Native Public Media celebrates 50 years of broadcasting in Indian Country
PHOENIX – In 1972, KYUK
radio in Bethel, Alaska, became
one of the first Native-owned
and operated radio stations in the
U.S. Fifty years later, over 65
radio and television stations are
broadcasting across fifteen states
in Indian Country.
Native Public Media (NPM)
hosted the 2023 Native Broadcast
Summit on May 2-4. The
summit brought together radio
and television broadcasters to
celebrate their role in providing
vital news, cultural enrichment,
and entertainment to Indigenous
communities. It featured two
keynote speakers, Diné radio
broadcaster LA Williams and
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Chief for
the Office of Native Affairs and
Policy Denise Bambi Kraus, who
spoke about the importance of
Tribal broadcasters and closing
the digital divide in Tribal
communities.
The summit’s theme,
“Celebrating Over 50 Years of
Broadcasting in Indian Country,”
highlighted broadcasting’s
critical role in fighting COVID19, climate change, and natural
disasters in Tribal communities.
NPM’s Station Advisory
Committee served as Summit
hosts and offered training sessions
and networking opportunities to
support radio and TV regulatory
compliance, encourage Native
content and programming, and
facilitate community engagement.
“As NPM celebrates over 50
years of broadcasting in Indian
Country, the role of radio and
television stations in Indigenous
communities is more important
than ever. These broadcasters are
on the front lines of providing
critical information and support
to our communities when we
need it the most. The Summit is
an important reminder of radio
and television’s vital role in rural
and remote communities and the
need to support their work,” said
Barbara Poley, NPM’s board vice
chair during her Summit welcome.
The summit’s concurrent
sessions addressed various
topics, including emergency
broadcasting, Indigenous
storytelling, community
outreach, and digital sovereignty.
Representatives from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting (CPB) joined
Native Public Media to discuss
resources and tools available
for early warning alerts over
the radio to the public. Colleen
Thurston and Crystal Ashike
from Native Lens talked about
how they provide a platform for
Indigenous storytellers. KLND
Station Manager John BraveBull
highlighted the Warrior Radio
Show, a program produced
entirely by special needs youth,
and the importance of community
outreach.
The Native Broadcast Summit
brought together a diverse group
of broadcasters, including KNNB
Radio Station Manager Ellen
Clay, who found the sessions
extremely helpful and appreciated
the opportunity to meet other
broadcasters.
“The sessions were very
informative, and now I know
what to expect as a new station
manager,” Clay said. “Meeting
other broadcasters was truly
amazing and gave me an
opportunity to ask for advice and
pointers. We are different and far
apart, but we are all connected
through broadcasting.”
Information provided by Kyler
Edsitty Native Public Media
Native Public Media celebrates 50 years of broadcasting in Indian Country
PHOENIX – In 1972, KYUK
radio in Bethel, Alaska, became
one of the first Native-owned
and operated radio stations in the
U.S. Fifty years later, over 65
radio and television stations are
broadcasting across fifteen states
in Indian Country.
Native Public Media (NPM)
hosted the 2023 Native Broadcast
Summit on May 2-4. The
summit brought together radio
and television broadcasters to
celebrate their role in providing
vital news, cultural enrichment,
and entertainment to Indigenous
communities. It featured two
keynote speakers, Diné radio
broadcaster LA Williams and
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Chief for
the Office of Native Affairs and
Policy Denise Bambi Kraus, who
spoke about the importance of
Tribal broadcasters and closing
the digital divide in Tribal
communities.
The summit’s theme,
“Celebrating Over 50 Years of
Broadcasting in Indian Country,”
highlighted broadcasting’s
critical role in fighting COVID19, climate change, and natural
disasters in Tribal communities.
NPM’s Station Advisory
Committee served as Summit
hosts and offered training sessions
and networking opportunities to
support radio and TV regulatory
compliance, encourage Native
content and programming, and
facilitate community engagement.
“As NPM celebrates over 50
years of broadcasting in Indian
Country, the role of radio and
television stations in Indigenous
communities is more important
than ever. These broadcasters are
on the front lines of providing
critical information and support
to our communities when we
need it the most. The Summit is
an important reminder of radio
and television’s vital role in rural
and remote communities and the
need to support their work,” said
Barbara Poley, NPM’s board vice
chair during her Summit welcome.
The summit’s concurrent
sessions addressed various
topics, including emergency
broadcasting, Indigenous
storytelling, community
outreach, and digital sovereignty.
Representatives from the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) and the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting (CPB) joined
Native Public Media to discuss
resources and tools available
for early warning alerts over
the radio to the public. Colleen
Thurston and Crystal Ashike
from Native Lens talked about
how they provide a platform for
Indigenous storytellers. KLND
Station Manager John BraveBull
highlighted the Warrior Radio
Show, a program produced
entirely by special needs youth,
and the importance of community
outreach.
The Native Broadcast Summit
brought together a diverse group
of broadcasters, including KNNB
Radio Station Manager Ellen
Clay, who found the sessions
extremely helpful and appreciated
the opportunity to meet other
broadcasters.
“The sessions were very
informative, and now I know
what to expect as a new station
manager,” Clay said. “Meeting
other broadcasters was truly
amazing and gave me an
opportunity to ask for advice and
pointers. We are different and far
apart, but we are all connected
through broadcasting.”
Information provided by Kyler
Edsitty Native Public Media