Wawatay Native Communications Society facts for kids
Wawatay Native Communications Society, or just Wawatay, started in 1974. It was created by the people of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Northern Ontario, Canada. Wawatay helps Oji-Cree communities stay connected. They use radio, television, and newspapers. Their main goal is to keep the Oji-Cree language and culture strong. Wawatay's main office is in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. They also have smaller offices in Timmins and Thunder Bay.
Wawatay's mission statement says they want to use "appropriate technologies to meet the communication needs of people of Aboriginal ancestry in Northern Ontario." This means they use the best tools to help Indigenous people communicate. Wawatay is the main place for news in many far-off parts of Northern Ontario. The name "Wawatay" comes from the Oji-Cree word for the aurora borealis, also known as the Northern Lights.
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Wawatay Radio: Voices of the North
Wawatay runs two different radio networks. These networks help share news, music, and learning across Northern Ontario.
Wawatay Radio Network (WRN)
The Wawatay Radio Network (WRN) broadcasts news, talk shows, sports, and music. You can hear programs in both Indigenous languages and English. For many communities, the local WRN station is the only one they can easily listen to.
WRN operates these stations:
- 89.9 CKWT-FM Sioux Lookout, Ontario
- 106.7 CJWT-FM Timmins, Ontario
- And many repeater stations in other communities:
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You can also listen to WRN across Canada on Bell Satellite TV channel 962.
Wahsa Radio: Learning Through Airwaves
Wahsa Radio is another radio network. It broadcasts educational programs and important information. This network works with the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council. It helps people learn from a distance, especially in remote areas.
Wahsa Radio can be heard on these stations:
- 91.9 CIDE-FM Sioux Lookout, Ontario
- And many repeater stations:
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Wahsa Radio is also available across Canada on Bell Satellite TV channel 972.
Wawatay TV: Stories on Screen
Wawatay TV creates television shows for Indigenous people. These shows are broadcast across Canada on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Wawatay TV used to also share its programs on the Ontario Parliament Network in remote Northern Ontario communities.
Wawatay Television has made many different kinds of shows. These include documentaries about real-life topics, fun children's programs like Wawatay Kids TV, and outdoor adventure shows.
Wawatay News: Keeping Everyone Informed
Wawatay News is a newspaper that comes out twice a month. It also has an online version called Wawatay News Online. The newspaper is free for people living in 93 First Nations communities in Northern Ontario.
It is also sold in other Northern Ontario communities. People outside this area can subscribe to get a copy. Wawatay News prints 9,300 copies. It is read by over 58,000 Indigenous people.
