Indian radio stations have source of help
Posted: Monday, May 29, 2006
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- American Indian radio stations have a new partner helping them broadcast an eclectic mix of community programming to reservations across the country.
The Center for Native American Radio offers 33 radio stations that serve Indians help with programming, accounting, engineering and fundraising, which is a big challenge for most of the noncommercial operations.
A $1.5 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting established the center, which is overseen by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters in Oakland, Calif.
"We're now this unified group. Before, the stations were sort of on their own and a lot of them felt isolated," said Peggy Berryhill, director of services and planning.
"So now they're beginning to see their collective strengths and share their assets and issues and begin moving forward."
The center doesn't provide funding, but it connects stations with people and groups who know how to find money that's available, she said.
In South Dakota, KILI-FM on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has been off the air since an April 15 lightning strike. CNAPR referred the station to a consultant who knows how to write grant proposals, said Tom Casey, business manager and development director.
The station requested a $201,000 emergency grant from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program at the Department of Commerce in Washington, which could help KILI replace the antenna, transmission line and transmitter, and install a grounding system.
The station has six months to raise $40,000 to $50,000 in matching money and is halfway to its goal, Casey said.
He hopes to hear back on the grant within weeks.
CNAPR's help with the grant was priceless, he said.
The center also tipped him off about another funding program to help the station go digital, Casey said.
"We're going to come back stronger than ever with new transmitting equipment and new studio equipment and we'll be in good shape," he said.
Berryhill said strengthening Indian radio stations helps Indian communities maintain their traditions and sovereignty.
"The mission of most of these stations is about cultural preservation," she said. "It's about economic development for the reservation. It's about having a voice for their communities, an independent media."
The Center for Native American Radio offers 33 radio stations that serve Indians help with programming, accounting, engineering and fundraising, which is a big challenge for most of the noncommercial operations.
A $1.5 million grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting established the center, which is overseen by the National Federation of Community Broadcasters in Oakland, Calif.
"We're now this unified group. Before, the stations were sort of on their own and a lot of them felt isolated," said Peggy Berryhill, director of services and planning.
"So now they're beginning to see their collective strengths and share their assets and issues and begin moving forward."
The center doesn't provide funding, but it connects stations with people and groups who know how to find money that's available, she said.
In South Dakota, KILI-FM on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation has been off the air since an April 15 lightning strike. CNAPR referred the station to a consultant who knows how to write grant proposals, said Tom Casey, business manager and development director.
The station requested a $201,000 emergency grant from the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program at the Department of Commerce in Washington, which could help KILI replace the antenna, transmission line and transmitter, and install a grounding system.
The station has six months to raise $40,000 to $50,000 in matching money and is halfway to its goal, Casey said.
He hopes to hear back on the grant within weeks.
CNAPR's help with the grant was priceless, he said.
The center also tipped him off about another funding program to help the station go digital, Casey said.
"We're going to come back stronger than ever with new transmitting equipment and new studio equipment and we'll be in good shape," he said.
Berryhill said strengthening Indian radio stations helps Indian communities maintain their traditions and sovereignty.
"The mission of most of these stations is about cultural preservation," she said. "It's about economic development for the reservation. It's about having a voice for their communities, an independent media."
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