UPDATE BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

by Frank Blythe

(from L to R): Nac Producer/Director Wishelle Banks (Anishinaabe), NAPT Executive Director Frank Blythe, and KBC Director of National Programming Susan Braine (Assiniboine Sioux).

I am pleased to announce the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) has awarded a three-year, $1.2 million grant to Koahnic Broadcasting (KBC) for production of Native America Calling (NAC). This is a result of an agreement signed by NAPT and KBC to consolidate ownership of the Native America Calling under the Alaska-based KBC, effective April 2, 2001.

NAPT will continue to operate AIROS as the distributor of Native public radio programming for NAC and other Native station-produced programs on the satellite and Internet. This agreement with KBC can only strengthen our relationship for radio productions as it will allow NAPT to continue to distribute NAC content while focusing time and resources in other programming areas.

Most Native radio stations are located in reservation communities or Native villages. But with nearly 60 percent of Native people now living in non-reservation communities, AIROS will utilize new distribution technologies to truly connect Native people on a world-wide scale. This transfer agreement makes it possible for NAPT to move in that direction and for KBC to bring its demonstrated production expertise to build NAC into the quality program it deserves to be.

In fact, two new staff members have already been added to the team. Prior to the signing of the agreements, NAPT and KBC hired Ms. Wishelle Banks as new Producer/Director for NAC. Harlan McKosato continues as program Host. Also joining the Albuquerque team May 1st is Ms. Susan Braine. Susan has joined KBC as the new Director of National Programming and will oversee Native America Calling, The Wellness Edition, National Native News and Earthsongs, all distributed on AIROS by NAPT. Chip Borton is studio engineer for NAC and KBC plans to hire at least one more Associate Producer.

The transfer agreement concludes eighteen months of planning and discussion since NAPT and KPC began negotiations. The transfer enables NAPT, which had been producing the program since 1995, to focus on development of AIROS and NAPT’s growing internet-based media distribution unit for audio and video content.

So, for the stations and the listener, Native America Calling has new grant support for three years from CPB. Koahnic has new producing team members, and a growing AIROS distribution network on satellite and the internet. We also thank the Native and public radio stations for their broadcasts of NAC, and the growing internet audience who let us know by email how much they enjoy AIROS online. Keep listening at nativetelecom.org. Thank you.