Indigenous radio station hitting Vancouver airwaves next summer

An Indigenous radio station is set to hit Vancouver's airwaves next summer, one of five launching across Canada after receiving approval from the CRTC.

In a statement,CRTCchairman and CEO Jean-PierreBlaissaid the decision "comes at a crucial time, not only because it comes in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's report, but also because of the many major issues that affect these communities."

Craig Ellis, program director for CFNR in Terrace, originally applied for the Urban Aboriginal radio license, and said he is"excited beyond belief" by the news.

"I'm hoping [the station] isone of those vehicles that will build abridgebetween nonFirst Nations people and also make them appreciate the culture and history of the area where they'reliving," he said.

The Vancouver station will primarily aim to serve the Squamish, Musqueam andTsleil-Waututhnations, but Ellis said thestation's content will try to reach Indigenous groups across the province.

"We will also reach out to other nations inthe FraserValley area and also to the peoples who are from the nations around B.C.that haveleft their hometerritoriesandmovedto Vancouver," he said.

Ellis said the station will focus on sharing the "culture, music, and history of these communities it's a chance to bring hope to some of the communities and highlight success stories."

He said that while media coverage of Indigenous issueshas improved in recent years, having a single platform dedicated to First Nations content will help resolve some of the areas in which storytelling is lacking.

"These stories are oftentold from that traditionalcolonialperspective what's missing is that Indigenous voice especially in terms of stories about land titles andlanguage loss."

Some of the content will be broadcast in Indigenous languages, but Ellis said he hopes the programming especially the planned musical contentwill strike a chord with a wide ranging audience.

CKURwill broadcast on 106.3 FMand is expected to launch nextJune.

The other fourIndigenous stations will be based in Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, and Toronto.

With files from On The Coast