After almost ten years of waiting, a Homalco First Nation-based radio station has been awarded a license by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

“We got our radio license today,” said Darren Blaney in mid-October. “We will be 100.7 on the FM dial and will be streaming on the internet.”

He said the Aupe Cultural Enhancement Society board of directors will be meeting do all the work needed to get the station on-air by October 2017. Funding sources for capital costs, as well as training dollars, will be high on the agenda.

“We want to train Homalco and others to begin this venture to help our youth, elders and community,” he said. “We will do healing issues around residential schools and Aboriginal rights and languages. We’ll also have reporters going to events and workshops.”

Another agenda item will be determining the station’s call letters. Blaney said some early choices include CHIA (grandmother), CHOI or CIEM (honoured one).

He said there has already been interest by Indigenous people wanting to work as DJs or reporters for the new station, as well as from musicians wanting to host live weekend jam sessions.

The CRTC license runs until 2023 when it can be renewed.