If the prime minister won’t come, why not try the premier?
That was the approach Sechelt Nation Chief Calvin Craigan took after Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office declined the request for Harper to appear on the first episode of Craigan’s Coast TV talk show, Voices of shíshálh.
Premier Christy Clark was taped for the show, which debuts Oct. 15, during the Sept. 11 All Chiefs Gathering in Vancouver.
“She said she was very happy to see the very first First Nation to have its own TV show,” Craigan said. “She was really impressed by that.”
He described the interview with Clark as “very pragmatic in terms of communication.”
B.C. grand chiefs attending the event were also interviewed for the show, he said.
“You’ll hear their comments, my comments, my questions to them, how they interpreted the seminar, different things.”
Craigan said he enjoys the experience of crafting the half-hour show, which will run twice monthly.
“I’ve always believed in communication, letting other people know. When I was a young chief that was part of our plan: that we had to educate local communities on who we are, what our agenda was.”
Future episodes will feature interviews with elected officials from local government, while Harper’s office indicated that “they look forward to sending someone to our show,” Craigan said.
The show airs at 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 and is repeated the next day at 1 and 9 p.m.
Producer Tamar Kozlov said final shooting for the first episode is scheduled for Oct. 8 at the Band’s longhouse in Sechelt.
Kozlov confirmed that national networks, including APTN, have expressed interest in broadcasting the show.
“It’s something long in the making,” she said. “There’s a need to have a show like this, especially at this time. It’s going to take off, I think.”
