This call was very important, because he is leaving for Washington, DC this Sunday, January 18^th for the inauguration (Swearing-in) of President Barack Obama.

Obama's inauguration will commence Tuesday afternoon, January 20^th.

Lyall says that he is really stoked (excited), and he will, along with seven other RCMP members be representing Canada, but foremost the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He says they leave this Sunday, the inauguration again will be this Tuesday, and he will be back home in Ottawa the following Wednesday.

As for his duties during this historic moment, Lyall says that it will be decided at the Canadian Embassy prior to Obama's swearing-in.

He also says that he is privileged to represent Canada, the RCMP, Labrador, and especially Nunatsiavut. He then gave a hi to all of his family and friends in Labrador.

With his permission, we will surely speak with him again upon his arrival from Barack Obama's inauguration of his witnessing of the historic moment.

So be sure to tune in again, to hear what Lyall says.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government will be presenting their Federal Budget on Tuesday, January 27^th.

Aboriginal groups from across Canada and Members of Parliament (or MP's) presented proposals in the pre-budget consultation process.

Todd Russell is the Memeber of Parliament for Labrador.

He says he has met with different groups and leaders on the Labrador coast, including Jim Lyall, the President of the Nunatsiavut Government.

Russell says his proposal to Harper's government included money for more housing, better roads and improvements to the Employment Insurance program in Labrador.

Does this sound familiar?

Nunatsiavut and Upper Lake Melville have been suffering through blizzard conditions for the past couple of days.

OK radio decided to call up each community on the north coast to find out how they're coping with these extreme weather conditions.

In Rigolet, Town Manager Sarah Blake says everything is running smoothly in their community and the weather hasn't affected much except for their daycare and school, which are both closed today.

Blake says she hasn't heard any complaints about the weather as everyone in Rigolet is used to this type of weather and there is nothing you can do about it.

John Andersen is the Recreation Director in Makkovik and he says due to the very cold weather conditions on the coast all the businesses have closed in town.

But he says he has not heard any complaints of home owner's water lines freezing yet.

Andersen says there is a lot more snow covering the ground compared to last year at this time.

And he adds that Tuesday was the last day that flights were able to make it into town.

Next, OKâlaKatiget spoke to Judy Decker who is the AngajukKâk for Hopedale.

She says Amos Comenius Memorial School was closed this morning and so were other businesses in town.

She says their last flight into Hopedale was on Tuesday, January 13^th and people are waiting for their E.I and Social Assistance checks to come in the mail.

Decker says she did not get any calls from residents about water freeze ups.

In Postville, AngajukKak Keith Decker says the weather forecast calls for better conditions tomorrow.

But today it's stormy with high winds and it's very cold.

Because of the weather, the school is closed, along with some departments of the Nunatsiavut Government, but his office is still open.

Decker says residents haven't received any mail for two or three days because the mail plane has not been able to arrive for some time due to the weather.

He says some people still use the old system of receiving their cheques by air mail.

So, their EI, Social Assistance or old age pension will arrive late due to the weather, causing hardship for some people.

Sarah Erickson is the AngajukKâk for the Nain Inuit Community Government.

She says things have been pretty good in terms of calls from people who might have water-line freeze-ups because they haven't had any yet.

The only call they had was from someone requesting their water be shut-off because they won't be home.

Jacob Larkin is the Principal at the Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain.

He says they had the school closed yesterday for grades K – 3 in the morning and for grades K – 7 in the afternoon.

As for today, the school is closed all day for all grades.

So, let's hope the weather improves, but in the mean time, we're Labradorian's, so we can take it!

Garth Reid is the Marine & Air Transport Supervisor for Vale Inco.

He says the four groups began information sessions regarding the upcoming winter shipping season for the Voisey's Bay Project in Makkovik on January 11^th and Rigolet on the 12^th.

The icebreaker, Umiak I will make it's first run into Edwards Cove on the 22^nd of this month.

Unfortunately though, due to the weather, the group was unable to continue their travels along the coast.

So they returned to Goose Bay from Rigolet where they remain stuck today.

Reid says the information sessions will resume when the weather improves and then they will be traveling to Postville, Hopedale, Natuashish and Nain.

That town is Postville.

For more information we spoke to Wilfred Lane the Conservation Officer with the Nunatsiavut Government.

He says to find out where the caribou are, they go online and check out the Maps of Caribou Migrations.

Lane says the satelite map shows that nothing is close right now.

He says caribou usually migrate to the Harp Lake area, which is north of his community.

And he says when the caribou are in that area, the hunters from Postville travel to the Adlatok Bay area or to the Border Beacon area.

Lane says last February hunters were able to get caribou, so they're hoping for fresh caribou meat sometime next month, adding that the caribou have not been close to the Postville area for the last seven to eight years.

In other Postville news, AngajukKak Keith Decker says next week the community's Inuit Community Government expects the co-chair of Cain's Quest snowbile race in town for a meeting.

He says the purpose of the visit is to straighten out some problems with the route for Cain's Quest, which will be going through Postville in March.

The ICG will meet with Cain's Quest's Vice President Todd Kent to discuss problems that might arise when snowmobilers arrive in Postville.

Decker says the Inuit Community Government will meet to work out other things like finding people experienced at the check lines and to check whether there is enough fuel for the snowmobilers to purchase in the Community.

John Andersen is the Recreation Director.

He says ads have been sent to the communities on the north coast to be posted for any team who is interested in taking part.

Last year, the towns of Rigolet, Postville and Hopedale entered their local teams.

He says its the high cost of air travel that keeps more teams from participating in any tournaments, but he still hopes to see more entries from other communities in the tournament this year.