As I read the articles for this first Module, and think about the power of media on indigenous people, it brought back memories of a good friend of mine, Nilesh Patel. Nilesh and I grew up in Prince George, BC, which, when I used to live there, I described as a “big town with a small town attitude”. It was a tough place – especially if you “stood out”.

Years after we both moved away, Nilesh went on to become a movie producer / creative director. He made a documentary style film to begin what he describes as a “raw” debate between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. The goal – to start real dialogue.

He chose to look carefully at a radio station tape release called “Brocket 99”. I still have yet to listen to this tape. I don’t think I would enjoy it. Nilesh explains how it (the tape / tapes) had a cult like following. They were not being sold or released anywhere, yet people recorded these radio sessions and then passed them on to friends or family. The premise of the radio sessions is a humouristic (I use that term very loosely as I don’t find it funny at all) representation of a radio station, called “Brocket 99”, is run by First Nations people in a small town – the town of Brocket, Alberta. The radio station personalities however are being played by non-First Nations people and it is offensive in all of its aspects.

I find I have many unanswered questions. How popular was Brockett 99? What was the result of Nilesh’s campaign to have dialogue? Why is it okay for people to “bash” their own culture, yet it is repulsive if others outside that culture do it? But then I think of comedians who make a living on bashing their own or other cultures, like Russell Peters. Is it okay for someone, who is perhaps a visible minority in one area to make jokes at the expense of other cultures or their own culture? Apparently the answer is “Yes” if you look at how much money top comedians make. One source I found estimates that Russell Peters earned approximately $10 million dollars in 2008!

I have contacted my friend Nilesh and intend to get to the bottom of this. I am interested in learning more of how media played a role in the “success” of “Brocket 99”, and then the response to Nilesh’s rebuttal, “Brocket 99 – Rockin’ the Country”…

Mel Burgess.