An author from St. George's doesn't wait for a special day to recognize and celebrate Indigenous culture. Judy Doucette has written two children's books reflecting her Mi'kmaw heritage. Every chance she gets, she shares her story at schools and public events. Doucette also encourages everyone to be proud of where they've come from as Indigenous people. Her new book is called Poppa and the Sacred Kitpu ("Bald Eagle").
Our National Indigenous Peoples Day show featured an artist, an author, a community leader and more, all of whom are celebrating and honouring their culture and heritage today - and every day. We finished the show with our studio guest, Qalipu First Nation Chief Jenny Brake.
National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations are taking place today in Mi'kmaw communities across the province. Qalipu First Nation itself is hosting events in Corner Brook, Glenwood, Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville Crossing. Individual bands and communities all over the island are honouring the day with celebrations of their own. In Stephenville, a new cultural space was to be unveiled, and Stephenville mayor Tom Rose told us about it.
Indigenous visual artists use paint brushes, cameras, clay or other media to create. Their artwork often reflects their own experiences as Indigenous people. Melissa Francis is Mi'kmaw and a visual artist from Gander Bay. Stan Hill is the former chair of ArtsNL and a bone carver who is Iroquois but has lived on Miawpukek First Nation reserve for 30 years.
Indigenous artists in this province now have a new organization to support and represent them. Indigenous Performing Arts NL, or IPANL, launched its inaugural season this spring. The group hopes to address the under-representation of Indigenous stories in the province's performing arts scene. Leahdawn Helena, the artistic curator, was born and raised in western Newfoundland. Helena spoke with CBC's Amanda Gear earlier this week about the organization and National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Earlier this week on Newfoundland Morning, we heard from NL Health Services about a new online portal for accessing your own health records. It's an addition to the My Gov NL online service, where you can also renew your driver's license and vehicle registration. We asked an expert how safe our information will be when it's stored there. Jonathan Anderson is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Memorial University in St. John's. He spoke with the CBC's Elizabeth Whitten.
The 2SLGBTQ+ community is at risk of EXTREME violence. That warning came from CSIS, Canada's intelligence agency earlier this year. There have also been contentious debates recently over education and health care for transgender youth. As a result, organizers are very much on alert for Pride month this year. CBC reporter Darrell Roberts has been checking in with organizers in this province, including one from western Newfoundland.
(*Please note: slightly distorted audio*) The town council in Grand Falls-Windsor says the Family Care Team set up in the community last year is just not working. The provincial government is promoting the idea of team-based care, bringing physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers and others together under one roof. But the town council and a healthcare advocacy group say the government needs to do more. Cyril Farrell is the chair of the Grand Falls-Windsor Healthcare Coalition. Mayor Barry Manuel agreed to be on the show, but was unavailable. Dr. Des Whelan is the senior medical director for the Central zone of NL Health Services, an Emergency Room physician, and one of the people helping to establish the Family Care Team in Grand Falls - Windsor.
(Please note slightly distorted audio on intro and extro*) Rev. Dianne Crewe used to lead congregations at Emmanuel United Church in Gambo and Knox United Church in Hare Bay. But earlier this month, at the start of a sermon, Crewe announced upcoming events, including Pride celebrations at the church. Some members of the congregation interrupted the service to voice their opposition to those events. Ultimately, Crewe says church officials had a meeting -- which she was not allowed to attend -- that ended in her being forced to leave the church. The CBC's Martin Jones began his conversation with Rev. Dianne Crewe by asking her if she was surprised by the interruption during that Sunday service.
Escaped inmate Tyler Bennett had still not been located as of 8:30 this morning. The 31-year-old man, who is from the Northern Peninsula or western Newfoundland area, escaped from the West Coast Correctional Centre in Stephenville last Friday. Bennett had been in custody in relation to a number of criminal charges. Cpl. Jolene Garland is Media Relations Officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and we reached her in St. John's.
A recreational group in Western Newfoundland is being honoured for its work in promoting its favorite activity. Given the time of year, you're thinking maybe soccer? Mountain biking? But, no, these awards are for a snowmobile club - and presented in June. Western SnoRiders received a national excellence award at the International Snowmobile Congress in Green Bay, Wisconsin this past weekend, and the club also learned that it will be inducted in the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame. Glenn Green is president of Western SnoRiders. Bob Blundon is chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Snowmobile Federation, and vice-president of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations.
A company in Corner Brook is now offering rides around town, at a much cheaper rate than the taxi cabs. Island Exotic car rentals has been renting standard and luxury vehicles for about four years. But last week, it also started to offer rides around the city and the Humber Valley. Owner Devon Reid says he is now classified as a chauffeur service, whose drivers have Class Four licenses and proper insurance agreements to offer pre booked rides around the city. CBC's Colleen Connors stopped by his lot to learn more. She also spoke with Joe Vokey, who has been driving taxi in Corner Brook for more than forty years and now drives for City Cabs.
Grand Falls House was the site of many lavish dinner parties and receptions. Foreign dignitaries and business tycoons slept there. But most people who live in the community have never been inside Grand Falls House. That's about to change. On Wednesday, a couple hundred lucky people will get tickets to a garden party -- and tour -- of the historic building. Mary Kelly is the chair of the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society Special Events Committee.
People in this province can now see for themselves how their health is doing. The provincial government is giving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - aged 16 and older - access to their personal health record. The province made the announcement last week and it's encouraging people to sign up. Stephen Greene is vice-president of digital health, and chief information officer with NL Health Services.
50 years after the 3D puzzle first came on the scene, the Rubik's Cube is still going strong. Corner Brook had its first ever "Cubing" competition last week. The CBC’s Alex Kennedy was there and spoke with organizer Rebecca Milley and enthusiast Scott Langford..
A trio of hitchhiking visitors to the province has been getting a fair bit of attention over the past week. Maybe you've seen them, or their social media posts. The three men from Ontario have travelled from St. John's to Western Newfoundland, and today, they were to fly out of Deer Lake.
Bodybuilding is a sport that takes hard work and dedication, to enlarge the muscles. Sarbjot Singh Soora is a bodybuilder from Punjab, India. He recently represented Port Aux Basques at an international bodybuilding competition, where he placed second in the men's physique category.
Illegal drug use in Corner Brook is on the rise, according to a coordinator who regularly hands out naloxone kits. Police are warning people about the increase of dangerous drugs which may have caused two recent deaths in the city. The Safe Works Access Program - or "SWAP" - is dedicated to trying to keep drug users safe - and it's trying to keep up with demands for its services. Jessica Rex, SWAP's manager in Corner Brook spoke with the CBC's Colleen Connors. (*At 7:39 mark*): Meanwhile, The Canadian Red Cross has a free, online first aid course available to help people respond to opioid poisoning. Kimiko Hirakida is a first aid training partner with the organization, and she spoke with Bernice Hillier.
A woman in Western Newfoundland is raising concerns about accessibility at the new hospital in Corner Brook.But it's not what you think. The elevators are working. You don't have to take the stairs. But, for Laura Whitehorne, that's the trouble. Whitehorne has anxiety and doesn't feel comfortable in enclosed spaces. She doesn't use elevators. And, at the new hospital, she was told the stairs aren't an option.
It's a big weekend for dads in North America. Sunday is Father's Day, a time to celebrate the men who are helping raise our kids. We spoke with three fathers about their most important job as we pressed them for tips and wisdom about fatherhood. Mike McDonald is the dad of two on Newfoundland's west coast. Andy Barker has raised nine children in Grand Falls-Windsor, and Jacob Bradbury is a relocated west coast Newfoundlander now living in Ottawa - and he has an eight-MONTH-old!