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Speech
Notes for an address
by Rita Cugini
Regional Commissioner for Ontario
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
to the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
10th Anniversary Gala
Winnipeg, Manitoba
September 12, 2009
(This speech may have been altered during delivery)
It is a pleasure – indeed, a great honour – to join you for these special anniversary celebrations. I am delighted to be here representing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC’s) Chairman, Konrad von Finckenstein. He regrets he is unable to take part in these festivities and has asked me to send his best regards.
I welcome this opportunity to bring greetings from the Commission and to congratulate you for a decade of outstanding public service. It’s very rewarding for the CRTC to see how the promise and possibilities of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s (APTN’s) initial licence application have translated into concrete results 10 years later.
The thousands of hours of programming produced by, for and about Aboriginal people by the talented women and men here tonight have enriched the cultural life of this country beyond our hopes and expectations. As the world’s first national Aboriginal broadcaster, you have made all Canadians proud.
But more than just earning praise and the recognition of your peers, APTN has truly advanced the goals of the Broadcasting Act to preserve and foster the cultural identity of Aboriginal peoples, and promote their special place within Canadian society.
For the first time, Aboriginal Canadians are seeing their news, their history, their artistic and sports achievements reflected in their television programming. Whether they watch documentaries, dramas, children’s programs or educational programs, they are seeing culturally sensitive stories told from an Aboriginal viewpoint that reflects the interests and aspirations of Aboriginal people.
Not only does APTN’s programming keep the past alive in the hearts and minds of its viewers, it provides an Aboriginal context for contemporary events in the world around us. With news bureaus representing every region of the country, your news and current affairs shows will have the country covered when it comes to keeping your viewers up to date on the latest developments.
The importance of this programming to Aboriginal people has been reinforced repeatedly, such as your coverage of the recent election of a new Grand Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and National Aboriginal Day activities.
The CRTC is very encouraged by your plans to produce more live specials in the coming years, as well as commissioning new Aboriginal-language programs from the regions. We look forward to seeing your 2010 Olympic coverage, which will offer a unique Aboriginal perspective on the Games to the world.
APTN has provided much more than a new service to media consumers. Equally critical, the network has become a magnet for Aboriginal talent from every corner of the country. A new generation of gifted researchers, writers, reporters, producers and on-air stars has claimed its rightful place in the broadcast firmament.
The network has also nurtured an independent production sector in this country. Numerous small, Aboriginal production companies from coast-to-coast-to-coast would probably not exist today were it not for APTN's support.
You are providing training and mentorship to Aboriginal youth interested in production careers – which will lead to economic and employment opportunities among tomorrow’s Aboriginal champions. These future broadcasters will equip Aboriginal communities with skilled communicators who can contribute to, and interact with, the national and global economies.
What has especially impressed me is that you have reached out to mainstream broadcasters to ensure Aboriginal people are not only seen on the air, but are employed behind the scenes by these broadcasters as well.
I’ve had first-hand experience with this and know how this collaboration can work. For a short time, I represented Alliance Atlantis on the Strategic Alliance of Broadcasters for Aboriginal Reflection (SABAR). SABAR’s internships, scholarships and partnerships with Aboriginal organizations like APTN are helping to advance the goal of all media outlets in this country to increase Aboriginal reflection in Canadian broadcasting.
Perhaps most promising, APTN programs and those produced by mainstream broadcasters are opening all Canadians’ eyes to the wealth of Canada’s Aboriginal heritage. And the contemporary contributions Aboriginal Canadians continue to make to the life of this country.
In short, APTN has been a powerful catalyst for change. And change is what you can look forward to in the decade ahead.
As you have no doubt already discovered in your network’s short history, it’s the one constant in this industry. Each technological innovation introduces both challenges and opportunities waiting to be seized.
One such opportunity – just around the corner, in 2011 – is the transition from analog to digital signals.
The CRTC applauds you for your innovative approach to this issue. APTN is one of the early pioneers in the area of “Freesat,” which will enable the continuation of conventional television signals outside of major urban centres. With support from Heritage Canada, the network is working with Bell-TV to provide dishes and receivers to communities across the North.
This will avoid the need to replace aging analog transmitters in the region with new digital versions. As important, it will ensure that Northern residents continue to receive your broadcast signals. This is a win-win for everyone involved.
And of course, there was the April 2008 launch of the high-definition version of APTN. I’m happy to note that Rogers has recently added APTN HD to its high-definition channels.
But enough about business matters. That’s a discussion for another day.
Tonight, we are here to celebrate the past 10 years of progress and to pay tribute to the outstanding people in this room whose dedication made it possible.
On behalf of all the Commissioners at the CRTC, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your hard work and determination to make the past decade so successful for APTN.
And to wish you every success in the coming years as this important broadcast network continues to provide inspiring programming that gives voice to Aboriginal people – and makes Canada a better place for us all.
Thank you.
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