The Inuit Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) produces and televises programs conceived, designed and produced by, and for the Inuit. They have a number of production centres across Nunavut all staffed by Inuit. The IBC has large mandate which includes educating, producing, providing training and employment, promoting communication, and promoting youth. The IBC was the first native language television network in North America, and the first indigenous project in the world to broadcast by satellite. The IBC works in partnership with the National Film Board, and draws funding from their own fundraising and licensing fees, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Nunavit government, and other programs. It was interest to see that the IBC has sponsored education of Nunavit artists at the Banff Institute. According to their website they have “launched the careers of over 50 independent Inuit producers, directors, writers, and camera persons”.
The website includes a Video Clips page with clips of current offerings of their television programs. One of the programs is a live call-in production which invites callers to discuss local issues such as suicide prevention, sled dogs, Inuktitut language, and climate change. The clips indicate that most programs are in Inuktitut with English close captioning. The website also includes a Kids Section which appears to be somewhat centered around a children’s program called Takuginai, which is over 20 years old. Takuginai currently uses puppets interacting with kids and focuses on cultural and language issues. The IBC is also in the process of training people to do computer animations for use in the program. The IBC also has a program on cooking and healthy eating. It is interesting to see that programming has its westernized influences like Sesame Street and Celebrity Cooks, but these have been adapted to apply specifically to the Inuit language and way of life. The website also includes a page which gives an interesting history of the IBC. It is interesting to note that the Program Calendar on the Website has no programs listed past the end of March 2008.