First Nation hitting the airwaves

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For William Yuzicapi, it's a labor of love. Or a love of labor.

No matter which, his two-year project-establishing a community radio station on the Okanese First Nation-is about to come alive by the end of May.

That's when CHXL-FM, broadcasting at 95.3 on FM radio, will officially take to the air.

For Yuzicapi, who's worked in Regina's commercial radio for the past decade, it's an opportunity that doesn't come by every day.

When it begins broadcasting, it will be only the third community radio station in Saskatchewan, and the first outside of Regina or Saskatoon.

The fact that it will be a community station means listeners will have a greater opportunity to influence what music or programs the station will broadcast than they would with a standard commercial radio station, Yuzicapi said.

"It's a real unique position to be in," he said. "It's going to be a fun opportunity and challenge. To have someone come off the street and say 'I have an idea for a show' and turn that idea into an actual show . . . that's going to be pretty unique."

A community radio station also has a looser format than most commercial radio stations. While commercial radio specializes in one format-all talk, adult-oriented radio, golden oldies or country, for example-a community radio station's format is for the most part set by the listeners and by the station's staff.

"With a commercial station, a listener can call up and say, 'Can you play this kind of music?' and the guy at the other end can say 'We'll take that under advisement,' but they don't-and often can't-do a darn thing about it.

"If someone made the same call at this station, the first thing I would ask is 'Do you have this kind of music? If you do, would you bring it down to the station so we can program it into the computer? And maybe, would you want your own show?'"

And if one of your suggestions involves teaching traditional Native languages on the air, Yuzicapi really wants to hear from you.

"We're going ahead with our Listen and Learn program," he said. "We have a few people who talk Cree fluently. We'll be inviting them into the studios and producing a show, for conversational Cree, on a daily basis.

"If the interest is there, we can branch that out into other Native languages," he added.

And while having a say in what will be broadcast is one advantage of a community radio station, another is that any financial success experienced by the station will also benefit the community.

"With a commercial radio station, all profits from advertising go towards the station owners. With a community station, all profits are handed over to a non-profit organization.

Five board of director members will then reinvest that money in the listenership area, mostly through social projects, Yuzicapi said.

"It could be, for example, by donating playground equipment, or by having the station pay for a busload of kids to the movies . . . any community enhancement project that the board deems worthwhile. And in turn , the station becomes a co-sponsor of that event."

So far, Yuzicapi, the operations manager, is the station's only staff person.

"We're looking at hiring two other full-time staff, probably for an afternoon show as well as a morning news host," he said.

"We'll also be looking at hiring two or three part-timers, and we'll be tapping the INCA (Indian Communications) program at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College for some internships. The students have to do their internships by doing their practicums at a real radio station, so this would be an opportunity for them."

Earlier this month, the radio station began test broadcasts on its new frequency.

"We're still waiting for some equipment to arrive. Then we have to install it and make sure that it's all working properly."

Band members are also eager to see the station start its official broadcasts, said two of the First Nation's councillors.

"This venture shows how Okanese has grown," said Councillor Raynie Tuckanw. "It's something to be proud of . . . that educated members of our band can provide an important service for our people." Councillor Ron Elliott agrees. "Personally, I can't wait until it's officially on the air."