Access Communications is launching a new Saskatchewan series that shares the stories and memories of northern elders.
Elders of the North is a 12-part series that will premiere Friday, May 20 at 9 p.m. on Access7.
"Elders of the North not only serves to bridge differences between diverse peoples and cultures, but it also shares northern experiences and a way of life that is rapidly disappearing," says Jim Deane, president and CEO of Access Communications.
The series was conceived when Marilyn Chernoff-Kelly, an Access Communications employee in La Ronge, invited a First Nations elder to join her for a cup of coffee in her office. As he reminisced about days gone by, she realized the value of a television series to share stories and memories of the elders. Chernoff-Kelly co-produced the series with Access colleague, David Gruchy.
"Throughout the production of Elders of the North, I learned so much about this area I call home, Northern Saskatchewan, which is still in many ways largely untouched by civilization," said Chernoff-Kelly. "Many of the elders we hear from lived off the land in their youth, and the memories they share are both culturally and historically educational."
Viewers will hear stories from both men and women about residential schools, life on a northern trapline, dog-sledding for supplies, and more. Not all of the elders featured are aboriginal: other pioneers of the north are included, who speak about starting and operating businesses in the north decades ago. Some of the stories are related in Cree, which Access7 has translated and subtitled to English subtitles for its viewers.
