The media landscape in Akwesasne is changing — a new platform has been emerging in the community since last year, making way for an indigenous television format that is bringing a fresh approach to how the community can ‘tune in” and get information.
The words Akwékon Énsken are used as part of a tag line for Akwesasne TV’s motto, which means ‘we are all one’, and is the guiding vision for the community’s first TV station.
“The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Broadband has brought a much needed service/utility to Akwesasne,” says Jeff Beekhoo, General Manager-Broadband Department for the SRMT. “Akwesasne TV will provide a much needed resource to the community that will help promote and preserve the language and culture through unique story-telling. It will create economic development opportunities on the territory, at the same time allowing people to keep up to date on current events, sports news, etc. Our soft opening was meant to inform the community on the development and current success of Akwesasne TV.”
A ‘soft launch’ was held at the new Broadband building on Route 95, where Akwesasne TV studios and offices are now located. The launch was open to the public , and although there was no ‘official ribbon cutting ceremony’ to attract a crowd, a significant amount of community members stopped in, along with a small group of officials and tribal members.
“I am quite pleased with the progress that we have made on this endeavor. The possibilities are quite expansive and will make a positive impact on Akwesasne,†stated Tribal Chief Eric Thompson. He added, “When first contemplated, the offering of language and cultural programing immediately sprung to mind, almost instantaneously, however; the broader implications and applications became apparent and included a broad palette of programming from sports to politics to culture, current events and news. Akwesasne TV has done a great job in bringing this vision to fruition.”
During the event, on-camera interviews were conducted by ATV staff as they showcased some of their technology such as the Chroma key ‘green screen’, which is a special effects technique for composting two images together.(see above pic)
Attendees were given a tour and shown how the station would function and how a taped interview could possibly look. Staff of Akwesasne TV were on hand, each performing their duties as they would be during the station’s operation.
The three hour event saw appearances from Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Chiefs Beverly Cook, Ron Lafrance, and Eric Thompson, sub-chiefs Cheryl Jacobs and Michael Conners Jr, as well as MCA Kana:takon district Chief Ryan Jacobs. Many other program heads from community organizations were in attendance for the station’s ‘soft launch’.
The station’s Executive Producer Regan Jacobs, who was also brought in as the Tribe’s consultant to develop Akwesasne TV said, “We wanted to focus on our success in launching our channel, our full digital model, creating and continuing to develop a “community station”, and of course seeing this project come to fruition after two years. In my opinion, there is no better way to celebrate than with community members who are at the root of why we began this venture.â€
Jacobs says the station and its programming are still in development. “We will function like an other television station. Our team has set the bar high and we plan on developing our original programming utilizing our local talent, filmmakers, journalists and communications specialists to help us reach our goals. We have a mission and vision, and a mandate from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe to promote our language and culture and develop programming that is unique to us.” Jacobs says this project couldn’t have been possible without the vision and support from the Tribe and Broadband.
The station will now begin streaming original and acquired content. Akwesasne TV is currently available on Akwesasne’s Broadband Network channel 2, and online at www.akwesasnetv.com. You can follow them on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. The station will focus on airing indigenous produced content, including language, cultural, sports and news programming for the community and beyond. For more information on how to acquire Akwesasne TV and the Broadband video services which showcases channels such HBO, Showtime, etc, please call 518-333-0231.
Akwesasne TV is owned by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe and Mohawk Networks, LLC; the newly developed television station will be broadcasting traditional and contemporary television programming utilizing the latest information sharing technology.
BY: Ian Oakes
Editor: Regan Jacobs
