Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast area	Northern Saskatchewan
Frequency	Varies by location
Branding	MBC Radio
Programming
Language(s)	English Cree Dënesųłiné
Format	First Nations community radio
History
First air date	1985; 40 years ago (1985)

The Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation, also known as MBC Radio, is a special radio network in Canada. It serves First Nations and Métis communities in the province of Saskatchewan. The main radio station for MBC is CJLR-FM, located in La Ronge.

MBC Radio reaches over 70 communities across Saskatchewan. This includes big cities and smaller towns. You can also listen to MBC Radio online through its streaming audio service. The current leader of MBC is Deborah Charles. She is the first woman to be a CEO of an Indigenous radio network in Canada.

How MBC Radio Started

Early Radio for Northern Communities

Back in the 1960s, the government of Saskatchewan had a radio show called Northern News. It was broadcast from Prince Albert. This show was for fishermen and trappers in the northern parts of the province. However, people often had trouble hearing it because of poor radio signals. Also, the show did not have much content for Indigenous peoples.

In 1973, the government tried to do better. They started a new Northern News program from La Ronge. This new show included more stories from the north. It also had important content in Indigenous languages like Cree and Michif. But this program stopped in 1982 when the government department that ran it closed down.

Later, in the late 1970s, CBC Radio also started a northern program called Keewatin Radio. This show had some northern stories. It was easier to hear because new radio transmitters were put in place. However, most of the stories were in English and came from Regina.

Creating MBC Radio

In 1983, the Canadian government started a program called the Northern Native Broadcast Access Program (NNBAP). This program helped fund and support Indigenous communication services. Its goal was to help keep Indigenous languages strong and allow Indigenous peoples to control their own media.

In 1984, a group was formed to plan a new radio service. They asked people in northern Saskatchewan what they wanted to hear on the radio. The results helped them understand what was needed. Later that year, the first board of directors for the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation was chosen.

MBC started a training program in 1984 to teach people basic radio skills. The very first MBC broadcast happened in February 1985. At first, most of MBC's shows were in English, with some Cree. In 1986, they started a more advanced training program. They focused on using more Indigenous languages and improving the technical skills of their staff.

Growing and Improving

When MBC first started, it relied on government funding. It also used CBC transmitters to send out its programs. Over time, MBC worked to become more independent. Today, MBC mainly gets its money from advertising and from bingo games broadcast on the radio.

In 1998, MBC also started making TV shows. They helped create the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). This was the first independent Indigenous TV network in Canada and the world. MBC has made many shows for APTN. One example is Heartbeat Of The Earth, a series about northern Indigenous peoples and their communities in Saskatchewan.

In 1996, the Saskatchewan Association of Aboriginal Broadcasters (SAAB) was formed. MBC played a big part in starting SAAB. This group helps all Indigenous broadcast stations in Saskatchewan.

What MBC Radio Offers

Today, MBC Radio broadcasts at least ten hours of Cree programming each week. It also broadcasts ten hours of Dënesųłiné programming weekly. MBC tries to use these languages in all its programs. This includes special shows, live event coverage, contests, and even commercials.

The station also broadcasts hockey games, including those of the La Ronge Ice Wolves team.

MBC uses a digital satellite system to send out its programs. This means it does not need to rely on ground systems. MBC also helps smaller, community-owned radio stations grow. It provides them with support and training when they need it.

Radio Frequencies

See Also

• List of radio stations in Saskatchewan