Canada needs more Indigenous voices in broadcasting, summit told

GATINEAU, Que.–Canada needs to incubate more Indigenous content creators going forward, a conference was told on Tuesday, Oct. 8. It was the first day of a three-day meeting of Public Broadcasters International (PBI), hosted by CBC/Radio-Canada. The opening session on a day devoted to Indigenous programming was titled Current State–Canada. Four panelists gave their opinions on where Indigenous content stands today. Catherine Tait, president and CEO of CBC, pointed out that her organization has had a northern service since 1958, helping people reflect on their stories and tell those stories to non-Indigenous audiences. Kerry Swanson, CEO of the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), spoke of the way resources have grown over the years. The ISO was founded in 2017 and didn’t really begin operations until the next year. It initially had funding of less than half a million dollars. Now it gets $13 million in federal funding and is administering an additional $10 million of the Canada Media Fund’s (CMF) Indigenous program. “So in just six years’ time, we’ve gone from about $450,000 a year in operating funding to about $24 million a year as of next fiscal,” she stated. Swanson predicted the ISO will garner a further $14 million once the provisions of the Online Streaming Act take hold. CMF president and CEO Valerie Creighton called for a change to the mindset of colonial organizations, while extending kudos to CBC and the Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN). “Barriers to access in the north are really quite strong,” she reminded her listeners, citing the difficulties storytellers face in accessing the means to create content. Mike Omelus, executive director of content and strategy for APTN, said his network features more than 50 productions a year. It is vital to have other players work with them. “How do we keep the momentum going?,” he asked. “It’s partnerships, it’s doing as much as we can to discover new Indigenous storytellers. That’s part of APTN’s mandate.” Tait agreed there must be a change in mindset in old colonial institutions. A top-down approach no longer works, she said. She noted that in the more than 20 years the PBI has been meeting worldwide, this was the first day devoted to discussion of Indigenous programming. Swanson revealed that her office is now negotiating for funding for capacity building. Instead of limiting funding to actual programs, it can now offer Indigenous content creators money for studio space and similar non-programing expenditures. ISO’s investments need to line up with its mandate, she added. Omelus knows what he wants to see in the future. Original content, not shows where languages are superimposed on the English dialogue. “More content in the Indigenous language,” he opined. “Not a version, not a dub, but more content to let people hear the beauty of the language and to help those critically endangered languages not only to survive, but fully one year down the line to thrive.” Creighton backed him up in that goal. “If we’re not on the side of the storytellers, whose side are you on?,” she asked. At the conclusion of the discussion, Tait expressed hope that there will be more Indigenous employees at the Crown corporation. It currently has around 130 workers who identify as Indigenous. The broadcaster’s CEO said she wants to see Indigenous people working in every department of CBC/Radio-Canada. ppark@thewirereport.ca

Canada needs more Indigenous voices in broadcasting, summit told

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By Paul Park
| October 8, 2024

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Canada needs more Indigenous voices in broadcasting, summit told

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