2 min read
Myth #2: No restrictions on reserve lands
Myth #2: First Nations have no restrictions on reserve lands Reality: This is another myth I frequently hear in my workshops. It supports the...
By Juanita Muwanga
Gimaa radio CHYF 88.9, which broadcasts from M'chigeeng First Nation, started as a dream of the late Carl Beam, an internationally known Indigenous artist whose works dealt with colonialism, language, and the spirit. As a child he was sent to Garnier Residential school and learned firsthand the power of language, and what happens to a people when their own are denied them.
Community radio has helped preserve our culture and traditions and is relatively inexpensive to set up and get going. The programming created helps us better understand and value our cultural identity. Not only is it a great place for language revitalization, but it is also an important cultural hub.
Here are 7 not-so-secret advantages of First Nations Radio:
Anishinaabek peoples have been an oral culture for millennia, with storytelling held in high regard. As a vehicle for language preservation, radio is a priceless tool that captures events and moments with first speakers and relays them for those who do not have the chance to interact with elders on a daily basis. Additionally, preserving language in a written way is important but there are many languages, such as Latin, that are written but not spoken thereby losing the vitality of being a living language.
Being able to hear Indigenous languages constantly on the radio with many speakers and topics allows listeners to create their own immersive language experience, which leads to greater levels of fluency.
Community radio is a great way to inform folks about what’s going on in the community and provides a platform for sharing opinions. The information is shared with listeners by journalists who are community members - the very fabric of the community.
Community radio is the voice for local businesses. In smaller centres, having a direct line to community members can be a great, cost-effective marketing tool to broadcast promotional material.
Community radio stations are the best place to hear local bands/artists who might not get air time on a mainstream station. Musicians are able to submit their albums and have their music broadcast. So if you are an artist submit your content to a local station near you.
Journalists get to play music and talk about issues close to their hearts. Some of the callers are hilarious, the regular contributors can feel like best friends, and even on the bad days, it's still a lot of fun.
Rather than being responsible for the interests of advertisers, our main interest is the community. We cover topics as diverse as the community we live in. We serve as a representation and reflection of our listeners.
Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. provides information on this blog for free as a resource for those seeking information about Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Readers looking for more detailed information, or who have questions, can sign up for our fee-for-service training. Also, ICT encourages everyone who reads this information to use their best judgment given their own circumstances, vulnerabilities, and needs, and to contact a consulting or legal professional if you have more specific questions.
2 min read
Myth #2: First Nations have no restrictions on reserve lands Reality: This is another myth I frequently hear in my workshops. It supports the...
2 min read
The reality? Indigenous People can apply for social housing programs offered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (“CMHC”). CMHC offers...
3 min read
Did you know that adequate housing was recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Did you know almost one in six Indigenous people...