Aboriginal Voices Radio (AVR) Network is a Canadian national radio network with licensed radio stations in nine Canadian metropolitan areas. It airs programming produced primarily by and for Aboriginal people in Canada, featuring music and personalities from around the world.

History

AVRN was founded in 1998 by a group of high-profile Aboriginal Canadians, including actor Gary Farmer, playwright, novelist and author Tomson Highway, filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin and actress/producer Jennifer Podemski. Other founders and key contributors to creation of the network included Christopher Spence and Andre Morriseau (production and programming), Doug Bingley (help getting first license), Robert Templeton and J. Robert Wood (corporate funding), Elaine Bomberry, David Deleary, Sherman Maness, Nicole Robertson and Minnie Two Shoes.

AVR's first station, CFIE-FM in Toronto, was licensed by the CRTC in 2000. CFIE changed its callsign to CKAV in 2006.

The network's earliest and largest corporate sponsor is Newcap Broadcasting.

Some sources have confused the Aboriginal Voices network with the Aboriginal Multimedia Society of Alberta, which operates a distinct community radio network in rural northern Alberta that is not affiliated with Aboriginal Voices.

Station launches

The network has faced technical and logistical problems which have prevented it from launching some of the licensed stations listed below. For some of the stations, the network had applied to the CRTC for extensions five or six times as of the end of 2005. Since then, however, the network has moved forward with most of the approved licenses.

Programming

AVR's playlist represents not only an American and Canadian presence but that of indigenous and diasporic performers from around the world, including Oceania, Africa and Latin America. The names below represent a sample of the artists that receive regular airplay. To date, their identity or song titles are unannounced on-air by a DJ, or listed on AVR's website.

Artists

Between every second or third song, AVR does insert an endorsement of their station from any one of a variety of Aboriginal artists like Susan Aglukark, Natalie Picard, Kinnie Starr or Shannon Thunderbird as part of their regular programming that includes station identification. The station does not advertise aggressively on the air.

Special programming

Fridays, between 10 and midnight, features The Plex Show , a showcase of Aboriginal hip hop artists hosted by emcee Plex (Doug Bedard).

Weekend programming

Airplay on Sundays features Wisdom of the Elders with program host Arlie Neskahi (Dine' Navajo), a public radio talk show that showcases native culture, musicians, storytelling, drumming practices and flute playing. Co-hosts include educator and herbalist Judy Bluehorse Skelton (Nez Perce/Chickasaw/Cherokee), music director Nico Wind (Assiniboine/Ojibway) and storyteller and song-carrier Judy Trejo.

Stations

On air

Licensed but not launched

• Regina - 96.1 MHz (approved May 2007, launching 2009)
• Saskatoon - 102.9 MHz (approved May 2007, launching 2009)

References

External links

• Aboriginal Voices Radio
• CKAV history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKAV-2 history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKAV-3 history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKAV-9 history at Canadian Communications Foundation
• CKAV-10 history at Canadian Commuications Foundation