RECN 104.1 FM was officially launched on Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. (Submitted photo/Chief Fabian Head)

By Nigel Maxwell

Communication

On the air: volunteer run radio station opens at Red Earth Cree Nation

Feb 4, 2022 | 2:00 PM

The community of Red Earth Cree Nation has a new tool at their disposal for updates on COVID-19 numbers, or even wildfires during the summer months.

A grand opening ceremony was held on Wednesday for the official launch of RECN 104.1FM, a local volunteer run radio station. Chief Fabian Head told paNOW he was excited about the radio station’s ability to relay important information to community members.

“I think the community will benefit greatly,” he said.

The license was approved last year and the radio station has been running the past two months on a sort of trial run. Head noted it came in handy during the fire evacuations last October.

(Submitted photo/Chief Fabian Head)

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Currently manned by two volunteers, Head explained the community plans to apply for additional funding for more personnel. He added the radio station will combine a mix of music and information programming and will incorporate as much as Cree language as possible.

“The use of technology in the last ten years has somewhat destructed our Cree language and some of our youth are having trouble speaking Cree so we have to balance that,” he said.

Prince Albert Grand Council Vice-Chief Chris Jobb attended Wednesday’s grand opening and said he was really honoured to be invited. He also noted how moved he was by everyone’s expression of gratitude towards for the Creator for bringing the community together.

“I was so happy and my spirit was in the right place at the time. I could literally feel the uplifting of the community,” he said.

A similar initiative was launched years ago in Jobb’s home community of Southend, and to this day Jobb said he still likes to volunteer. Noting the ability to run auctions for local families in need, Jobb said the radio station can help bring people together.

“You know a little hatchet axe, probably bought for $24, went for $72 and people tried outbidding each other. It goes to go a good fundraiser but at the same time people are having fun,” he said.

Also re-iterating Chief Head’s comments about the importance of maintaining the language, and the benefits of having local information, Jobb explained there are endless benefits to having the radio station in place. He added strong community relationships are built on having good communication.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell