Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is gearing up for the launch of an exciting new fall line-up, bringing viewers more original programming, hit series, new seasons of fan favourites, a variety of documentary and movie premieres, investigative news, and more hilarious comedy programming.
New comedy Tuesdays will feature the much anticipated world premiere of the new sketch comedy show, The Bionic Bannock Boys and the premiere of The Candy Show. To complete the new comedy block, the APTN fan favourite Caution: May Contain Nuts will return with a brand new season.
In the tradition of hard-hitting investigative journalism, APTN InFocus and APTN Investigates will return in the fall with brand new seasons, providing in-depth analysis and uncovering the truths behind some of the most controversial news stories affecting Aboriginal Peoples today. The new season of APTN Investigates will feature stories on unregulated landfills, the Bell of Batoche, drug addiction, and cultural identify theft.
This fall marks the launch of five new documentary series on APTN including Indiens dans la ville, a series that depicts the presence of Aboriginal characters in urban sculptures and Sheltered, which explores the ancient home building secrets of the world’s Indigenous cultures . Fit First is a documentary series that follows four individuals in their pursuit to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle. A study on Aboriginal urbanization is the focus of the world premiere Back in the Day and Samaq’an: Water Stories examines the current state of water affecting First Nations, Canadians and the world.
APTN’s fan favourite Arbor Live returns with a new season featuring more live performances, in-depth artist interviews and hilarious comedic back stage antics with featured artists.
Three-time Gemini-award-winning Wapos Bay will return for a fifth and final season, featuring the voices of Andrea Menard, Lorne Cardinal, and Gordon Tootoosis.
“APTN is very excited to begin the 2010 fall season with many great new shows and new seasons of fan favourites,” said Sky Bridges, APTN Director of Marketing. “We look forward to offering the new comedy Tuesdays and the new documentary programming to our dedicated viewers. APTN is always honoured to be the network chosen to premiere such original programming created by so many talented Aboriginal producers, creators, and actors. The fall schedule will continue to reflect the unique programming only available on APTN, which explores and celebrates Aboriginal traditions, languages, arts, music, sports, history, and the news affecting our communities to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world.”
APTN’s 2010 fall season begins September 7 and new programming will continue to roll out through the fall.
New to APTN this Fall:
Bionic Bannock Boys – World Premiere: September 7
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 9:30 pm ET / MT / CT and on APTN HD
The Bionic Bannock Boys are the medicine men of Aboriginal comedy and general practitioners of laughter. Bionic Bannock Boys is a convergence of pharmaceutical hilarity and entertainment, prescribing short dramatic skits for arthritic funny bones.
Broadcast in: English and Cree
The Candy Show – World Premiere: September 7
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 9 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
The Candy Show is a half hour comedy show full of edge, wit, intelligence and with a high entertainment quotient. Candy never shies away from difficult issues, but believing that ‘humour is a rubber sword…you can make a point without drawing blood.’ Candy goes to the heart of a difficult issue, faces it down and helps the audience face up to it.
Broadcast in: English
Indiens dans la ville – World Premiere: September 9
Broadcast: Thursdays at 2 pm ET / MT / CT and Wednesdays at 2:30 pm on APTN HD
This series depict the presence of Native characters in urban sculptures. Whether one is a tourist or a citizen, those “red sculptures” are not always noticeable. This documentary series will bring the viewers on an exploration on some Canadian cities, looking for significant pieces or art, but this time form a Native point-of-view.
Broadcast in: French, English, Mohawk, Innu, Algonquin, Cree
The Young Riders – APTN Premiere: September 9
Broadcast: Thursdays at 8 pm ET / MT / CT
Saddle up for fun and adventure with “The Young Riders”! Set in the early days of the Pony Express, the series tells the fictionalized story of a group of young riders for the express in Sweetwater, Kansas, who just happen to include a couple of dudes who would one day go down in real-life history as two of the west’s most notorious names: “Buffalo Bill” Cody (Stephen Baldwin) and “Wild Bill” Hickock (Josh Brolin). In charge of the bunch is ex-Texas ranger and all-around eccentric Teaspoon Hunter (Anthony Zerbe). See how they all put the wild in the wild, wild west!
Broadcast in: English
Back in the Day – World Premiere: September 11
Broadcast: Saturdays at 5:30 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
It’s a debate that’s raged on since Natives first moved into the city, how would I fare against my ancestors? Back in the Day…aims to answer that question by taking six First Nations People from downtown Vancouver and putting them out into the wilds of British Columbia.
Broadcast in: English
Samaq’an: Water Stories – APTN Premiere: September 11
Broadcast: Saturdays at 5:30 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
The series examines the current state of water affecting First Nations, Canadians and the world. Each half hour documentary will combine science with the indigenous experience. The Series will concern itself with the state of water and how global warming is having an irreversible negative impact on the sustainability our water supply. We shall examine water on the northern and southern hemisphere, glaciers, rivers, lakes and oceans. Visually we bring people from the mouth of a river to the headwaters. Along that journey we find stories that connect people to water such as the fishery and agriculture. By examining the biological and natural environment with a discussion about spiritual connections to land and water, a new perspective may emerge. We will feature stories with Inuit hunters and Cree trappers. MikMak and Kwaguith fishermen, Montagnais and Maliseet about the impact of industrialization of our rivers and from the Haida and Heiltsuk about Marine protection efforts and the impact of fish farming, exploration and sport fishing.
Broadcast in: English and Maliseet
Billy Connolly Journey to the Edge of the World – APTN Premiere: September 19
Broadcast: Sundays at 5 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
Fit First – World Premiere: October 13
Broadcast: Wednesdays at 11:30 am ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
Fit First is a documentary series that follows four individuals in their pursuit to lose weight and get healthy! The Aboriginal participants come from a variety of backgrounds and lifestyles. We meet a mother of 5 who has spent the last 25 years raising children and now wants to focus on herself, a young father wanting to be around for his children and also dreams of one day being able to mow the lawn shirtless! The series will lead the participants through physical challenges, supply them with gym membership, including a personalized nutritional and goal setting activity plan with a trainer and dietician. Over six months, share the journey of the participants toward their goals of losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle!
Broadcast in: English
Sheltered – World Premiere: October 20
Broadcast: Wednesdays at 8 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
A young Aboriginal carpenter’s quest for knowledge leads him to five continents to learn the ancient home building secrets of the world’s Indigenous cultures. As our intrepid traveler investigates ancient methods, materials, and techniques, viewers will share in his personal mission to learn all there is about sustainable shelter.
Broadcast in: English
New Seasons of Fan Favourites:
Caution: May Contain Nuts – Season ll – World Premiere: September 7
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 10 pm ET / MT / CT / and on APTN HD
Folks down south may think we as a country are duller than mayo on Wonderbread, but what do they know? We’re the country that produced Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, SCTV, Kids in the Hall, Four on the Floor, Ivan Reitman and William Shatner, among the rest of the best in entertainment. Without the Canadarm, the space shuttle couldn’t even scratch its ass. Hell, we’re so cracked we call our basic unit of currency the Loonie! And we’re the cod-damned kings of sketch comedy. So meet the new royals – Caution: May Contain Nuts, a ground breaking and hilarious new half hour sketch comedy show.
Broadcast in: English
Arbor Live – Season ll – World Premiere: September 7
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 10:30 pm ET / MT / CT and on APTN HD
Rock guitarist Steve Salas (Apache) hosts Arbor Live, a high energy and fast paced music variety TV show featuring emerging Aboriginal artists alongside today’s global super stars. Join Stevie, comedic director “Steelbird” and his “assistant” real life movie star Eric Schweig as they present these incredible live performances, in-depth artists interviews and hilarious comedic back stage antics with featured artists.
Broadcast in: English and Ojibway
Wabanaagig – Season ll – World Premiere: September 7
Broadcast: Tuesdays at 2:30 pm on APTN HD and Fridays at 7:30 pm CT
Celebrate the stories of the Wabanaki Nations, past and present. Stories of young Aboriginal people walking between two worlds trying to find a balance between traditional culture and modern life, the importance of passing the traditional ways onto the next generation, and the trials, tribulations and successes of past generations.
Broadcast in English and Mi’kmaq
Closer to Home – Season ll – World Premiere: September 8
Broadcast: Wednesdays at 7:30 pm ET / MT / and on APTN HD
Each of the episodes in the Closer To Home documentary function as a chapter in an evolving story where we see and learn how homes are obtained, financed, built, maintained, made healthier and more energy efficient. Within each half hour installment, we come to know our on location characters and their families, get a sense of their community, and enhance our understanding of the issues on their reserve. While each episode builds on the previous, all half hour segments function as stand alone programs, designed for viewing and distribution individually.
Broadcast in: English
APTN InFocus – Season ll – World Premiere: September 10
Broadcast: Fridays (alternating with APTN Investigates) at 6:30 pm ET / MT / CT and APTN HD
APTN InFocus takes the latest news stories and puts them into perspective. Join host Cheryl McKenzie as she puts the news viewers want to see “in focus”, providing in-depth analysis to give the ‘story behind the story’. Informational and educational, APTN InFocus provides a detailed examination of the issues affecting our communities.
Broadcast in: English
APTN Investigates – Season ll – World Premiere: September 17
Broadcast: Fridays (alternating with APTN InFocus) at 6:30 pm ET / MT / CT and APTN HD
In this day of spin doctors, speaking points and sound bites, you need someone to give you the real story. This investigative news program goes behind the headlines, past the sound bites and digs deep to find out the truth. If things don’t quite add up, the most knowledgeable team of reporters are assigned to peel away the layers of spin and get right to the heart of the issue. APTN Investigates asks the tough questions on behalf of APTN viewers to reveal what’s really going on.
Broadcast in: English
Wapos Bay – Final Season – World Premiere: October 6
Broadcast: Wednesdays at 4 pm ET / Sundays at 10:30 am MT / and on Thursdays at 8:30 pm on APTN HD
New APTN French Programming:
C’est parti mon tipi! – Season ll – World Premiere: September 6
Broadcast: Mondays at 4 pm ET / MT / CT / APTN HD
Makusham – Season ll – World Premiere: September 6
Broadcast: Mondays at 7 pm ET / APTN HD
Pachamama – Season ll – World Premiere: October 4
Broadcast: Mondays at 8 pm ET / APTN HD
Late Fall 2010 & Winter 2011 premiere
The Hook Up – WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: Fall 2010
All Feeds
4 x 30 minute episodes
Lifestyle Series
Two strangers come together in the wilds of Canada, go with the flow, and celebrate what nature is about to bestow upon them. In each episode of The Hook Up, our ‘Fish Magnet’ (Aboriginal Fishing Guide) encounters a well-known, city-dwelling, personality (artist, actor, entertainer, politician etc.) and spends a day with them in the aquatic hot spots of Canada fishing, cooking and sharing never-told-before stories. It’s the world’s ultimate fishing trip with one Canada’s greatest Aboriginal anglers in a mystical setting that encounters wildlife, pristine waterways and interaction with Aboriginal peoples and a rich cultural heritage. And they don’t come off the water until they catch some fish!
Broadcast in: English
*Available in HD
By the Rapids – Season lll – WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: January 2011
All Feeds
7x 30 minute episodes
Animation Comedy Series
By the Rapids is an animated comedy with attitude, this series takes a satirical look at what happens when a thoroughly urban teenager tries to integrate into the small Aboriginal community where his successful lawyer parents were born and raised. Featuring the voices of Kaniehtiio Horn and Joseph Tekaroniake Lazare.
Broadcast in: English and Mohawk
*Available in HD
*Available with video description for the visually impaired
Uluits (The) – Champions of the North – WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: Winter 2011
All Feeds
5 x 30 minute episodes
Documentary Series
This series will focus on the unknown story of one women’s hockey team, high up in the Nunavik region of Quebec. They are called The Uluits and these Inuk women are the pride of their community. While tracing their journey to the Hudson Bay Cup – which they have won the last five years – audience will also witness different aspects of life and culture in this distinct community through the experiences of individuals team members.
Broadcast in: English and Inuktitut
*Available in HD
One With Nature –WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: January 2011
All Feeds
12 x 30 minute episodes
Documentary Series
The series will profile existing environmental initiatives and explore the issues currently affecting Aboriginal communities and discover why and how Aboriginal people have continued to thrive with their Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) despite repeated attempts to eradicate their culture and way of life. The series not only celebrates the symbiotic relationship Aboriginal people have with mother earth, but also explores how it is being threatened and incorporates the viewpoints of many western trained scientists who have confirmed that TEK can provide many invaluable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
Broadcast in: English, French, Ojibway
*Available in HD
Cooking with the Wolfman – Season Vlll – WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: Winter/Spring 2011
All Feeds
6 x 30 minute episodes
Lifestyle Cooking Series (and new contest-like reality show)
In Season 8 of Cooking with the Wolfman, Chef David Wolfman will introduce a new look and enhanced feel to the show through a culinary cook-off. David will bring 8 guest culinary enthusiasts to a large in-studio gathering table or traditional gathering area, and over seven elimination-styled episodes will determine an ultimately successful amateur chef The finalist of the cook off will get to join Chef David Wolfman in a full-fledged feast for the senses.
Broadcast in: English
*Available in HD
Fall Pilots
Fall Pilots:
Mohawk Girls – WORLD PREMIERE
Launches: Thursday, October 7 on Shortcuts
All Feeds
1 x 30 Dramatic Comedy Pilot Episode
Mohawk Girls is a half hour dramatic comedy about four young women figuring out how to be Mohawk in the 21st century. The series revolves around Bailey, Caitlin, Zoe, and Anna, four twenty-something Mohawk women trying to find their place in the world and of course, trying to find love.
Broadcast in: English
*Available in HD
*Available with video description for the visually impaired
