Northern businesses stand out in television series

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"Venturing forth" is a phrase that means to take a risk and go out into the world.

Venturing Forth is also the title of a 13-part Aboriginal business television series focusing on economic development in First Nations communities across Canada.

The series premiered on Sunday, Feb. 4 on the Aboriginal People's Television Network (APTN).

The documentary crew for Venturing Forth went to Fort McMurray the first week in January to interview three local people and a partnership business.

"The reason I am doing so many in this area is that you have a good display of Aboriginal businesses that are very successful," said host/producer Brenda Chambers, referring to the fact that of the 39 segments, four will feature Fort McMurray.

The 30-minute show will have three 6-minute profiles per show.

"I did a story on Dave (Tuccaro) a year-and-a-half ago and I was amazed at the activity and the amount of successful Aboriginal business in this area," said Chambers, who is Vancouver-based. "I think it is an incredible community here."

The individuals to be profiled are Shirley Dunning, Doug Golosky, Dave Tucarro, and the business is the corridor Pipeline project.

"Venturing Forth," which will have a Sunday time slot with three repeats that day, is the first of its kind in Canada and will no doubt be a flag ship show for the APTN. The series will cost $650,000, with financial support coming from government, broadcasters and corporations.

"We will focus on the activities, aspirations, challenges and opportunities associated with the Aboriginal marketplace and the people driving it," noted Chambers, who recently made the jump from television to movies with an associate production role for "Skins," a story about two Native brothers coming to terms with their lives.

Chambers and Tucarro are board directors for the APTN.

"One reason the APTN was born was to show the positive stories of Aboriginal people instead of the negative ones," said Chambers.

Tucarro, president and CEO of Neegan Development Corporation and several other enterprises, said he is honored to be profiled on the APTN network.

"Hopefully, other young people getting into business can use these success stories for themselves in the future," said Tucarro. "And for the greater Canadian audiences, it shows them that the Aboriginal business is alive and well and a force that can be used for business and developing resources."