Backgrounder - CanNor Supports Arts and Culture in Yukon and the Northwest Territories

The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing $54,000 to purchase high-definition equipment for the Native Communications Society in Yellowknife and $19,000 to hire labour to assist in developing renovation plans for the Dawson City Music Festival’s “Raise the Roof” project.

The Native Communications Society (NCS) is the only organization producing Dene language programming in the Northwest Territories and produces 26 episodes of “Our Dene Elders” annually for APTN. APTN has asked NCS to develop a new program that better reflects a wider aboriginal perspective and understanding of the NWT Dene population for southern viewers. The show will teach about the languages, cultures, traditions, aspiration and talents of the Dene. To do this successfully and to expand the potential range of this programming, NCS will replace the current analog equipment with high-definition equipment to produce the program in the format that is increasingly the standard.

The internationally-renowned Dawson City Music Festival plans to do feasibility work and develop renovation plans as part of its “Raise the Roof” project to expand existing office space. This work will help support the development of a professional music studio and expansion of the Musician in Residence program that will allow musicians to make professional recordings in Dawson City.

These investments are made possible through CanNor’s Strategic Investments in Northern Economic Development (SINED) program, which focuses on long-term economic growth, economic diversification and capacity building in all three territories.