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Vancouver Sun
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
5 top shows to watch as APTN celebrates 25 years of Indigenous stories
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Canadian broadcaster is the first national public television station for Indigenous peoples, and holds the same status as CBC TV, Radio-Canada and TVA. The station is found on regular cable services, in high definition on APTN HD and streaming on APTN Lumi. In celebration of its quarter-century milestone, a new channel called APTN Languages is launching with programming in at least 15 Indigenous languages from across Canada. Programs range from the cross-cultural cooking show Moosemeat and Marmalade to the hit comedy DJ Burnt Bannock about a struggling Cree DJ. Monika Ille is the APTN CEO and a member of the Abenaki First Nation of Odanak. A recipient of the King Charles III Coronation medal in recognition of her contributions to Indigenous storytelling in Canadian media, Ille oversees a broadcast operation that produces shows ranging from mystery-thrillers and cooking shows, to documentaries and sports, all delivered from an Indigenous viewpoint. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Even such venerable shows as Hockey Night in Canada get an Indigenous spin, broadcast in both Cree and Inuktitut. Ille says that when APTN applied to the CRTC 25 years ago, it was a dream to have a national Indigenous network. The broadcaster's impact on Indigenous identity, inside and out of communities, has been profound. 'It was something completely new at the time with only a handful of Indigenous producers and creators to work with,' said Ille. 'Now, we work with hundreds, making sure that our Indigenous stories and languages are more present than ever before with us in control of not only our image, but how we want to say it. I think that makes a very big difference in our relationship with non-Indigenous people.' She sees the launch of APTN Languages as one more development in ongoing reconciliation, noting that restoring native languages is key to reclaiming culture. 'In the 21 years that I have been at APTN, I always felt that we needed to do more to make Indigenous language be accessible to all people across the country who want to hear the beauty of these languages,' she said. 'Most of the shows are also subtitled in English and French, so they are accessible. More and more Indigenous peoples are reclaiming their languages, which is essential to their identity.' APTN is based in Winnipeg, but its programs are created all across the country. B.C.'s busy Hollywood North industry is no stranger to APTN productions, with many of the broadcaster's biggest hits coming out of the province. Staff at the network provided a list of the five most popular made-in-B.C. APTN programs. 1491 — Untold Stories of the America's Before Columbus : 'An older program, but still one of our most popular series,' said Ille. 'It tells the story of many people's histories pre-European contact.' (English and French) Moosemeat and Marmalade : 'This cooking show is an all-time fan favourite,' said Ille. 'You can learn so much about people through their food and the relationship between Art Napoleon and Dan Hayes has really built a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.' The show has drawn over 16 million international viewers. (English) Nations at War : This history program dives into the many wars Indigenous peoples have fought between one another and with settlers over the centuries. (English/French/ and Hul'Q'umi'num') Ocean Warriors : A docuseries about the Ahousaht's Coastal Nations Coast Guard Auxiliary team and its ongoing mission to carry out marine rescues, find missing divers, address environmental disasters and more. (English/French/ Nuučaan̓uɫ) Yukon Harvest/Dän K'eht'e : Filmed mostly in the Yukon, but also in Kamloops, Fort St. John and Stewart in B.C., this show focuses on Indigenous hunters across Canada and their culture. Nominated for a trio of Canadian Screen Awards in 2022. (English/Dän K'i) sderdeyn@
Calgary Herald
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
5 top shows to watch as APTN celebrates 25 years of Indigenous stories
Article content 5 made-in-B.C. APTN shows to watch Article content 1491 — Untold Stories of the America's Before Columbus: 'An older program, but still one of our most popular series,' said Ille. 'It tells the story of many people's histories pre-European contact.' (English and French) Article content Article content Moosemeat and Marmalade: 'This cooking show is an all-time fan favourite,' said Ille. 'You can learn so much about people through their food and the relationship between Art Napoleon and Dan Hayes has really built a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.' The show has drawn over 16 million international viewers. (English) Article content Article content Article content Article content
