Happy Anniversary ? AMMSA

Page 11

The AMMSA newspaper will be celebrating its first anniversary on March 18,1984, one year after AMMSA's first publication date. We wish to share this anniversary with our readers, subscribers, advertisers and our funding agencies.

History of AMMSA

"A New Dawn in Aboriginal Communications" became a reality on January 23, 1983, when the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) was incorporated under Alberta's Society Act.

Prior to the incorporation of the new Aboriginal communications society, the employees of the defunct Alberta Native Communications Society (ANCS) had the courage, determination and commitment to guarantee that the vehicle for Aboriginal communities in northernAlberta would not be scuttled because of the breakdown in negotiations between the federal and provincial governments and the defunct board of the ANCS.

Taking up the torch the staff members of ANCS began a series of meetings in mid-December at the Canadian native Friendship Centre, Edmonton. At these meetings the 23 staff members appointed spokesmen for the group: Bert Crowfoot, Laurent Roy, Vivian Roller, Gabe Deschamps, and Rocky Woodward.

The five appointed spokesmen, acting as the executive of the group, began a series of discussions with the federal Secretary of State and the provincial Native Secretariat.

After lengthy discussions with government officials and staff strategy meetings, the final proposal was submitted to both levels of governments and was accepted in principle with the specifics to be agreed upon.

In these discussions with the governments it was agreed that the new working board of the communications society would be appointed by the governments.

The appointed working board members were Joe Couture, Elmer Ghostkeeper, Gordon Williams, Phil Fraser, Zella Harris, Paul Byrne, Wayne Skeen and Merle Rudiak.

It is of importance to mention that the working board members were all volunteers willing to give their energies and expertise to the newly incorporated society.

The working members and the six founding members ? Bert Crowfoot, rocky Woodward, Vivian Roller, Gabe Deschamps, Laird Mitchell and Laurent Roy ? held meetings in the Canadian native Friendship Centre discussing the organizational structure, the administrative and operational mechanisms of the new society.

The interim executive of the new society, Bert Crowfoot (president), Laurent Roy (vice-president), Vivian Roller (secretary), Gabe Deschamps (treasurer) and the two founding members, Rocky Woodward and Laird Mitchell, agreed to relinquish their executive positions to the new appointed working board members.

This legal transaction empowered the new working members to elect their executive from their own caucus and at the same time become members of the society.

The elected executuve of the society were Joe Couture (president), Elmer Ghostkeeper (vice-president),; and Gordon Williams (secretary/treasurer).

With the establishment of the board and staff positions agreed upon, the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA), Was well on its way to serving the communication needs of the Aboriginal people.

Transitional Phase

The main objective of the new society, AMMSA, is to provide the three arms of communications: newspaper, television programming and radio programming to ensure that the communication needs and aspirations of the Aboriginal people in northern Alberta are met.

The first phase of AMMSA was the newspaper which published its first issue on March 18, 1983, operating out of the Secretary of State's office.

Joe Couture, president of AMMSA, in a message printed in the first issue stated,

"AMMSA proposes several things. It intends to pick up on a tradition of meeting Native media needs in the area north of Red Deer that was begun more than a decade ago.

"I know, for I was there when that tradition began. The paper will be printed according to the highest professional standards, and will stay away from unwarranted political nfluence.

"The board of AMMSA has committed itself to Native control, accountability and cooperation. We intend to give careful attention to legal and financial conditions, to the ususal processes required by government funding agencies.

"Our philosophy is dignity of all persons, on the fundamental equality of all persons. These beliefs are the bedrock of what media is all about."

Using these statements as guidelines the print media personnel operating out of a cramped office managed to meet deadlines and publish AMMSA on a weekly basis. On April 1, 1983, the homeless AMMSA board and staff finally leased office space located on 10123-107 Avenue, Edmonton.

The administration and print media department were established and the first phase of the electronic media was initiated when Jeff Bear was hired March 8, 1983 on contractual agreement to start developing radio and television programming and its broadcasting systems.

The guidelines were established by the board members and with the eager staff of AMMSA, set out on a course of creating professional communications organizations.

Achievements

The AMMSA working board, which was appointed by the federal and provincial government officials became full-fledged members of the AMMSA and at the same time were invested by the interim executive as the society's board by the governments. The board became an independent governing body.

After a series of board meetings and executive meetings, the society began to develop policies governing its operation and permanent positions were established

From a working board of eight, the society has expanded to 12 full members who are also the boad of directors of the society.

After some growing pains during the transitional phase, the print media department, administration wing and the electronic media department, in cooperation with the board, accomplished most of the society's objectives and goals.

The print media department produces issues of the newspaper, AMMSA, on a weeklybasis, upgraded the mailing list of our subscribers and readers, encouraged freelance writers from northern Alberta, set up an advertising department to generate revenue, and above all, has tried to meet the communications needs of northern Aboriginal citizens.

Through the efforts and commitment of the board and staff, the society has established credibility among the funding agencies, the urban Native organizations, and most importantly, the Aboriginal peoples of northern Alberta.

Furture Plans

The electronic media department of AMMSA, under Jeff Bear, has already produced one half-hour radio current affairs show on CKUA (ACCESS Radio) and plans to continue with radio to the point where AMMSA is producing a weekly radio show for Antives in northern Alberta.

Negotiations are currently underway to receive funding for television programming produced by AMMSA.