments.

Nunatsiavut claims it has the people at heart and that they are a self governing body, how about some self governing then.

Having time to absorb and reflect on the Information session put on by the Nunatsiavut Government on Wednesday night I now put down my thoughts on said session.

First the pros:
Well the fact it was held at all.
Contained in the typed briefing notes presented by each department is some informative information that most would not be cognizant of.
At the table near the entrance were some tasty looking fruit platters and nice looking finger food type cakes.
The latest Nunatsiavut Annual Report was available for everybody. The fact that it is the 2007-08 report should not detract from the fact that it was done ‘in house’, is rather well done in color and on a nice semi gloss paper. Lots of nice color and black and white photos too. It is great that NG has distanced themselves from those self serving gits in St.John’s that used to do all the PR stuff for them.
In the public question period there were a couple of direct answers to specific questions.
The president was wearing a seal skin vest.
Meeting started almost on time with just a short 10 minute 'fresh air break' part way through.
Translation was supplied, as one would expect.
Hmmmmmmmmmm, maybe I should reflect some more as that does not seem like a lot of pros.

Pro update. There is a household disagreement on the point of attendance. Fran says it was well attended, I disagree.
So to compromise I agreed that it was well attended in modern era terms.

To explain: There were about 13 attendees that were from the public sector. It was a public information session so I do not count the attendees who were NG staff [who by the way were in greater numbers than I have ever seen at previous modern era public meetings] and were about equal in numbers to the public attendees.
I also do not include the ministers, deputy ministers, the first minister and president.

There were also 3 from the media, since they asked questions in the question period I should include them in the public sector.

With a little help from some friends Elizabeth Penashue has gone high tech, check out her blog at

http://elizabethpenashue.blogspot.com/


And in the category of the 'I cant believe they are so corrupt': I was down the airstrip this morning to pick up some medicinal elixir and noticed some of the labels on cases of a well known brand of mineral spring water.

The labels were from the Canada Post food by mail program. In large letters at the top of each label was the words 'Nutritious Perishable Food'.
Does that just about beat all or what?

Two stories two worlds.

With mothers day approaching I decided to order some native Australian flowers for me mum. They are cheaper than roses and last much longer than the usual moms day selection.





Fran decided to send her mother some home made cookies........guess who got to home made them? Oatmeal/raisin/chocolate chip.





No worries, Fran came up with the presentation and the card, we sent them out on the mission plane to be delivered to her mom at the Paddon Home.

We attended the information session at NG last evening, there were pros and cons, alas the sun is out and so are we.

Weather has been squirrelly of late. Nothing major, just unsettled, winds drop the comfort zone but has not stopped many going off.

Down at the new NG building the roof trusses are going up slowly. Be interesting to see what it looks like once it is covered in, can’t get a vision of it as yet.

We had occasion to send a small light gift out to North West River Labrador this week. Said parcel had dimensions of 19cm x18.5cm x 8cm and weighed 0.245 Kg.

The cheapest rate was $13.99 with tax.

If I wanted to send it on to say Guelph Ontario the same parcel would have cost $16.53 cheapest rate

If I happened to send the parcel from Goose Bay to Guelph Ontario it would have cost $10.20 cheapest rate

Now it is about 376 kilometers from Nain to Goose Bay as the crow fly’s, then another 40 kilometers by road.

By contrast it is about 2,000 kilometers from Nain to Guelph as the crow fly’s.

Seeing as Canada Post uses trucks and not crows to move ordinary mail in and out of Labrador then that would be 2,429 kilometers. Plus the parcel would most likely go through a number of sorting faculties on its way from Labrador to Ontario.

So Canada Posts claim that we are heavily subsidized up here does not hold water IMO.

If we are subsidized than what do the rates say about the rest of Canada? Canada Post after all is loosing money, but I am sure you can’t blame it on the Labrador operations.

Nunatsiavut Government will be holding an information session tonight in the NG board room, 7 pm.

Could be a good exercise in pulling hens teeth, or not.

For Shaun.

She'll be right mate.

Justice Rocks.

Over the weekend there was a Youth Justice Rocks Camp-Mock Trial [YJRC] held in the JHMS in Nain.

About 12 youth in the 12 to 15 year age group attended morning and afternoon sessions over the two days.
Some information sessions on youth justice and a Jeopardy game on addictions plus a mock trail.

Judge Joy as well as some defense, crown attorney and staff from the Labrador office of justice all contributed.

I only know this because Fran attended some afternoon sessions as an observer and played a small role as interpreter in the mock trail.

Sunny and calm, -5, looking good.

Our weather has been sort of iffy, after some warming last week we have had some cooler temperatures, especially with the wind blowing. The slushy snow on the roads has frozen making it rough walking in spots, then other places are smoother, OK for younger shanks’ pony’s but older joints have to be cared for, have to keep the head down and watch ones step.

Seems the long awaited moving of the town’s water supply has taken one more step to fruition.

Seems a short time frame in getting bids and awarding contracts, unless some pre planning and strategies are in play.

Go ahead, make my day.

Well now I know how Harry felt when the bad guys did not conform to his requests.

There are three more articles from the north regarding the report on the food mail subsidy program Mr. Dargo did for the INAC minister. One is from CBC and two from Nunatsiaq News[NN] plus this great editorial.
I particularly like the NN pieces, they do good reporting there, always well researched and usually do not pull any punches. I guess the weekly publication allows them more time compared to the daily deadlines of CBC.

Many of the criticisms and suggestions on improving the program I and a few others have been advocating for years. I am particularly pleased with the reports apparent scathing attach on INAC and Canada Post, make my day indeed.

This one critique resonates particularly with me and others here in Labrador.


"Canada Post likely uses the food mail program to cross-subsidize the cost of delivering regular mail;"


That sort of fly’s in the face of those parochial Canada Post spokespeople who keep claiming that we are heavily subsidized with our regular packages and mail. More like we are subsidizing the south is our claim.

Some of the recommendations in the report are good ones, but I am still wary of handing it over to the retailers without the stated checks, balances, open, transparent, accountable regimes in place.

Here in Labrador some spoilt items can be claimed by the retailer, not sure who the claim is put too, maybe the wholesaler.

It has long been thought that some retailers were bringing in non perishables by plane when they could have been shipped by boat in the summer, this report confirms our suspicions. There may have been other factors other than increasing ones bottom line, but the consumer has not seen any documentation to allay our suspicions.

The country food suggestion is a good one, not sure if it is needed here in Labrador, but worth a look at. What is really needed here are country food outlets, or a system like they have in Nunavik where the elderly and low income people can access healthy wild foods cheaply.

Labrador is a small fish in the big pool of federal funding, but any changes that deal with any real and perceived rip offs is a positive.

We also have the provincial subsidy program for Northern Labrador towns. This allows retailers to claim directly to the government for a rebate on part of the freight costs. To my knowledge the retailers piggy back on the Federal program. Some of us have asked the province to do an audit to prove that the savings have been passed on. There was resistance, then some positive rumblings that something would be done, then nothing.
Maybe this latest federal report will get the ball rolling again on that.

Lets hope the report does not get shelved, and lets hope some heads role baby, make my day.

CBC Labrador morning had a somewhat puzzling story this morning. Oh it concerned Labrador alright, non the less puzzling. There is no pod cast of the story yet, who knows, maybe later.

Peter Cowan did a piece and an interview with an executive with Link Communications, or Link Mobility [LM] a small communications firm. The gist is that LM says it intends setting up cellular telephone service in three Labrador communities by late this year. The communities are Hopedale, Natuashish and Churchill Falls.
But the longer the interview went and the more Peter revealed of his research the more puzzling or convoluted things became.

Seems it will cost about $300.000 for hardware to set up in each community, not sure if that includes towers. Then there was no estimate cost of the phones and how much per minute, except that pre paid cards would be bought and roaming would be accessible, but the representative did not ooze confidence when saying that.
For sure the company would have to cut a deal with Aliant who have the entire microwave infrastructure net work.

Then comes the kicker, the communities would be responsible for owning the hardware and infrastructure, would start up individual phone companies to sell the phones and sell the pre paid cards and maintain the whole kit and caboodle.

Peter reveled that Hopedale has not committed to anything yet and there is some resistance with the high start up costs.

I am not sure if this is all a bit premature or what? And do the communities really need cellular, especially if the community governments have to anti up the start up and operational costs. There are a myriad of things that that money could be spent on.
Personally I would rather see the community and Nunatsiavut Governments look at involvement in alternative sources of power to replace the diesel guzzling pollution spewing forms we have now.

Then there is this disappointing story from CKOK. No money to finish the restoration at the Hebron sight???????????? WTF!!!!!!!!!!.
That is sad news and if I may say not a very bright idea to stop the restoration now.

Now that is project that NG should fund now and seek restitution of the funds from the funding agencies at a later date. Stopping now may lead to longer stoppage which would negate any restoration already taken place.

What should have been a pleasant walk in nice sunshine actually was an uncomfortable walk in brisk NNW winds up to 72 clicks giving -19 wind chills. Add to that a pulling dog, a soft patch of snow on an embankment you have me going arse over head onto the road. So the walk was cut short.

This article was brought to my attention; it’s from the CBC north web site. Some interesting potential proposals for change to the federal food by mail subsidy program.

While I have never taken advantage of the personal order part of the program, and I don’t know anyone who has, I think it would be wrong to eliminate it. I hear many in more northern regions take advantage of it, and I don’t see how eliminating it would improve retailer purchasing power. If it was eliminated then it would be essential that audits be carried out on a regular basis at the retail level.

They should look closely at eliminating INAC and Canada Posts involvement. Those two entities are responsible to no one, especially Canada Post.

Maybe in our area Nunatsiavut Government could play a role in the overseeing of the program. That is only if open. Transparent and accountable regimes were put in place, after all NG is just another level of government along the lines of the two other levels.

I sure would not like to see the funds going straight to the retailers.

Then again it could all boil down to the devil you know, eh?

After many years of battling with powers that be the program seems to be working from the timely delivery and the quility of product end of the program in this region.
It is just the accountability part that has most concerned people on edge.
There is no regime in place to show who actually benifit and to what degree. Get that in place and I think the status quo may work for us in Labrador.

A small sampling of case in point. Down at the Northern this morning to buy some items. There were some nice looking potatoes, white, washed, not may imperfections on them. So I picked up a bag, even though the price on the rack said “white potatoes $4.99 a Kg”.
I thought to myself that the pricing must be wrong.

Well at the check out I was proved wrong, on the read out it said ‘potatoes $4.99 a Kg with total at $10. 49.
The manager was handy and he looked at the price and had doubts and ran back to the office to check it out.
On return he said that is the price we have. I queried how come, manager said that these particular potatoes cost $40. 00 more a sack than the other varieties they have.

So I picked up a bag of russet spuds, same quantity for under 3 bucks.

It is not my intent here, nor is it ever, to cast doubt on the integrity of local store management and staff, and it never is, after all the decisions are made outside, but I think it is everybody’s duty to question when things look out of whack.

Next thing you know!!!!

Hope the lads don’t get wind of these, next thing you know they will be flying em in by the case load.
Already case loads of bottled [plastic bottles] water are flown in, seem silly, not to mention wasteful what with all the pristine water tumbling down the hills and brooks all year.

Who’s ya Mumma?

Great Grandma that is.

Puzzling why they are both so happy, after all the photo was taken the day after Montreal was knocked out of the play offs, four straight yet.

Photo credit: Louisa Lampe.

Wedding of the month.

Took in the church service for the marriage of K Naime Tuglavina to Julius Merkuratsuk yesterday morning.

I was in a bad spot for taking photos but managed to put this collage together before my batteries went flat. .

I simple ceremony without any bells and whistles, no ‘wedding party’, just K Naime’s son to walk her downs the isle.
Being only in Inuktitut the ceremony was very quick and the happy couple was walking back down the isle before I new it.

Outside there was a mini blizzard in progress, made walking back very dodgy what with the gusty wind to 80 clicks, reduced visibility and the fresh snow on top of the now frozen mush underneath.

Congratulations to Kitora Naime and Julius.

After a respite from the snow yesterday more is falling this morning, quite heavy at times. More slush and muck to come, goes with the season.

The snow buntings have all but moved on, just the odd small pod and even some lone soles dropping in for a feed.

Northern store has some, what for us are exotic vegetables and fruit. Asian pears [I had to ask], mango's and papaws, bundles of fresh herbs like flat leaf parsley, mint and rosemary. I only bought some rosemary to have with chicken, or perhaps partridge. I did buy a Savoy cabbage, goes well in coleslaw and last evening I made up some cabbage rolls.
I blanched the leaves first and removed the hard bottom part of the core. Made a filling of three types of sausage, some rosemary, fresh tomato, parmesan cheese and the diced core of the cabbage.

Rolled the leaves around the filling, placed them in oven proof dish and topped them with some of my stewed tomato/onion/zucchini.

Our German guest said they tasted like restaurant food back home….. what can I say.

Amendation: Fran remembers the statement as, "this is better than restaurants back home". I stand corrected.

The temperatures have gotten up into the pluses since Tuesday. The snow was getting a good cutting until Thursday night and Friday morning, we had a good dump of heavy wet snow.
Quite the mess around town with standing water, running water, slush, it was quite hairy driving the 4 wheeler through it all.
Still the warmer temps are welcome by almost everybody.



Now back to the eulogy for Labrador Morning [LM].

LM served Labrador well over the years, I can remember when there was both radio and television programming produced in studios in HV-GB. The programs served the people of Labrador and reflected its unique cultures and geography both within and out to the larger audience in the province and Canada.
Sadly over the years both Liberal and Conservative governments in Ottawa have chipped and grinded away at funding for the CBC, this has led to some startling bad program changes by the minions in Toronto and St. John’s.
Non more so than the latest round of funding cuts, these cuts are looking more and more like CBC programming in the regions of this province will no longer be meeting the CBC mandate and most assuredly will no longer be relevant to the avid public broadcast fans like myself.

The minions have said that the staffing and program changes to Labrador Morning will be announced some time in the next couple of months.
Well this listener is not looking forward to this announcement one little bit, as a matter of fact I am fed up with the garbage that Labrador Morning is dishing up at the moment, and this is before any proposed cuts.

The garbage I reference goes a little like this: Labrador Morning is a 2 ½ hour long program. More and more stories that reflect the interest of Labradors people, i’s events, it’s happenings are aired less frequently.

At the moment at the top of the hour we get the National net work news. I have no problem with that.
Then we get the weather forecast, no problem.
Then we get the transport report. OK, stuff people need to know.
All the above has now taken up about 20 minutes.
Add a little small talk, then some interview taken from the network about some non sequential goings on in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia or some such does not leave much time for LABRADOR STORIES in that half hour.


Then at the bottom of the hour we get the provincial news. I’m OK with that.
Then the weather. Ok some people are just getting up.
Then the transport report. Ditto.
Then the sports report. That can be a little prolonged but I understand some people are interested.
More small talk.
Another 20 minutes taken up.
Maybe a story from Labrador, maybe more network irrelevance, maybe a comedy team skit

There are at least two reporters working out of HV-GB and one out of Labrador West at the moment. My question is why are there not more Labrador stories being sought? I would like to see 100% Labrador stories but would be happy if they could manage maybe 60 to 70 %.

I do not regard a reporter sitting in HV-GB and doing a story about one of the pilots of the Hi Jacked plane in Jamaica having a Labrador connection a Labrador story. I do not give a rat’s arse if he USED to fly for a Labrador based airline some 8 years ago.


And how about this dooly; a reporter sitting in HV-GB and interviewing an Inuk, who is from Iqaluit, and living in Newfoundland, and is on holiday in New Zealand, and is kicking up a stink about a NZ candy [lolly] that has been on the market for 50 years, and is called Eskimo.


There is also the Eskimo Pie and the Edmonton Eskimos, but the little lady from Iqaluit seems much uninformed as she claimed in the interview she had not heard of the Edmonton Eskimos until she arrived in New Zealand.
Where in the bloody hell is the relevance to Labrador and its issues in this story.

Meantime, on the south and north coasts a myriad of stories go unreported. Why even eastern and western Labrador are getting short shift with the ever increasing network stories being aired.

Maybe the 922 digits on the CBC phones are stuck. Or perhaps the 933 digits are missing. Or the 939 digits are on sabbatical.
What is so hard about phoning around and chasing up stories, I thought that’s what journalists are supposed to do and do best.

So if this crap continues I will have to look to other news sources and programs. Maybe even turn the radio off in the mornings and at noon [cuts are projected for Radio Noon too], maybe even the afternoon program will be foregone.

Worse comes to worse I may listen to VOCM on the Internet. Nothing on there about Labrador usually, but neither will there be anything of interest on Labrador morning when the cuts are announced.



Sad times.



Speaking of which. I heard from a Kanajugak that old brook trout has taken the right fork in the stream of life and ended up in the shark pool. Some may say [not me] that maybe even old brook trout has descended the rapids, and down the waterfall into the piranha pool.
I wonder what Kaleo thinks of that lot?

ANZAC.

Today we remember the diggers who have gone before and who are still with us, especially me MOM and DAD.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them.

Labrador Morning R.I.P.

The day came earlier than we anticipated but Labrador Morning is no longer relevant to the listeners of the Coastal regions, and I would offer up no longer relevant to any listeners of the so called "Big Land".

Lots of spring like activity on the go in this fine weather [well it was fine until this morning, sun sun sun, up to +2 yesterday but clouding over with maybe some rain in forecast] what with people going off to cabins, for a boil up, hunting, wooding. Quite a few people in from other communities too, some just visiting and others on way hunting, very busy little town indeed.

A small crew arrived back in town to carry on with the construction of the new Nunatsiavut Government building, lot of snow removal and de winterizing to do there.

Yesterday about a dozen Ottawa type civil servants arrived in town on the yearly ‘get to know the natives we deal with on their home turf” dog and pony show put on by ITK. They are supposed to get to know the people and had a trip off into the country. Well actually it was over to the Ten Mile Bay quarry, but country for them I guess.

I sure hop they don’t walk around Ottawa with stunned looks and all over the road like they were here. Like we have road rules and decorum up here too folks, walk in a group spread across the road and something bad could happen ya know.

Meantime on the home front several visitors have necessitated me spending more time in the kitchen. Meantime Fran has gone off with the ‘elders’ for a boil up and some fishing, some people get all the breaks.

For those living outside the area: The Hopedale couple were found around 10 am Thursday morning.
They had become disorientated in bad weather and were found outside the original search area.

Luckily they came upon a cabin; they had plenty of wood for warmth but had to ration what very little food they had with them. There is a pod cast here of interview with the RCMP search coordinator and also one of the rescued party. Her male companion was one of Fran’s nephews, so there were some anxious moments there for awhile.
Hearty thanks go out to those on the ground search and rescue team.

We had a taste of the storm yesterday sure, white out conditions at times; luckily we have not had it near as long as the rest of Labrador.

Down at Northern they have lots of specials on, nothing like a bit of competition eh? They had some in there vegetable section and varied specials in grocery and in the clothing section.

Alas the specials fairies missed some items, like Ocean Spray cranberry juice for $12.66 [same in BigLand for 6.99]. And large bags of dog food for 54 bucks [BigLand has em for 21 and change].

Both stores are getting these items in by plane this time of year, so one should shop around before buying. One thing Northern has is a good variety of potatoes [variety in spuds has been lacking last few years], some are on sale.

So with all these specials on the go and the weather the pits I cooked up some of the goodies yesterday.

Made a big pot of caribou/vegetable soup with plenty for later.

Then did a leek/ham/mushroom/cheese quiche [f-----g egg pie to some] served with lettuce and a honey/mustard/balsamic vinaigrette.

Of course Fran had the bones from the soup, poor old Siutik sat there with a pleading look all the while Fran feasted, Fran does not like sharing bones, but Siutik did get a small peace offering.

So it’s out with the winter cloths again, and it’s mid April.
To date the spring has seen us spared the snow/blowing snow of other areas, not this morning. Snow is going all which way out there with -23 wind chills.

On the food front our freezer has plenty of caribou, partridge, and fish.


We have been eating caribou all which way, roasted, soup, ground in spaghetti sauce, meat cakes [rissoles] and Fran’s favorite for fresh deer meat; sautéed with onions in salt pork served up with sanamajuk [pan fried bread dough].

The country food fest was broken up one night by a good meal of potato/leek/yam soup served up with a crepe filled with leek, mushroom, garlic and sour cream.

Yesterday BigLand had all there perishable vegetables discounted. Some were almost passed it but a lot was good enough to use. This is the sensible way to try to empty the shelves after the goods have been sitting there a week, it just seems stupid letting the stuff sit there until new stock comes in then dump the old.

Some of us take volunteer groups, particularly the people who volunteer for these groups for granted at times. Volunteers contribute greatly to individual towns and to society in general.

One of those unsung volunteers is Annie Lidd of the Nain Volunteer Fire Brigade.
I only know Annie to greet on the streets, always with the big smile and time to say hello or say a few words about something or other.

Then there was the time Annie and a couple of young kids helped me get my 4x4 Argo out of a sticky situation, I had gone down in a hole between two large chunks of ice near the old bridge, the front was down and the rear up. Annie pushed and hauled like the good ol trooper she is.

So it is fitting that Annie got some recognition in this article in the Nunatsiaq News.

Kind of a shame she had to go all the way to Iqaluit to be recognized, none the less good for Annie and Nunatsiaq news.

I do have some issues with the article though. Not sure where they got their information about the town of Nain, I am positive the population is closer to 1300 than 1000.
The building referenced as the ‘old Labrador Inuit Association building’ was more commonly known as the ‘old school’.
A small part of the old school was owned by the Okalakatiget Society with the larger portion owned by the Labrador Inuit Development Corporation and used for rental space to a number of organizations.
The long term renters where the provincial Dept. of Social Services, College of the North Atlantic, Torngnasok Cultural center, plus LIDC themselves. Later renovations where made and a number of affiliates of LIA moved in along with several private sector groups.

Labrador Inuit Association had its HQ in several buildings over the years, never in the ‘old school’ though.

All that is mute now, but, we don’t want to revise history do we.

There has been no good news out of Hopedale overnight. A couple of groups of searchers went out late afternoon yesterday to look for the two missing people, several cabins were checked but to no avail.
Weather is hampering the search efforts, high winds with blowing snow makes it difficult for the ground searchers, a chopper is on stand by in Goose Bay to join in the search as soon as the weather permits, that is not looking like any time soon with winds up to 90 KPH and more snow forecast in the area.

Update: There is good news from Hopedale, two found and on way back to town in chopper.

We missed the snow that was predicted, just overcast, winds did get up to 78KPH overnight.

Seems Goose Bay is getting lots of snow.

Weather not that good in Hopedale either, sure hope the two people who are overdue are alright hunkered down in a cabin.

We are on tenterhooks waiting for this alleged terrible storm to hit us.
As of this moment we are spared, just very light snow with moderate winds.
Not so in Hopedale where it is raging and a couple of people are overdue getting home, trust they are OK.

The Easter games started on the weekend, it was a nice day for some kid’s games on the ice yesterday, and games are also taking place in the town hall.

I was pleasantly surprised to see council workers clear several of the communal garbage boxes of some of the built up snow and refuse this past Wednesday afternoon, see top left photo.

This has made it more difficult for loose dogs to get at any garbage put in them over the long weekend.
Also noticed that the guys were collecting garbage on Saturday and again yesterday.

It sure is a pleasure not having garbage strewn all over the place like it was last Monday, see second photo, sort of more like how it should be see bottom photo.

Kudos to those responsible.

Siutikerectus.

On Saturday afternoon while Fran took in the ‘giant Easter bingo’ I took to the hills and brooks to soak up some rays

Half way along a brook I came upon some tracks that made me think that a dangerous carnivore was in the vicinity.
Proceeding with caution I rounded a corner of the brook and there amongst the willows was the dangerous carnivore hunting a flock of plectrophenax nivalis.

Siutikerectus’s hunting techniques were off this day so she decided to have a brief respite before another foray into the wilds of Labrador.

Fran did not win the giant prize which was shared among several. A smaller win was all she could manage, but it is not the winning, it’s the participation that counts for Fran.

For Sunday dinner I roasted some bacon wrapped plectrophenax nivalis.

Narh boy, those are bacon wrapped stuffed partridge, some good too.

Wonder if the roman pot needs cleaning? Maybe not.

. The snow cleared away on Friday followed by sun to die for [don’t tell the GD who is still in class or in the air].

Great weekend for those going off to cabins or just doing stuff around town.

The invasion of the snow birds is in full force, I do not remember when we have had them in such large numbers, large flocks all over town.

The weather forecast is for very shitty weather in southern Labrador and parts of the island but mainly clear for us.

I was listening to CBC this morning; Michael Enright was saying a study of 66 centers across the country found that fresh healthy food prices vary widely in large parts of the country, some times up to 6 times more. Meantime junk foods prices are more stable and consistent in the same centers.

Late yesterday I purchased 2 for 1 large chocolate easter bunnies with fruits and nuts, selling like hot cross buns they were.

Meanwhile in another store mangos, pawpaw, bananas, lettuce, tomato and the like is left to go rotten.

Your package has experienced an exception

What was intended to be a post of condemnation has turned into a post of congratulation.

I made a small order with Hickory Farms back on March 26th. Only reason I made the order was that two of the items ordered were heavily discounted, the other was regular price.
On check out the shipping, via UPS, came to just under the total of the order. What the hell, I figure what I saved on the sale items I pay in shipping, plus we are used to high shipping costs.

The order was not shipped until the March 30. I then had a tracking order number with UPS. It got to Quebec quickly, than nothing for awhile. Then yesterday it looked like the order was back in Quebec with the notice of: Your package has experienced an exception.
The exception was that since I lived in a remote place they could not deliver on the time promised.

So I thought that was the end of that............................ Not so.

We are at the post office this morning, nothing interesting in the mail, I was just about to walk out the door when the post master shouts out “ Hey Brian, there is something here for you”.
When I get to the counter she adds, “at least I think it is for you”. There were three boxes with ship to: Myself with my address below that.

Long story short, UPS had handed the parcels off to Purolator in Goose Bay who then handed it to Canada Post [they are one and the same anyway] who got it here quick smart from Goose Bay.

This is not the first time this has happened with orders with Hickory Farms, why they don’t just send it with Canada Post puzzles me.

Just a small tast of what sort of things we go through to live up here, then again it beats the burbs for sure.
Non the less congratulations.


Below is the stuff I had saved before going to the post office, read it bottom to top. .
Location
Date
Local Time
Description
JONQUIERE,QC, CA
08/04/2009
7:36
THE ADDRESS IS IN A REMOTE AREA AND DELIVERIES ARE NOT MADE DAILY
LACHINE,QC, CA
31/03/2009
19:59
DEPARTURE SCAN
31/03/2009
15:01
ARRIVAL SCAN
CONCORD,ON, CA
31/03/2009
7:47
DEPARTURE SCAN
CONCORD,ON, CA
30/03/2009
23:00
ORIGIN SCAN
CA
30/03/2009
11:17
BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED Tracking results provided by UPS: 09/04/2009 9:02 ET

And here is the order total just for reference:

Product Total: $32.00 CAD
HST: $4.16 CAD
Shipping: $31.05 CAD
Shipping Surcharges: $0.00 CAD
HST: $4.04 CAD
Total: $71.25 CAD

Weather wise we are into typical ester conditions, warm [if you consider -1 warm] light snow off and on. No planes yesterday but things seem to be moving today, you don't see the planes until they get down to about 500 feet but sure can hear them.

Elizabeth and Francis spring walk 2009.

Photo credits go to Jennifer Saner-Harvey

There was another less publicized walk that just finished on March 26th.

Every spring for the last 13 years Elizabeth Penashue and her husband Francis lead a walk of Innu and any others who wish to partake.
This year the walk lasted 3 weeks, some people walked the whole distance; others came and went as their schedules permitted, there were people from all walks of life and several different counties.
They mainly live off the land and are also supported by people with ski doos and komatiks who bring camping stuff and help make camp.

Main purpose of the walk is to maintain contact with the traditions of Innu life and also for healing. The relationship with the land is extremely important for aboriginal people, sadly many have forgotten that, but not Elizabeth and Francis and their ilk.
In two posts we have some photographs from the latest walk.

Elizabeth and Francis spring walk 2009 II

Photo credits go to Jennifer Saner-Harvey

I know, nobodies counting, but we hit eight days of sunny great mind blowing weather yesterday.

It was so warm we hit the harbor ice in our fashionable spring attire. The only white in the sky were the contrails of planes coming in from Europe.

Very light snow is falling this morning so that is that, long weekend must be coming up, the forecast is not so good.

Sure is sad to read reports of Italy’s latest earth quake deaths and devastation.

Thirty years ago I spent a couple of days in L'Aquila. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon, it seemed like most of the population was out enjoying the late autumn sunshine, everybody was dressed to the nines in what looked like family groups, just parading around the streets and this very large square.

Two of use had come ashore by ferry at Brendisi from Greece. We did a short drive up the coast then headed inland and took a leisurely drive up the ‘spine’ of Italy.

The medieval buildings in many of the towns and villages in that region were all very impressive and there images have stayed with me all these years.

I think it took us five days to make it to Little St. Bernard Pass, a very small and unmanned border crossing into France.
I still recall the Second World War anti tank emplacements that were on both sides of the road. On the France side there was no need for any emplacements, the bloody road was so narrow and windy that any tank driver in his right mind would have done a u-ey and gone back the way he came. But then the tanks would have been coming up the hill, hence the emplacements.

Update on the RCMP volleyball tournament in Hopedale:

Fran, being from Hopedale and having lots of relatives there would naturally cheer for them, then again her grandson is from here so she would want to cheer for him.

So there is some good news bad news for her in the results. The Hopedale men's won there event, grandsons team was beaten in the semi final.

In the women's event Nain won that, with two Hopedale players making up the

numbers. A good compromise all round I would think.

We are into the sixth sunny day [but whose counting], seems like the yucky wet and white stuff will track to the south of us again.

Went down to the airstrip in the afternoon to see off great grand kid #2 who was going on his first social trip out.
Terence was accompanying his mom and dad who were going to Hopedale for the 25th Annual RCMP Volley Ball tournament being held this weekend.
Dad was part of a contingent of about 3 teams entered from Nain; about 19 to 20 teams are entered altogether. So busy times in Hopedale.

We took in two walks yesterday. One in the morning out on the harbor ice on the way to

Northern.
In the afternoon while Fran attended a senior’s event Siutik and I took to the hills.
Siutik was in great spirits, non stop all the trip. Up and down on the road, to and fro into and out of the wood, surfing the powder snow, checking out the hidden smells.

On the way home we took the brook trail that runs into the old dam. As is usual this time of year the dam is coring with a slushy wet surface over a large part of it.

On leaving the brook Siutik took the southern side while I took the northern rout. Half way along the dam she decided she wanted to get back to me but would not go onto the slush, tried several spots but always went back. She tried the stare that says “hay, come over this way” but I said no way, we are going up the hill to the house.
So she took off at top speed around the wet bit and back to me, just in time too as the dog catcher came along just then on his ski doo and catcher komatik. He stopped for a chat but not about Siutik.

Seems like Labrador is not the only place with a threatened deer population, china is having trouble too.

In the interest of balance [from my perspective] Natalie managed to get down on the ground and interview, or be shouted at depending on your perspective, an Innu Chief from Quebec for their side of the alleged controversial caribou hunt.
You can see Natalie and the Innu starting at 13.34 in.

Balanced is not the operative word [IMO] in the cuts being made to CBC radio regional shows, but particularly to the small market areas like Labrador, Corner Brook and others across the country.

I listened to the phone in show on Radio Noon yesterday; the guest was Richard Stursberg, CBC's vice-president of English services.
To me Mr.Stursburg sounded very much a proponent of South North communication, rather than getting views and news running in the north south direction.

While he made all the right noises and expressions of sympathy to the uniqueness of Labrador and expressed his knowledge that CBC is the only voice in the area none the less he gave no indication that the staffing and program cuts will be re visited.

Why I think Mr. Strursberg is not tuned into the needs of the small radio markets is that every time a caller, or the host, raised the importance of radio to the area he used television programming and viewer stats to make his point for any of the cuts. Plus he used examples like London and Hamilton Ont as NOT HAVING ANY local morning shows. Thing is they have alternatives and we don’t, as Mr. Stursberg acknowledge but ignores at the same time.

I understand that there is a large shortfall in funding and monies coming in to CBC, I still think on the whole the cuts are going to effect regions like Labrador far greater than say St. John’s.

Best we can hope for is a change in Ottawa. Or perhaps an epiphany by the CBC honchos on the way to the cottage [cabin]. After all CBC did sort of admit error after they cut the local super hour TV news, it was not long before it was back to almost it’s original.

The so called controversial caribou hunt going on south of Goose Bay is perplexing. Perplexing in the sense I do not know who to believe. The map is courtesy of Labrador.
Without clear evidence, and that means a media presence or another unbiased observer, then all it boils down to is she said he said.
If the government has video footage that proves their case then some of it should be released to the public. Surely they don’t expect us to wait for the case to go to court [if it ever does], that could take years given the track record in the courts to date.

And Natalie Kalata's first venture outside the confines of Labrador City did not go very well, shades of Apocalypse Now, or Good Morning Vietnam on steroids.
I think it may have been her first story on Aboriginals, pity there were non around. Come to think of it the video shows nothing but some paunches and tracks of animals and snowmobiles.
And whose bright idea was it to do the piece from a chopper? Hard to hear what she is saying over the noise of the engine and the flapping of her right arm.
Natalie is 18 minutes in.