CBC and APTN announce agreement to support Indigenous programming

A new collaboration between media organizations CBCand APTNaims to create more Indigenous content that reaches moreCanadians and to improve the hiring and retention of Indigenous creators,the broadcastersannounced Thursday.

The two agreed on a memorandum of understanding intended to increase the production of First Nations, Inuit andMtisprogrammingand will affectentertainment and news programming.

The agreement is intended to increase training and resources for Indigenous creators, ensure the two share content and technical resources for news and information programming, and give a wider audience to productions majority-owned by Indigenous persons.

Leon Mar, a media representative for CBC, stated the memorandum will "broaden and deepen" an ongoing relationship between the organizations, which has already led to the creation of coming productions like the filmThe Beehive,miniseriesBones of Crows, theIndigenous awards show Indspireand more.

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"We are delighted to begin this new collaborative partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada, which will help further the voices of Indigenous peoples through authentic news coverage and unique Indigenous-produced content," APTN CEO MonikaIlle saidin a press release.

"Indigenous journalists, creators and producers will also feel its benefitssince this partnership expands their reach and invites more Canadians to enjoy their work."

Broadcasters to increase hiring of Indigenous creators

The agreement states the two will also "collaborate on their common objectives" of increasing hiring and retention of Indigenous employees.

Theagreement follows a 2021 commitment from CBC to have at least 30 per cent of "key creative roles" in scripted and unscripted series held by creators who are either Indigenous, Black or a person of colour.

Also that year, editor in chief Brodie Fenlonattested the broadcaster "will exceed 55 per cent representation for new hires from three equity-deserving groups (people of colour, Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities) in the year ahead."

According to a 2020 "cultural census," roughly five per cent of full-time journalists at the broadcaster were Inuit,Mtisor First Nations, and roughly seven per cent were in a senior leadership role. Amedia representative for CBC stated the agreement will not affect the hiring commitments already in place by the broadcaster.

APTNlaunched in 1999 as the world's first national Indigenous broadcaster, and broadcasts roughly 28 per cent of its programming in a number of Indigenous languages.