FM radio station up and running

Page 10

Tilting the microphone a little more in the direction of his powerful voice, Ray Whitstone, the new "Radio Guy" out at Onion Lake First Nation gets ready to start "another good day."

"That's what this new FM radio station - 97.7 KPR - is all about, waking up the people and trying to make them feel good. People really seem to like it and are getting up in the mornings just to listen to this program," said Whitstone.

It's no wonder that people on the reserve are happy and excited about the new community programming. It does have something for everyone out there in Indian Country, Whitstone said.

"Community programming really is for everyone, from our tiny tots right up to our Elders, people who think and speak in fluent Cree. I try to talk as much Cree as I can to liven up our people, everybody gets a good listen," he said.

As the new general manager of KPR, Kitaskenow Radio Productions, Whitstone has his work cut out for him.

"You have to be an early bird to do radio, a night hawk to do Round Dance and have a lot of stamina to take on a three day Pow Wow," said this well known commentator.

Onion Lake was given an FM broadcasting license in the 1980s but nothing really jelled until Whitstone stepped in and came up with a working plan for a station. He presented a proposal with a basic programming format and cost to Chief Wally Fox and council about three months ago, got approved and set up to the tune of about $25,000, with equipment purchased from a company in Saskatoon.

Housed in a booth over top of the medical center, the location and schedule meshes perfectly with Whitstone's full time day job as medical transport officer for the reserve.

"Kitaskenow is Cree for 'our land, our country' and this is a volunteer position for me, a good way to give back to our people. I really like helping all the families and little kids out there get ready for school in the morning, play them little looney tune pow wow songs, a little waker-upper kids, drum songs and round dance songs in Cree," he said.

The current fav for the junior set is what Whitstone calls the pow wow Bat Man song, "go ask your mother for 50 cents but do it in Cree!"

During his early bird stint from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. in the morning, his request line was ringing off the hook with locals asking for birthday dedications and musical trips down memory lane.

"The people just love hearing our traditional round dance music as well as the Metis fiddle-and-spoon foot stomping kind of sound. We have people of the Hank Williams days, Loretta Lynn days and Kitty Wells as well as today's artists like Shania and Garth. Everyone loves the looney tunes in the morning. I tell the kids, in English and in Cree, eat your porridge, get ready for school and catch that big yellow bus. Get up, get going, it's another good day here in Kitaskenow," he said.

As well as working to build a really comprehensive CD library for the station, Whitstone is also showing the ropes to new young upcoming commentators.

Still in its infancy, the new station is broadcasting in the morning, from noon until one with school announcements, news and interviews with Elders and community members. Request lines will be open in the evening from 8:00 until 10:00 with a youth show on Wednesdays from 4:30 until 6:00 pm.

Saturdays will be a mixed bag featuring local and traditional artists, country music and church announcements and a gospel show from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Sunday nights are reserved for radio bingo.

Plans for the future, says Whitstone, include broadcasting 10 to 12 hours a days and the possible addition of a television studio down the road.

Making one final adjustment to the new microphone, Whitstone tells his listeners to "be positive, hug your kids and stay tuned to 97.7 KPR, cause it's another great day and this show's for you!"