CBC Digital Archives

Indian Magazine becomes Our Native Land

On Saturday afternoons for 21 years, dedicated listeners would "get their bannock and tea," and tune into CBC Radio for news from Our Native Land. The first - and so far only - national radio program focused on native issues and cultures, it chronicled the rejuvenation of native literature, art, culture and political activism beginning in 1965. Hosts included Johnny Yesno, Bernelda Wheeler, Albert Angus and Brian Maracle, who were part of the all-aboriginal production team.

Canada's first national aboriginal radio show is growing up alongside the emerging native rights movement. After six years on the air, Indian Magazine is ready to go "all red, all the time." Under its new title, Our Native Land, it will "give more air time to native peoples and ... limit non-natives to a minimum," says host Johnny Yesno. The 1970 show opens with a story on communal living in Vancouver, interviews Iroquois-Cherokee singer Kay Starr, and closes with a segment on Indian newspapers and magazines.
• Born Katherine Starks, Kay Starr began her singing career in front of an audience of chickens in her family's hen house at age seven. Starr's aunt entered her in a talent competition on a local Dallas radio station, which she won so many times that the station created a regular 15-minute spot for her. As a teenager she took her mom on the road as she toured with Joe Venuti's jazz orchestra. Kay worked so hard that she lost her voice and caught pneumonia, taking a year off to rest. Coming back with a smokier sound she hit a career high note as a jazz soloist.
Medium: Radio
Program: Our Native Land
Broadcast Date: Oct. 3, 1970
Guest(s): Leigh Carter, Jim Dumont, Jean Goodwill, Bob Joseph, Tona Mason, Kay Starr
Announcer: Doug Lennox
Host: Johnny Yesno
Duration: 48:42
This clip was edited for copyright reasons.

Last updated: May 9, 2012

Page consulted on May 21, 2013

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