Bypassing of Borders and Building of Bridges

Abstract

This article conceptually frames First Peoples television development in Canada into historical periods divided on the basis of distinct cultural representational practices, improved technological infrastructures and corresponding expansions of target audiences. After characterizing each period, the focus turns to the most current phase - the licensing and launching of a new channel with mandatory carriage by cable operators - the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), which went on air 1 September 1999. The only aboriginal television service in the world that is national in distribution, APTN carries six hours a day of original indigenous content (repeated three times), broadcasts in multiple languages and maintains the status of a fully independent broadcasting undertaking alongside Canada's two other national public services. Noting the controversy and significance of the bold and inclusive decision on the part of the Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission to license APTN, questions are then raised about the relationship between the technical location of the channel at the very high end of the Canadian broadcasting spectrum and the social position of sociocultural, political and economic marginalization of First Peoples in Canadian society. The extent to which First Peoples new visibility and audibility will build bridges of understanding or ignite existing negative stereotypes in cross-cultural audiences is yet to be determined, but the fact that APTN is now an integral member of Canada's national broadcasting infrastructure is internationally significant.