SHARING OUR STORIES COMMUNIQUÉ 2016 APTN MISSION APTN is sharing our Peoples’ journey, celebrating our cultures, inspiring our children and honouring the wisdom of our Elders. ABOUT APTN September 1, 2016 marked the 17-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 11 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high-definition channel, APTN hd, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. Cover Photo: Aboriginal Day Live 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Our Chairperson 2 Message from Our Chief Executive Officer3 Year in Review Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Highlights 6 Aboriginal Production 8 Our People 14 Understanding Our Audience 20 Digital Drum | Connective Expression 24 Advertising 26 Setting the Technological Pace 30 Uncovering the Stories that Others Won’t 32 Conditions of Licence 36 Programming | What’s On 44 Aboriginal Day Live 58 Appendix A | Independent Production Activity (Original Productions) 2015-2016 MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRPERSON JOCELYN FORMSMA Wachiya, The fiscal year 2015-2016 was a and the industry. This fiscal year employees for an outstanding great year for Aboriginal Peoples has helped us set the stage for year. Your extraordinary skills, Television Network (APTN). Our impressive developments to come at passion and dedication collectively continued success is built through APTN that we will roll out in phases advance a strong Aboriginal our dedication to honour our over the next five to 10 years. media presence in Canada and the roots while keeping an eye to the world. I am honoured to be a part We said goodbye to some incredible future. As a result, APTN produces of this network, as it continues board members who moved onto and broadcasts programs that to be influential and shift focus new and exciting opportunities, and are increasingly higher quality, to become a truly specialized we have welcomed some new and distinctive and informative that also multi-platform broadcaster. returning members. In addition, the reflect Aboriginal perspectives. board is undergoing a structural APTN is well aware of the significant review to prepare for growth as Jocelyn Formsma, changes to the broadcast industry. APTN becomes a more established Chairperson We continue to grow and adapt to presence in the broadcast industry. APTN Board of Directors meet the challenges of television in Moreover, the network must adapt a new and increasingly technological and find new ways to reach a world. From being established as the growing and fractured audience, first national Aboriginal broadcaster while ensuring there are revenues in the world and being known to fund its programming, news as Canada’s only independent operations and related services. Aboriginal television network, we On behalf of my board colleagues, have continually sought to not just I thank APTN’s dedicated senior meet our potential, but exceed management team and all APTN expectations from our viewers APTN / COMMUNIQUÉ 2016 MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JEAN LA ROSE I am honoured to be part of an against larger broadcasters for a as we strive to maintain our organization that is the most share of the PE funding. Compared lead in the industry as a highly influential Aboriginal storyteller to the average decrease in PEs recognized employer. For the eighth in Canada. Sharing our Stories is among all broadcasters, the network consecutive year, the organization the essence of APTN, which also performed quite well. was recognized as one of maintains our momentum in the Manitoba’s Top Employers, and for This fiscal year, the organization Canadian broadcast industry. the fourth consecutive year, one of worked diligently to remain current Canada’s 100 Top Employers. Also, To engage the nation’s population in broadcast and distribution for the third year in a row, APTN with the organization’s specialized technology trends. By streamlining received a national award for its programming across multiple processes, implementing leading participation in the Take Our Kids to platforms, APTN continues to edge technology, seeking new ways Work™ program. These distinctions depend greatly on the Canada to improve the delivery of programs are the result of a skilled and Media Fund (CMF) to meet the and planning for the future, the dedicated workforce that creates Canadian Radio-television and network continued to improve its a collaborative culture to establish Telecommunications Commission’s business of Sharing our Stories. a more productive, enjoyable and (CRTC) expectations on the APTN’s specialized programming rewarding workplace. different genres of programming is paramount for the organization’s and languages to be broadcast. long-term success, supported by the In preparation for growth, APTN’s APTN’s Performance Envelope dedication of each employee. headquarters located in Winnipeg, (PE) again decreased in this fiscal MB, laid the groundwork for Each fiscal year, the network year. Being a small independent opportunities, including an is tremendously proud of its broadcaster, APTN faces many impressive renovation project at the employees, including their challenges each fiscal year, but adjacent building. This space is the contributions and achievements, one obstacle is the constant battle news bureau and production studios SHARING OUR STORIES / 3 of APTN News and Current Affairs, infrastructure changes that were episode at the 2016 Leo Awards, a nationwide team that provides an carried over from the past fiscal with a Best Lead Performance award-winning and unprecedented year. The organization is set to by a Female in a Dramatic Series. perspective on news for Aboriginal integrate new technologies into Documentaries also received Peoples and all Canadians. its broadcast internet protocol distinction. Chaos and Courage network. In addition, master control was honoured with a Media Award Notably, APTN National News was upgraded to a state-of-the-art from the Association of Ontario received an unprecedented four information technology-based Midwives for its episode “Midwives.” nominations from the Canadian playout platform. A broadcast In addition, a one-off documentary Association of Journalism (CAJ). At graphics and a multi-channel from APTN’s Emerging Director the CAJ Awards, APTN Investigates branding system were also program, Sex Spirit Strength, was won the Communications Workers implemented. These modernizations named the Best of Fest, and director of America Canada/CAJ Award for are imperative to increase Courtney Montour earned Emerging Labour Reporting for Hurting for efficiencies, improve workflow and Filmmaker at the 2016 Golden Sheaf Work. APTN National News also enable the broadcast of content on Awards at the Yorkton Film Festival. won the Journalists for Human multiple platforms; each will help Rights/CAJ Award for Human Once again, the network produced APTN remain competitive in the Rights Reporting for A Soldier the largest celebration of National long term. Scorned. The reporting team also Aboriginal Day. Aboriginal Day Live remained focused on special news As the most influential Aboriginal is an annual event that celebrates programming to ensure the regional storyteller in Canada, APTN strives the spirit of sharing, conveys representation of our Peoples’ to commission programs that meet stories and showcases the talent stories were covered from coast to the highest standards for on-air of Aboriginal Peoples. Thousands coast to coast. APTN National News talent, writing and production attend to show their support for this featured 12 episodes of its mini- values. As a result, industry peers event to see the best and brightest documentary series – Perspectives. and critics supported the merit Aboriginal artists from across North The Ottawa bureau reported on and influence of the network’s America perform live. The 10th political affairs, including the election programming, from award shows anniversary edition proved to be of the Assembly of First Nations to film festival podiums. another successful celebration at National Chief in December and the The Forks in Winnipeg, MB. The leading dramatic series Annual General Meeting in July. In The attendance was greater than Blackstone continued its tradition addition, in-depth, unprecedented 45,000 people for the day-long of success with two Alberta coverage of the federal election festivities and evening concert, and Film and Television Awards in brought issues from grassroots the multi-platform delivery reached 2016, including Best Production people directly to candidates in the an audience of more than one Reflecting Cultural Diversity and weeks prior to election day. million. For the 150th anniversary Best Performance by an Alberta of the Canadian Confederation, At its technical foundation, Actress. The series also received the 2017 edition will expand its APTN continued to initiate major recognition for its “Flat Line” APTN / COMMUNIQUÉ 2016 grassroots reach to even more APTN has also invested in Aboriginal communities. capital funds to build