The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) is a news and communications society dedicated to serving the news and information needs of Indigenous people across Canada.
Incorporated in 1983 under the Alberta Societies Act, AMMSA has steadfastly maintained its commitment to the quality of its products and its people and has served as the model for other Aboriginal communications societies.
Our Mission
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society is independent and committed to facilitating the exchange of information reflecting Aboriginal culture to a growing and diverse audience.
AMMSA is dedicated to providing objective, mature and balanced coverage of news, information and entertainment relevant to Indigenous issues and peoples while maintaining profound respect for the values, principles and traditions of Indigenous peoples.
Organizational History
1983
Windspeaker, a monthly news publication, was established in 1983, intended to serve the Aboriginal people of northern Alberta.
1986
AMMSA launches CFWE-FM radio, Alberta's first and most extensive Aboriginal broadcaster. It began as a radio station located in Edmonton for broadcast through a satellite network to 48 communities and settlements throughout northern Alberta (and across North America via satellite). CFWE radio continues to provide a wide range of programs to listeners, now across Alberta. Visit the website at http://www.cfweradio.ca/ to Listen Live. CJWE-FM radio is soon to launch for the southern part of the province.
1990
With a 100 percent cut in federal funding to Indigenous news publications in 1990, nine of the 11 Aboriginal papers across Canada under the Native Communications Program closed their doors. Windspeaker was the only publication west of Ontario to survive the federal cuts and was challenged to fill the void created by the demise of these other publications.
1993
On its 10th anniversary, Windspeaker refocused its editorial coverage and repositioned itself to become Canada's first and only provider of national Aboriginal news, information and opinion.
"Back in 1993 we put our faith in our staff to transform Windspeaker into a national forum that would be supported by readers through subscriptions and, in time, by advertisers," said Publisher and Windspeaker Founder Bert Crowfoot.
Also in 1993, Alberta Sweetgrass became the second publication launched by AMMSA, replacing Windspeaker as the organization’s provincial publication as Windspeaker took on a national readership. Alberta Sweetgrass was community focused with a grassroots appeal, making it extremely popular with Alberta's Indigenous readers.
1996
In October 1996, AMMSA launched Saskatchewan Sage, a publication designed specifically to serve the Aboriginal people of Saskatchewan.
AMMSA also launched its first website: www.ammsa.com which now houses the organization’s extensive archives.
1997
In May of 1997, AMMSA launched Raven’s Eye, a publication specifically for the Aboriginal people of British Columbia and Yukon.
2000
AMMSA digitized all of the published articles in its paper products Windspeaker and Alberta Sweetgrass, dating back to 1983 and makes them available online as part of an archive of 20,000+ news and information articles. These archives have grown to more than 30,000 articles.
2002
In January 2002, AMMSA launched Ontario Birchbark, a monthly publication to serve the Aboriginal people of Ontario.
2009
CFWE radio launches in urban centres Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
2016
Not an organization to shy away from embracing technology, AMMSA abandoned the limitations of producing paper products, making the decision to increase its outreach to readers through a new website at Windspeaker.com More news with no subscription costs for readers.