As part of the public broadcaster’s ongoing commitment to reflect Indigenous communities across Canada, CBC is recognizing National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day with a broadcast and streaming lineup of original series and special programming that showcases First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives and experiences.
“It has never been more important to honour and share the history and contributions of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Métis people,” said Barbara Williams, Executive Vice-President, CBC. “As Canada’s public broadcaster, we are committed to deepening our reflection of Indigenous stories, voices and perspectives on all of our platforms throughout National Indigenous History Month, and every day of the year.”
National Indigenous History Month honours the history, heritage and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. It is also an opportunity to recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous communities by telling stories from an Indigenous point of view, told by Indigenous-led creative teams and voices. A selection of CBC’s broad range of programming and editorial content is highlighted below:
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY – MONDAY, JUNE 21
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CBC Manitoba’s daily original news and current affairs programs will be led by Indigenous hosts, reporters and producers. Tune in all day to unlearn, learn, celebrate and be inspired by Manitoba’s Indigenous communities. Broadcast and guest host details available here. Stream on CBC Gem and CBC Listen, visit CBC.ca/manitoba or follow @CBCManitoba on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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CBC London will broadcast a two-hour live audio special, We Walk Together, beginning at 4 p.m. ET on CBC Radio One and CBC Listen (London, Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo, Sudbury and Thunder Bay). Featuring voices and experiences from across Ontario, and hosted by Sean Vanderklis, the show honours and celebrates Indigenous culture, community and storytelling. More information about this Indigenous-led broadcast and scheduled guests here.
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Join CANADA TONIGHT WITH GINELLA MASSA for an expanded two-hour broadcast featuring coverage dedicated to National Indigenous Peoples Day, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. This special edition will be broadcast on CBC News Network and can be streamed for free on CBC Gem.
CELEBRATING INDIGENOUS EXCELLENCE – TUESDAY, JUNE 22
Tune in for a special prime time lineup featuring the annual INDSPIRE AWARDS, representing the highest honour the organization bestows upon Indigenous community, flanked by national premieres for CBC Docs from Indigenous creators and Indigenous led-productions, INENDI and STORIES FROM THE LAND.
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7 p.m. (7:30 p.m NT) on CBC TV, now streaming on CBC Gem
STORIES FROM THE LAND: Corn Soup and The Last Fishermen
From the original CBC Docs series, STORIES FROM THE LAND, these two featured short documentaries celebrate the diversity of First Nations peoples by bringing the viewer deep into the connections they have between land, culture and community. From the story of a humble bowl of corn soup and the man who is keeping its tradition alive, to the story of a family that holds the last commercial fishing license on their lake. Hosted and created by Ryan McMahon, and directed by Wendell Collier (Wanderer Entertainment Inc.), CORN SOUP and THE LAST FISHERMAN, celebrate First Nations cultures, past and present.
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8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One and CBC Listen
The 2021 INDSPIRE AWARDS is a nationally broadcast celebration of culture showcasing outstanding achievements from Indigenous peoples in Canada. Twelve award recipients from a diverse list of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities will be honoured during this special broadcast, executive produced by award-winning actor and producer Jennifer Podemski, with a new format that will allow viewers to get to know each of the recipients like never before.
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9 p.m. (9:30 p.m. NT) on CBC TV, now streaming on CBC Gem
INENDI [SHE IS GONE] is a CBC Docs original documentary, directed by Sarain Fox (Land Back Studios). With a pandemic threatening to take our elders, Sarain Fox gathers stories from her auntie Mary Bell, who holds the family’s history. Mary is a residential school survivor who worked with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to document the stories of other survivors. Now that she’s an elder, she’s focused on how those stories will live on. Elders are knowledge keepers, but they are also among the most vulnerable to COVID-19. The pandemic is threatening to cut a line of knowledge that has survived for generations. Sarain reckons with this tension and her duty to sit with her auntie to document her stories before they are lost.
NEW ORIGINAL STORYTELLING
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THIS PLACE is a new original audio series from CBC Books revealing the Indigenous heroes, battles, triumphs and traditions which live outside and beyond the national story we have been taught. A mix of dramatization and interviews, hosted by Rosanna Deerchild, brings a new historical perspective of “this place” we call Canada to life. This unique series is a 10-part journey through one-hundred and fifty years of Indigenous resistance and resilience.
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. (7:30 NT) on CBC Radio One beginning June 29, with encore broadcasts on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. (2 NT) and available to stream on CBC Listen starting June 22
NOW STREAMING ON CBC LISTEN AND CBC GEM
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TELLING OUR TWISTED HISTORIES is a new podcast series exploring words whose meanings have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Actor Kaniehti:io Horn guides listeners through conversations with more than 70 people from 15 Indigenous communities whose lands now make up Quebec, New Brunswick and Labrador.
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MAAMUITAAU is a weekly Cree-language current affairs program, with English subtitles, bringing the stories of the James Bay Crees to life. In English, MAAMUITAAU means “let’s get together,” which reflects the spirit of the show. The ongoing series from CBC Cree covers a broad range of topics including social and political issues, environmental conflict, and traditional subjects such as hunting and crafts. Observational, engaging, and at times poetic, the show transports you to Quebec’s North and to the heart of Cree culture.
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NATIONAL INDIGENOUS HISTORY MONTH COLLECTION features documentaries and films on CBC Gem honouring the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, including Alanis Obomsawin’s JORDAN RIVER ANDERSON: THE MESSENGER and OUR PEOPLE WILL BE HEALED; Inuktitut-language Canadian drama MALIGLUTIT (SEARCHERS), TIFF Best Canadian Feature Film nominee ONE DAY IN THE LIFE OF NOAH PIUGATTUK and SGGAAWAAY K’UUNA (EDGE OF THE KNIFE), the first feature film made entirely in the Haida language.
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CBC KIDS INDIGENOUS COLLECTION showcases award-winning programs on CBC Gem, such as ANNANA’S TENT in both English and Inuktitut, TEEPEE TIME in English and Mi’kmaq, MOLLY OF DENALI, COYOTE’S CRAZY SMART SCIENCE SHOW, as well as STUDIO K’s celebration of Indigenous people and culture across Canada.
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CBC INDIGENOUS
CBC’s ongoing dedication to elevating Indigenous voices extends to the news and current affairs reporting by CBC Indigenous. Based in Winnipeg, with a network of journalists across the country, CBC Indigenous ignites critical conversations by sharing Indigenous stories that expose hard truths, honour diverse cultures and celebrate resilient communities.
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Watch, listen and follow the stories that matter most to Canadians from an Indigenous point of view —including content available in eight Indigenous languages—every month of the year on CBC Gem, CBC Listen, CBC.ca/Indigenous and @CBCIndigenous on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Visit CBC Arts for a special CBC logo from two-spirit Mi’kmaw artist, Sarah Hannon, marking both Indigenous History Month and Pride month through intricate beading that combines Indigenous tradition and contemporary style.
