(Submitted Photo/DWF)

By paNOW Staff

A Day to Listen

Pattison Media joining Canadian broadcasters in event to amplify Indigenous voices

Jun 24, 2021 | 5:11 PM

Next Wednesday, June 30, will be a day to amplify, elevate, listen and learn from Indigenous voices.

In recognition of National Indigenous History Month, Pattison Media will be joining other major broadcasters across the country for a special program in partnership with the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjak Fund (DWF.) ‘A Day to Listen’ will be dedicated to sharing stories from Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors, elders, musicians, teachers and more.

“It will be emotional and impactful,” said Ross Winters, director of programming for Pattison Media.

While the special programming was planned in recognition of National Indigenous History Month, it also comes after the tragic discovery of human remains at a former residential school site in Kamloops, B.C. last month. And today’s further news out of the Cowessess First Nation in southeastern Saskatchewan, where 751 unmarked graves were discovered at Marieval Indian Residential School, add even more importance to the theme of the programming.

“Certainly, the impact gets amplified with today’s news from Saskatchewan as Canadians continue to come to grips with what many are just beginning to learn about and understand,” said Winters. “And with every finding like the one in Kamloops and Saskatchewan, it amplifies the collective wake-up call for Canadians. It really is time to listen.”

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Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. next Wednesday, about 400 radio stations will participate, spanning different markets, regions, and formats. While Winters said it’s a long road to truth and reconciliation, this is just one small step along that path to enacting real change.

“Canadians can visit DWF throughout the day to learn more about their programming which includes the Legacy Schools program, which provides educators with free resources to teach about the true history of residential schools. The Pattison Media group of radio stations are one hundred per cent in support of this initiative, this broadcast on June 30^th and proud to open our mics so that Indigenous friends are heard,” Winters said.

Sarah Midanik, president and CEO of DWF said, “We hope that ‘A Day to Listen’, and the ongoing work that we do at DWF begins a new chapter in our reconciliation journey so that no Canadian is ever shocked again by the horrors inflicted upon Indigenous Peoples.”

The mission of DWF is to create a pathway towards reconciliation and to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between Canadians.

All nine radio stations within Pattison Media in Prince Albert, Melfort, North Battleford, and Meadow Lake will be participating in ‘A Day to Listen.’

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertNOW