New Indigenous languages radio station 89.3 The Raven launches in Edmonton

A new radio station featuring programming in five indigenous languages has launched in Edmonton.© Provided by Edmonton Journal The Raven Studio in Edmonton. The new readio station, featuring indigenous language programming, is set to launch on Feb. 1.

The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta (AMMSA) launched 89.3 The Raven on Monday. The station features blues, hip hop, classical rock and pop music alongside language programming in Cree, Dene, Nakoda Sioux, Blackfoot and Michif. It will also broadcast news and indigenous culture programming.

“All our staff and management have worked really hard to make this a reality. I’m so proud of them and our new baby,” said Bert Crowfoot, founder and CEO of AMMSA, in a news release issued Sunday.

The station is scheduled to start each morning at 6 a.m. with an indigenous prayer, a welcome song and the news. Raven Mornings will broadcast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and will be followed by a half hour of language programming. The afternoon show, known as the Tribe Drive, will run from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The station will also feature a number non-daily block programs.


The Raven is live in Edmonton #Yeg 89.3 #ListenLive https://t.co/58mfsO4SrO #Indigenous #ClassicRock #Blues pic.twitter.com/aKQwrrR2VF— 89.3 The Raven (@893TheRaven) February 1, 2021

The radio station was originally supposed to launch last April but was delayed because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission granted AMMSA a pair of broadcasting licenses four years ago to launch two radio stations. The society is currently operating a station in Calgary, which launched in 2018.

Crowfoot said he is excited to launch an Edmonton station and likened the beginning of The Raven to the early days of the Windspeaker newspaper in 1983, a print media outlet that AMMSA operates.

He said that while The Raven focuses on indigenous language programming, the station is for everyone.

“We have a lot of listeners that aren’t Indigenous,” said Crowfoot in the news release. “Many non-Indigenous people are extremely interested in the radio shows featuring language programming and culture.”

dshort@postmedia.com