Two positions within Nunatsiavut Government were filled recently.

Kim Saunders is Human Resources Manager for Nunatsiavut Government.

She says Shannon Mitchell is Administrative Assistant for Inuit Pathways program for a term period.

And in the meantime Julia Ford was hired last month as the Youth Assistant for the Youth Department.

Saunders adds that interviews for a Maternity Leave Replacement for Archaeologist and Computer Support Specialist were also held.

The interviewing committee will have a decision next week on the  successful applicants.

Also, interviews will be conducted within the next week for positions of Team Leader in North West River and a Licensing Clerk.

The documentary film “Staking the Claim” has been completed for some time now.

It is a 3 part mini documentary series examining how Inuit have negotiated and reached land claims agreement in the past thirty years.

Kath Clarida Fry is Director of the film.

She says although it’s completed there has been some minor set backs.

The original launch date had to be changed because some Inuttitut voice-overs in parts of the documentary did not convey feelings or emotions of the people in the film.

She says the launch will now take place in April of this year.

Clarida-Fry says a launch of the film may take place in Nain but that all depends on the budget.

Definite launches will take place in Ottawa and Iqaluit, including in a Town in the Western or Eastern regions, which Town it’ll be has not been decided yet.

She adds that the film will be in schools by September 2008.

President of Nunatsiavut, William Andersen is no longer on a paid leave of absence since yesterday afternoon.

Tony Andersen is Acting President of Nunatsiavut Government.

He says this decision was reached yesterday at an Executive Council Teleconference meeting.

The five Executive Council members in attendance all agreed that William Andersen should not receive a salary when he is facing criminal charges.

One Executive Council member was absent but was informed about the decision.

Tony Andersen says there should be a press release on this issue by noon today.

In the meantime Tony Andersen will remain Acting President until an election is held later in the year.

The final ratification vote payout of $5000.00 will be distributed tomorrow.

Dotty Ford is Accounting Clerk with Nunatsiavut Government.

She confirms that the money will in fact be distributed tomorrow, February 8th.

Ford says cheques will be sent via Norex to the Community Liaison Officers along the coast for distribution, and the rest will be mailed to beneficiaries.

She adds that 977 beneficiaries born between May 27th, 1978 and May 26th, 1988 will receive this money.

The Labrador Institute in Goose Bay has an Executive Director finally.

Keith Chaulk took over his new role in November, 2007.

Chaulk says some of his duties is to respond to the needs of Labrador, mainly in the areas of research, education and outreach with Labrador communities.

Some of the on-going projects the Institute has been involved with over the years are the Creative Arts Festivals and the Music Festivals.

Chaulk says the International Polar Year Research office in Ottawa asked the Institution to facilitate an International Polar Year office in Labrador.

He says that the Labrador Institute is co-hosting a climate change conference in Northwest River next month.

Another initiative the Institute is looking at is for a professor from MUN to teach Inuktitut courses being offered by the Native Education Program this spring.

There is also a possibility of visiting archeologists to come to Labrador next year to teach courses in this discipline.

Chaulk who was formally a biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service replace Tim Borlase who left a couple of years ago.