Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Ottawa, Ont. Canada - On June 5, 1998 Television Northern Canada (TVNC) submitted an application to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) for a license to broadcast a national aboriginal television network, to be called Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). On February 22, 1999, APTN was approved by the CRTC.

TVNC immediately began the full transformation of the network, which will be officially launched in September. The APTN will be a national television network by and about all aboriginal people across Canada. The presentation and uplink center for the network will be in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The final decision for the location of the center was made by the APTN Board of Directors, on May 4, 1999.

"Aboriginal people are an integral part of this country and there hasn't been much opportunity for our lives, our voices to be heard. The aboriginal network will allow us to be in control of our work", said 'North of 60's', Tina Keeper.

Presently the Television Northern Canada/Aboriginal Peoples Television Network is made up of 9 members and 6 associate members, 10 of whom are Aboriginal broadcasters. Also included is the Government of the Northwest Territories, Telesat, and three Educational broadcasters.

Full members are as follows: Inuit Broadcasting Corporation; Inuvialuit Communications Society; Northern Native Broadcasting, Yukon; OKalaKatiget Society; Taqramiut Nipingat Inc.; Native Communications Society of the Western NWT; Government of the Northwest Territories; Yukon College; and the National Aborigional Communications Society. Associate members are: CBC North; Kativik School Board; Labrador College; Northern Native Broadcasting, Terrace, BC; WaWatay Communications Society; and Telesat Canada.

Television uplink facilities are located in Iqaluit, NWT, Yellowknife, NWT, and Whitehorse, YT. The TVNC signal is re-broadcast over the air and received in 97 communities across northern Canada, distribution via the Anik E-1 satellite and via cablevision where available.