Radio station may broadcast this year

Page 3

A new radio station broadcasting in Cree may soon be on the airwaves as the newly formed Wabasca/Demarais Broadcasting Society sets about raising community support and financial backing for their project.

The Society was formed by local residents who saw a need for a community news media to give daily information on community happenings. It would also give local agencies and governments a channel to advertise and promote their programs.

Residents felt this media should utilize the Cree language as much as possible to increase the area's pride and interest in the Native culture, both Indian and Metis.

The WDBS proposal states "it is clear . . . that a low power FM radio station is the best means of providing this community with the information source it needs. (It) would provide news, public affairs, music, cultural and community events and information relevant to the Wabasca/Demarais area and the surrounding area. It is projected a population of 3,500 could receive the broadcasts."

The proposal points out the station would benefit the economic sector as well. A soon-to-be-built road linking Wabasca to Athabasca through Calling Lake will provide a market alternative to Slave Lake, 125 km. south and the closest large center.

Currently, communications in the area consist of a scattering of Edmonton AM stations whose signal in the area is weak; and the CBC-TV (including three hours in the morning of Aboriginal Radio & TV Society (ARTS) broadcasts from Lac La Biche). The print media consists of a local newsletter in English and outside publications. Telephones are few and scattered.

WDBS envisions a radio station on the air by the end of 1987 that will broadcast for three hours per day, increasing with program needs and abilities. It will broadcast mostly in Cree and cover a radius of 35 km. reaching Wabasca, Demarais, Sandy Lake and the surrounding reserves.

Progress so far has included establishment of the Society, obtaining a site, raising funds from local and national groups and initiating local and national fund-raising efforts.

Still to be completed is a technical evaluation of the site, filing of an application with the Federal Department of Communications and the Canadian Radio & Television Commission (CRTC); acquisition and assembly of all facilities including a building (ATCO Trailer), transmitter, studio, office equipment and supplies; selection and training of employees and volunteers; program development and further fund-raising.

All acquisitions are dependent upon adequate funding arrangements (some studio equipment has already been donated by Sunwapta Broadcasting Ltd.). Similarly, most training and program development is dependent on the acquisition of a facility.

These needs are offset by a list of local volunteers and the local Opportunity Corps technical training facility has agreed to aid with construction needs. ARTS has agreed to assist with some training.

Most importantly, Frontiers Foundation has provided a volunteer to assist in research, planning, development and management.

The board of directors includes Ray Yellowknee, former Wabasca Co-ordinator of Frontiers Foundation and Tom Barrons, a former volunteer with CKEV FM radio in Inuvik, NWT.

Yellowknee, newsletter publisher and potential trainee Larry Gladue and Wabasca Anglican Minister Jim Speer toured ARTS last week as part of an orientation session.

The Frontiers Foundation, a non-profit benevolent works institution based in Toronto, has been concerned mainly with helping communities with house construction programs by providing them with volunteer labour.

The Foundation should soon begin involving itself in helping communities by placing volunteers skilled in community research, planning and management. Thus creation of Frontier Foundation Northern Alberta Development Projects. The Wabasca/Demarais station is a development out of that phase of the Foundation.