Agenda
Recorded Sessions
Day 1 - Thursday, March 26, 2026
Willis Janvier is a speaker, media host, and graduate of the First Nations University of Canada in Indigenous Social Work. Through his work in media, recovery, advocacy, and community engagement, Willis shares powerful stories about healing, resilience and personal growth at events throughout Canada and on his Dene Yati Media platforms.
Mother Tongue Media: Radio as a Platform for Cultural Storytelling. This workshop explored how radio can be the first step in a journalism career. Aina Vinokurova shared her experience working on radio in the Sakha language (Sakha Tyla) and creating programs about her home village in Yakutia (Siberia, Russia) and Sakha literature. Through these stories, she learned how language, culture and journalism are connected. Participants learned how local radio can support community voices and help preserve cultural identity. Aina also discussed how working in your mother tongue can build confidence and shape your storytelling as a journalist.
Day 2 - Friday, March 27, 2026
An overview of four community language revitalization projects: First Nations University programs with Dr. Ottmann; online Saulteaux classes with Natalie Langan; Dakota/Nakoda apps and podcast with Iris O'Watch and Monoc Samson LaMontagne on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
CBC North talks about the evolution of Indigenous language broadcasting in the North from the 1960s to present day. This includes stories around the creation of CBC North's original programs, the treasure trove of archival material amassed, and the use of podcasting to educate new generations. Presenters: Mervin Brass, Managing Director, CBC North; broadcaster and producer, Leitha Kochon; archivist and podcaster, Mary Powder; and CBC Pathways intern Anna Seagrave.
In this workshop with Dr. Merelda Fiddler-Potter, we learned about the INCA Student Teaching Lab and the goal of creating a space for Indigenous storytellers and those helping to share Indigenous stories. The presentation looks at the growth and expansion of the INCA program and explores how the INCA spaces and the INCA program are evolving with the addition of a four-year Bachelor of Arts (INCA) degree, in addition to a two-year Diploma and a one-year Certificate program.
This interactive workshop with Dr. Jess Laccetti, introduced the audience to practical ways that AI can support journalism and storytelling, especially in digital forms, while also examining how bias, misinformation and hallucinations can shape the output these systems produce. Participants learned how to write effective prompts, test AI tools for accuracy, and apply critical thinking to verify information before publication and use.
Moderated by MBC broadcaster Abel Charles (Cree Acimowin), broadcasters Robert Merasty (CILX), Vince Natomagan (Thunderchild radio) and David McIntyre (Dene Honi on MBC) share examples and experiences about the challenges of translating global, national and even local news into Indigenous languages.
Need Money? Where to Look For It: This workshop examined the funding environment for radio stations. We discussed the funding programs offered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, including the Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) and "Amplifying Voices." We also learned about what funding opportunities exist outside of the Community Radio Fund, as well as some of the projects CRFC is working on, and how we can all work together to build a funding future for all stations.
Bert Crowfoot and Brad Crowfoot, Aboriginal Multi-media Society of Alberta (AMMSA), share what the Indigenous Community Radio Network (ICRN) has to offer to existing or new radio stations, from strategic planning, licensing and studio selection, to staff training and advertising. They also introduce Cuzin' Radio, which is a free wrap-around service available to any radio station that needs programming. Learn how to start, enhance or improve the programming already in place
Designed to develop appropriate community protocols for assigning permissions to individual media following the OCAP guidelines, ensuring high quality digital presentation and archiving, and to establish culturally appropriate metadata of digital files to ensure the discoverability of content. Presenters: Sandra Crowfoot, AMMSA and Dr. Mary Ingraham.