From Valerie Creighton of the Toronto Star:
Link: Canadian culture is a hot international commodity
Canada’s reputation is on a roll. The 2010 Olympics triggered a pride and collective consciousness that rallied our nationhood and took our country to the world. Now, as we close the decade, our brand is stronger than ever. Continue reading.Â
From a media release:
APTN presents its Winter 2020 TV schedule with exciting new shows and the latest seasons of returning favourites. Audiences can also expect new binge-worthy series to roll out all through the season on the network’s growing Indigenous-focused streaming service, APTN lumi.
Tune in to the premiere of Ron Scott’s TRIBAL, watch NHL hockey in Plains Cree and see what inspired Canada’s First Contact series this winter on APTN. The new winter season will roll out on APTN from January 2020 to the end of April and will include the following programs:
Indigenous-Language Original Programming:
French-Language Original Programming:
APTN will also air special programming in honour of International Women’s Day, the International Day for the Elimination of Racism and National Canadian Film Day.
From Victoria Ahearn of the Canadian Press:
Link: ‘It’s also kind of a scary time’: Canadian creators on the streaming era
Brent Butt is trepidatious about the streaming era.
While the Canadian comedy star says he’s excited about the “palpable opportunities†that exist as more streamers enter the market here, he also finds it “a little frightening.†Continue reading.
From a media release:
Following the historic first NHL broadcast in Plains Cree last season in conjunction with Rogers Hometown Hockey’s visit to Enoch Cree Nation, Sportsnet and APTN are expanding their partnership to deliver more games over the next three seasons. In total, a minimum of six games per year will be broadcast on APTN in Plains Cree – full 2019-20 broadcast schedule below.
Sportsnet will continue to deliver the broadcast production, which will feature exclusive Cree-language commentary and analysis from APTN broadcasters for fans across the country. Broadcaster Clarence Iron will have the play-by-play call for APTN, while Juno Award-winning musician Earl Wood will host the studio show alongside influential Cree-language promoter Jason Chamakese, with game analysis from NHL alum John Chabot.
This season’s Cree-language broadcast schedule also features a special Rogers Hometown Hockey stop as the tour visits Peguis First Nation, Man. on Sunday, March 1 where Ron MacLean and Tara Slone will host a live broadcast of the same game on Sportsnet.
In addition to an expanded commitment to delivering Cree-language NHL broadcasts to Canadians, Sportsnet also contributes to the national production of Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition on OMNI Television.
2019-20 Cree-Language NHL Broadcast Schedule from Sportsnet on APTN:
From a media release:
Today, Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures Producer Daniel Fortin, announced principal photography has wrapped on season two of the highly anticipated unscripted-series Merchants of the Wild. Sean Buckley of Buck Productions is on board again as Executive Producer and show mentor. After a successful inaugural season, the docu-series has officially wrapped filming in Nova Scotia and is now in post-production with an anticipated release in 2021.
Filmed within Potlotek’s Traditional Territory, (Near St Peters, NS) and some scenes in Hiawatha First Nation, ON; Merchants of the Wild is a vivid documentary series mixing culture, survival, reconnection to the land, and adventure. The show takes viewers back in time with six Indigenous adventurers, pitted against the perils of ancient waterway trade routes used by Mi’kmaq nations. Merchants of the Wild is being developed and produced by Little Bear Big Wolf Pictures for APTN, in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.
Season two of Merchants of the Wild is one of Buck Productions’many collaboration projects of 2019 and wraps at a pivotal time for the Toronto-based production company as it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary later this month.
Synopsis
Six Indigenous Adventurers embark on the journey of a lifetime, as they spend 25 days on the land, paddling birch bark ‘gwitn’ (canoes) through the Mi’kmaq territory, ‘Unama’ki ’ (Land of Fog), known as Cape Breton, NS. Following an old waterway trade route, moving inland from the ocean at the end of summer, the Adventurers begin their difficult journey with a few necessary tools and a limited supply of food. From day one, they will need to rely on cultural teachings and the land to reach the end of their journey.
During the course of their adventure, they will meet Mi’kmaq Elders and Knowledge Holders at various camps along the ocean, rivers, and lakes, learning culture, language, and traditional Mi’kmaq teachings to help them complete their journey. Throughout the experience, each Adventurer will be impacted in different ways, with some finding the connection their spirit has been in search of, while others could succumb to the constant demands of mother nature, the physical struggle and emotional challenges that can come with living off the land, while others discover newfound strength amongst the teachings and their new friends.
