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June 24, 2001
The first ever National Inter-tribal Native Radio Summit was opened with the flag song and prayer by the Warm Springs Confederated Tribes veterans on June 3, 2001. Participants were hosted by KWSO-FM of Warm Springs Reservation, OR, Native Media Resource Center, National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and Corporation for Public Broadcasting at the Confederated Tribes Kah-Nee-Tah Resort.
Native Radio is a valuable asset in Indian country, locally and nationally. Broadcast information can organize local and tribal resources for economic development and contribute to achieving a national inter-tribal economy. News and information can offer solutions, help sustain culture and language as well as a tribe's core values.
Radio is an affordable means of mass communication for any community. And preserving tribal legacy's is so important for future generations' self-concept and health.
Start-up minimums for a station today is about $300,000. The first year. A huge investment sum for Indian people and philanthropy in Indian country amounts to about 4/10th of one percent of all national giving.
Our Native professionals are ageing. In the room of about 70 Native broadcasters, a total of 937 years of radio experience was the collective total. Only about 3 persons were under 40 and as new as 3 years or less in radio broadcasting. Reason's were clear to all of us who either volunteer all or most of our time to what we love and are passionate about - Indian radio - and the staff who are paid are very low on the parity scale compared to non-Indian radio stations. Also the marginalzation of Indian radio by our own communities as well as outside our Indian community contributes to young bright Indian people choosing other careers - NOT Native broadcasting.
There exists 35+ native owned public radio stations around the USA. Of these, half have no engineering support, 2/3 have transmitters over 20 years old, many are hand-me-downs from other stations who up-grade. 1/3 have towers more than 15 years old, many that are rusted and dangerous. Several stations have no visible means of technical support. Few can even consider up-grading to digital, let alone compact or mini-disc.
All of this means Indian radio broadcasters are on the air by their own wits and creativity. Sometimes in dangerous situations trying to keep their signal alive for the community.
Many are in remote rural areas, isolated and difficult to have parts and supplies -when they can afford them - shipped to the station. Too many of our Native stations are down and off the air too often. Stations need new technology, up-graded and maintained facilities and professionals to staff them. It all costs so much money. Native resources for cash is small or non existent. In the age of access, 93% of Indian people cannot hear their news, music and information. Many reservation families still do not have phone service.
American Indian Radio on Satellite Network went on the air in 1996, enabling small stations to stay on the air for longer periods of time with minimal staffing. They, too, face the challenge of funding and maintaining technology upgrades and holding onto satellite access in an ever busier and expensive system.
Our Canadian neighbors have a very different story. The Canadian government has a set-aside fund for their First Nations digital infrastructure of one billion - yes with a B - billion dollars so that all Canadian First Nations will be on the system in equal ratios. So, if you can hear alterNATIVE VOICES via AIROS and your local station - thank your local broadcasters and AIROS for persistence, devotion to their work and mostly old machines that are still working - somehow!
Media should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, one producer reminded the gathering. In attempting to do this, Indian radio has many more questions than answers. What's in the existing pipeline and how can we get it? How do we support current talent and productions and cultivate emerging talent? What are the local community resources, other assets and tools that can, will and happily cooperate to make the community better?
Answers were either theories or more questions. Critical to the future and growth of Native radio are:
How does all this tie into other issues in Indian country and your community?
The National Federation of Community Broadcasters committed to technical assistance for stations that are not CPB funded. Tribally owned stations committed financial support to AIROS. The participants over all supported a motion to create and fund an American Indian Radio Program Fund and meet again in 2003.
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