Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation’s beginnings go back to the early 1980’s. Prior to that, the north had received merely token attention in the area of communications. A Government radio service broadcast out of Prince Albert, “Northern News”, addressed issues and matters of interest for fisherman and trappers in the north. However, the broadcasts were short and plagued by poor reception. Most communities were more familiar with the commercial stations from the south whose signals periodically skipped into the north, especially at night.

In the late 1970’s, CBC began broadcast of a program, “Keewatin Radio”, which contained more northern content and was aided by better reception due to the installation of low power relay transmitters in the area. The stories, though pertinent to the northern populace, were largely in English, and still originated from a southern broadcast location. The service was provided one hour a day, five days a week, and consisted of short news items, with the rest of the time filled by music.

Where at first MBC was dependent on Secretary of State funding and the use of CBC’s transmitters in carrying its’ programming, MBC is now at least functionally self-sufficient, generating its’ own revenue through bingos and advertising, with a recently implemented digital network program delivery system of its’ own design.

While its’ original list of communities virtually mirrored CBC’s service area, today MBC is heard in well over 70 communities, including many southern cities where thousands of ‘Urban Aboriginals’ now make their homes but still wish to keep informed of what is going on in the north.
In light of these developments, it is not hard to understand MBC’s position as the pre-eminent institution for the preservation, protection and enhancement of aboriginal cultures in Saskatchewan, and a leader in First Nations communications throughout the country.