b'HISTORYWe werent there to make people comfort- conversations about missing and murderedwe thrive, we give others permission to able, recalls Knapp. We were there to tellIndigenous women and girls, long beforethrive too.the truth. And the truth is, our people arethe issue caught the attention of wide-brilliant. Were funny, were resilient . werespread national media. In the end, Indigenous media is about artists, scholars, activists, aunties. Thats whatmore than being seenits also about sover-AVM held space for. Many of todays Indigenous publicationseignty over stories. Its about preserving continue this legacy, often run by smallmemory, reclaiming voice and shaping the That energy helped birth the Aboriginalteams with deep community ties andfuture on our own terms. From community Voices Radio Network (AVRN), a nationalintergenerational structure. They publishpapers to the global reach of online media, broadcast platform that carried those samein multiple languages, amplify localIndigenous storytellers continue to find values to the airwaves. AVRN grew to reachvoices and carry forward generations ofnew ways to carry teachings forward. Indigenous audiences in five major cities knowledge sharing.Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, EdmontonAnd as we navigate the trials and tribula-and Ottawaoffering a rare and vitalThe more Indigenous people who createtions of reconciliation, Indigenous story-platform for Indigenous voices on FM radio.media, the more connected we become,tellers are building the bridges we need to For many, it was the first time they heardsays Knapp. Theres healing in that. Whenovercome systemic barriers.their own languages, music and community realities shared freely across public airwaves.Longtime media and music advocate ElaineJFKBomberry says those early days of AVRN were electric. There was a magic to it, she shares. We were giving voice to our people, literally. And we did it without any blueprint. We just knew it was needed. LAW LLP Victoria . Vancouver . Calgary. Edmonton . Ohsweken . TorontoBomberry, who served on the original boardJFK Law represents Indigenous communities throughoutand helped shape the direction of AVRN, brought a background steeped in perform- Canada. We work with our clients to advance theirance, advocacy and broadcast storytelling.Nations, protect their rights and build their economies.She remembers the stations early days as a kind of cultural firepit where voices, laughter and language came together. We werentConsultation,just spinning tracks, she says. We wereLitigation and Corporate Accommodationsharing spirit. Music brings things wordsDispute & Commercialcant. Theres a frequency, a vibration, thatResolution Services and Regulatoryconnects people to story, to memory, toRevieweach other.AVRNs legacy, she says, lives on in everyDriven by a passionIndigenous podcast, community station and music showcase that centres our voicesComplex for justice, we offer Economicwithout apology. We built somethingNegotiations creative legal Development andthat gave people permission to feel seen.solutions and work GovernanceThat matters.towards meaningfulThat wave of expansion also set the stage for something even bigger: a national televisionchange.network with the reach, infrastructure and mandate to represent IndigenousMeet JFK Laws women leadershippeople across Turtle Island on prime-time screens. In 1999, the Aboriginal Peoples Image - Frog by Evan AsterTelevision Network (APTN) officially launched, becoming the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Today, APTN reaches millions of homes across Canada and beyond, offering program-ming in English and French as well as Indigenous languages.Sara Mainville Erin Thomson-Leach Su Hutchinson Karey Brooks KC Aria Laskin Robin Phillips Claire TruesdaleWhile APTN became a national powerhouse,Managing Partner Partner COO Partner Partner Partner Partnerother publications like Spirit Magazine, SAY Magazine and Muskrat Magazine kept print media rooted in community, especially from an Indigenous womens perspective. SpiritJFKlaw.caMagazine particularly helped elevate early Ontario Native Womens Association29'