Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

APTN will air a special two-hour season premiere of its popular news and current affairs show Contact, focusing on Aboriginal rights and the obligations of governments and industry. The show will be broadcast from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne at 9 pm ET on October 1, 2008.

A long line of court decisions have recognized that Aboriginal land rights exist, and that government and industry have to consult with Aboriginal peoples about development and other actions dealing with traditional lands. Although those rights exist, recent cases have shown that government and industry don’t always live up to their obligations. Contact’s season premiere takes a more in-depth look at the issues.

Have governments and industry followed through with their duty to consult? Is there a point to having the duty to consult if there’s no duty to accommodate? Have Aboriginal communities been included in the decision-making process? Have they benefited from the profits coming out of development on traditional lands?

Contact looks at these issues, how they have evolved over the years, and what’s next for Aboriginal communities and leaders in the struggle to maintain control over Aboriginal lands.

“The convergence of virtually every piece of research and point of view that has gone into the making of this show, highlights a resistance to Aboriginal and Treaty rights,” said Contact host Cheryl McKenzie.

This special episode of Contact will broadcast from the Mohawk community of Akwesasne, which has been at the forefront of some of these issues.

IF YOU ARE IN THE AKWESASNE AREA ON OCTOBER 1st AND WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE STUDIO AUDIENCE CALL US TOLL FREE 1-888-278-8862 EXT. 232 OR EMAIL CONTACT@APTN.CA

This special two-hour show is the season premiere of Contact. It airs Wednesday, October 1 at 9 pm ET.

About APTN:

September 1, 2008 marked the nine-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 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite (DTH), telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. 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. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at http://www.aptn.ca.