West coast radio moves toward self-sufficiency

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As a native communications outlet, the Northern Broadcasting Society in Terrace, British Columbia, has an objective to one day reach self-sufficiency.

At present, their efforts for reaching this goal consist of pre-taped radio programs and research into the establishment of community radio stations across northern B.C.

Native Broadcasting officially opened its door in the spring of 1985. The society receives core funding from the Secretary of State (federal government).

Operating out of a production centre in Terrace, Native Broadcasting pre-tapes radio shows that carry Native issues both locally and across northern B.C.

"We don't have live broadcast facilities yet, so what we do is pre-tape our native content radio programs at the centre and send them to CBC, who airs them for us. We also have air time with CJXW a local radio station in Terrace where we air Native issues Monday to Friday," says the general manager of Northern Broadcasting, Ray Jones.

Much of their radio programming is based on a news magazine format. A staff of about 12 people develop radio programs from local, national and international news regarding Native issues.

"With the local station, our format is a little different. Although we have a format that is based on current Native issues, we also intersperse it with music recorded by Native musicians," Jones commented.

Prior to the establishment of Northern Broadcasting, news on Native issues had always been heard from a non-Naive point of view on various radio stations across B.C. It was felt by concerned native groups working in the communications field that there was a definite need for Native content to be aired and broadcasted by Native people, thus the formation of the society.

"In mainstream society issues and concerns that regard Native people and organizations are covered by non-Native people. They don't always see it from a native perspective. With Northern Broadcasting, Native people have the opportunity now to deliver news and music themselves," says Native Broadcasting reporter/announcer, Linda Morven.

One of Northern Broadcasting's mandates is to establish radio stations in Native communities throughout northern B.C. Terrace was chosen as the location for the society to give Northern Broadcasting better access to reserves and Native communities and a central point for the community radio stations when they are established.

"Our main objective is self-sufficiency, but right now we are focusing more on the development of community radio, especially in northern B.C. The interest from Indian Bands in the area is slowly turning around for the better," says Jones.

In order to develop these community radio outlets, Northern Broadcasting applied for a grant from CEIC (Canada Manpower Job Training Program) to train Native individuals in all aspects of radio production.

After receiving the grant a 32-week training program was set up and according to Jones, the program is very necessary and working well.

"What we would like to see is Native people from the various reserves trained in radio. There are many different bands here and we want people from each reserve and community to be trained so that they can go back to their communities and report the news in their own Native language. We hope a person applying for training can speak his or her language so they can eventually go back to the community and run the radio (programming)."

The training program has just completed its second year and from 16 students enrolled 15 completed the course and graduated. "It's working very well," Jones said.

So far, Native Broadcasting received a tremendous response from the Native public. "We have an excellent response from Native people. On the program that I do many people comment and say they are learning from the programs. What we really have to try and push is the different Native languages so that all the Native communities can benefit from it," states Morven.

Northern Broadcasting is prt of the Native Communications Society of British Columbia that publishes the Kahtou provincial newspaper in Vancouver. Although Native Broadcasting represents only the northern half of B.C. Jones says they are a separate entity.

"Although our board members sit on the provincial board and Kahtou represents the whole province, we are radio, and seven of the board members are from northern B.C."

Although they have been only two years in existence, Jones sees daylight at the end of the tunnel. He believes it won't be long before they have radio outlets broadcasting Native issues across northern British Columbia, and eventually, their goal is self-sufficiency.