It's no joke: He just wanted to be on television

Page 19

When Nelson Bird once joked about someday hosting a Saskatchewan-based television program, little did he know he would have the last laugh.

On the day Bird made the comment, he was a long way from Saskatchewan. In the spring of 1997, he finished journalism school at the University of Regina. Shortly after that, he headed west to Victoria in search of a job. During journalism school Bird completed his semester-long internship with CHEK-TV in Victoria. Bird says he thought this would give him a shot at a job but, unfortunately, cut-backs were happening at the time.

"I was discouraged and frustrated," Bird said about the fact he spent nearly a year on the Island without work.

One evening, Bird and his girlfriend were watching Indigenous Circle on the CTV Network.

"I told Judy that someday I will have that job," he said. "I said it in kind of a joking way."

After a year of being frustrated, Bird and his partner decided to come back to Regina. Shortly after arriving home, the phone rang, and it was the news director from CTV.

"Alec Docking heard I was back in town," he said. "And asked me if I was interested in applying for the job."

Well, Mr. and Mrs. Bird didn't raise a fool - Nelson quickly applied for the job.

And then, as predicted, CTV offered him a job as a reporter and as host of the very program he jokingly said he would host, Indigenous Circle.

"I think CTV should be patted on the back for producing that one," said Jill Spelliscy, an associate professor at the University of Regina's journalism school. "No one else in the province is producing a show like that right now."

Spelliscy taught the tricks of the trade to Bird while he toiled away at J-School, an experience Bird with a laugh which is like "boot-camp," he said, remembering the long hours and tight deadlines.

Spelliscy says her former student is an excellent story teller.

"He cn look right at you and talk to you through a television with his quiet passion," she said. "I'm always amazed by students who can stand in front of a camera."

She says Bird is not pigeon-holing himself as an Aboriginal-only reporter. He gets out there and reports on other issues as well, Spelliscy adds.

And that's something Bird as made a concerted effort in doing.

"I didn't want to be the token Indian only doing Indian stories," said Bird. "I know I'm capable of doing general news."

"He gets past the spokesperson," said Shannon Avison, program coordinator for the Indian Communication Arts Program (INCA) at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College. "He gets to the people."

The INCA Program is where Bird got his first taste of journalism.

Avision says when she first met Bird, he had this quiet leadership about him. "He had a real kind of confidence, flare and energy about him," she said. "Other students saw him as a leader. A quiet, laid-back leader."

Bird says even with his success he knows there's room for improvement in his work. "I need to work on my writing and my voice," said the Peepeekisis band member. "The most difficult part is to write the story and keep the focus. It's tough to narrow it down."

Bird says he is critical of his work and looks for ways to get better."I want to see how my stories fit in with the rest of the newscast," he said. "Everyday is a learning experience."