LA RONGE, Saskatchewan, August 17, 2010 - On behalf of the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament (Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River), today announced funding for the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) for the production and broadcast of radio programming in English, Cree, and Dene for the communities of Northern Saskatchewan.
The funding will contribute to MBC's production and broadcast of a variety of local radio programs and features, resulting in 104 hours of new radio programming and 64 hours of recorded content per week. Of this, 30 hours of broadcasts per week will be done in the Cree and Dene languages.
"The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of Aboriginal languages and continues to support Aboriginal communities in their efforts to preserve and revitalize them," said Minister Moore. "By producing radio programming in Cree and Dene, the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation is contributing to the protection and enhancement of these two languages."
"Radio programming in traditional languages such as Cree and Dene is an important means of ensuring they are seen and heard as living languages within Aboriginal communities," said Mr. Clarke.
"Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation is grateful for the continued support given to its Aboriginal-languages programming and takes pride in its major part in enhancing and preserving the languages of Canada's Aboriginal peoples," said Deborah A. Charles, CEO of MBC. "We deeply appreciate the direct support thus given to Aboriginal culture, and, with the continued support from the Department of Canadian Heritage, we will continue to fulfill our mandate to preserve and protect our languages."
The Government of Canada has provided funding of $326,855 through the Aboriginal Peoples' Program. This program of the Department of Canadian Heritage supports the full participation of Aboriginal peoples in Canadian society and the promotion, revitalization, and preservation of Aboriginal languages and cultures. It also helps enable Aboriginal peoples to address the social, cultural, economic, and political issues affecting their lives.
Matthew Deacon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
and Official Languages
819-997-7788
matthew.deacon@pch.gc.ca
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
