Features

By Natalie Batkis, APTN Communications Coordinator 

As we get ready to celebrate our 25th anniversary, we can’t help but look back and cheer for a quarter-century of amazing storytelling and cultural celebration at APTN. We’ve been shining a spotlight on the vibrant voices and rich traditions of Indigenous communities, proving every step of the way that we’re all about honoring our heritage and languages. 

Our latest adventure? The launch of APTN Languages, our brand-new channel dedicated to Indigenous language programming starting this September. This isn’t just a new chapter for APTN; it’s a giant leap forward in our quest to reclaim, preserve, and celebrate the languages that are the heartbeat of our cultures. And, on Oct. 13, you will even be able to watch the world broadcast premiere of Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading), A New Hope in Anishnaabemowin which will be simulcast on both APTN and APTN Languages! The news is out of this galaxy! 

Language loss started with colonization and plummeted with the introduction of the residential school system, as highlighted by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and the Indigenous Languages Act. Canada boasts over 70 Indigenous languages across 12 language families, but right now, only three—Cree, Inuktitut, and Anishnaabemowin—are stable. 

Before APTN hit the scene in 1999, spotting Indigenous Peoples on TV or in movies was rare. And hearing an Indigenous language? Almost unheard of! When Indigenous characters did appear on-air, they were usually portrayed by non-Indigenous actors. APTN flipped the script, giving a big break to the Indigenous independent production community. Directors, producers, camera operators, editors, writers, actors—they all found a home to showcase their talents and tell stories in languages that had never graced television screens before. 

Over the years, APTN has been at the forefront of putting Indigenous languages in the limelight. As we celebrate our 25th birthday, let’s take a walk down memory lane and revisit some of the standout moments that highlighted important Indigenous language firsts on APTN. 

 

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver – February 2010 

APTN joined the big leagues with the CTV-led Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, covering Vancouver’s games in English, French, and eight Indigenous languages. That made us the first Indigenous broadcaster of any Olympic event! We delivered a whopping 14 hours of daily Olympics coverage, including the epic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 

Assembling our team of announcers was an exhilarating challenge and finding folks fluent in traditional languages and sports lingo was not an easy task. But APTN rose to the occasion, bringing together a vibrant group of trainers to mentor announcers. They guided them to deliver electrifying commentary on everything from figure skating to bobsledding! 

And here’s a fun fact: many new Indigenous words were created just for APTN’s Olympics broadcast! Our announcers had to invent fresh ways to describe the sports action because certain words or terms simply didn’t exist in their languages. They had to craft expressions that made sense in their language while staying true to the spirit of the sport. How cool is that? 

 

First Cree-Language NHL Broadcast – March 2019 

In a broadcast breakaway, APTN teamed up with Sportsnet to bring fans across the country electrifying hockey action featuring exclusive Cree-language commentary and analysis. Broadcaster Clarence Iron called the play-by-play action, while Juno Award-winning musician Earl Wood hosted the studio show. NHL alum John Chabot joined in to provide expert game analysis and was eventually joined by Jason Chamakese who rounded out the show. It was a powerplay of entertainment and a groundbreaking first for sports broadcasting in Canada. The excitement kicked off on March 24, when the Montreal Canadiens faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes. 

By December 2021, the broadcast was officially named Hockey Night in Canada in Cree and continues to be an APTN fan favourite to this day. We love hearing from allies who tune in just because they find it so entertaining to hear our enthusiastic team bring the game to life in a whole new way. That’s how we get people pumped about Indigenous languages and build bridges with non-Indigenous fans. Score! 

 

The Launch of APTN lumi – September 2019 

In recent years, the media and broadcasting landscape has seen a whirlwind of changes, thanks to the explosion of high-quality content on digital platforms and the decline in traditional TV viewing. We tackled these challenges head-on with the launch of APTN lumi, our very own streaming service! 

Launched in the fall of 2019, APTN lumi provides viewers unprecedented access to our ever-growing catalog featuring shows in English, French, and a variety of Indigenous languages—something you won’t find on most streaming platforms. 

With new content added every month, you can catch the latest episodes of APTN’s original programming on APTN lumi. This includes fan favourites like Moosemeat & Marmalade, Bones of Crows, Chuck the First Peoples’ Kitchen, and Little Bird! Plus you can also enjoy APTN Kids content with the whole family anytime from anywhere. 

APTN lumi isn’t just a convenient streaming service; it’s a platform for Indigenous storytellers to reclaim and share their stories in fresh and innovative ways. With our Over the Top (OTT) platform, the constraints of commercial breaks and strict segment lengths are gone. This gives Indigenous content creators the freedom to find the perfect format for their stories and let their creativity shine! 

 

First Federal Leaders’ Debate broadcast in Indigenous Languages – October 2019 

For the first time ever, history was made as a federal leaders’ debate got the Indigenous languages treatment! After getting the greenlight from the Federal Leaders’ Debate Commission and the Canadian Debate Production Partnership, APTN National News and CBC live-streamed the English-language debate online in Inuktitut, nêhiyawêwin, and Anishinaabemowin. APTN even televised the Inuktitut version for our Northern friends and the Plains Cree version for viewers in the west. The French-language debate didn’t miss out either, with East Cree and Denesuline versions live-streamed online by CBC and APTN. 

We can’t stress enough how crucial it is for people to understand political debates to make informed choices at the polls. What good is a debate if it isn’t accessible to everyone? Broadcasting the federal leaders’ debate in multiple Indigenous languages gave Indigenous language speakers the chance to feel more involved in federal politics. It was truly a powerful broadcasting first! 

 

Speak with Pride campaign – March 2021 

APTN ran a marketing campaign called Speak With Pride which kicked off on March 31, 2021. The nationwide interactive platform encouraged Indigenous Peoples to proudly speak their languages because, as the campaign tagline said, without language, we don’t get the full story. 

Speak With Pride aimed to shine a spotlight on Indigenous language keepers, speakers, and seekers from coast to coast, creating a safe space for everyone to share their stories and pride at every stage of their language journey. 

The campaign celebrated amazing stories of language reclamation and invited Indigenous language speakers to download and share digital badges to flaunt their pride online. It was all about coming together, sharing our journeys, and keeping our languages vibrant and alive! 

Word got out! Here are some of the impressive stats from the campaign: 

• The Speak with Pride campaign achieved over 49.7 million impressions and 810,000 clicks.  
• The videos had over 8 million views thanks to thousands of shares, likes and comments from inspired individuals.
• Many people came forward through this campaign to share their stories and download the language badges, for a total of  91 story submissions and 1,241 badge package downloads. 

As one language storyteller shared, “When I hear other people speaking my language it makes me feel welcome. There is an instant bond between us, a deep sense of connection that allows us to have fun and joke around.”  

And this is what it’s all about. 

 

Twenty-five Years: And It’s Just the Beginning 

Languages are so much more than just words on a page or a conversation in passing. They’re the heartbeat of a culture, carrying stories, traditions, and wisdom passed down through generations. Every word and phrase captures the unique worldview and values of a community, creating a deep bond with ancestors and history. Plus, language boosts community pride, resilience, and continuity, especially against the tide of globalization and historical challenges. Without it, the rich tapestry that defines and sustains a community can unravel. That’s why preserving and revitalizing languages is a must for culture to survive and thrive. At APTN, our story is just getting started! 

Part of that story includes you! We are a storytelling platform but, without your stories and your views, we would not exist. APTN is always looking for stories from Indigenous points of view. If you have a story you’ve been dying to tell, get in touch with our programming department. Who knows, you could be part of our next chapter! 

Thank you for being part of our story for the last 25 years and don’t stop watching. We have so much more in the works, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s just around the corner! To see APTN’s history at a glance, check out our milestones!