Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Aboriginal Languages
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APTN NATIONAL NEWS
Winnipeg, Manitoba (CT)
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Vancouver Winter Games
APTN & THE VANCOUVER 2010 WINTER GAMES

APTN is proud to be the first Indigenous network worldwide to broadcast live coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games. To make this event accessible to all Canadians, APTN provided 10 hours of daily coverage throughout the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games with commentary in a variety of Aboriginal languages (Inuktitut, Dene, Cree, Oji-Cree, Mechif, Mi'kmaq, Mohawk and Ojibway, as well as French and English). As an Official Broadcaster, APTN helped provide more access and coverage of the Games to multi-language communities and cultures across Canada than ever before.

APTN HOSTS & COMMENTATORS

To make Aboriginal language programming of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games possible, APTN embarked on a Canada-wide search for experienced broadcasters fluent in their Native tongue. Then we looked for people strong in their language, with or without broadcast experience, and brought in some of the most respected names in television sports to train them. This approach allowed APTN's announcers to do what Aboriginal Peoples do best - tell the story.

HOSTS +
English language show host Mike
Beauregard
A staple of the Winnipeg television sports scene for almost 25 years, Mike Beauregard has worked for City Television, CTV and CBC Manitoba where he was a national reporter for Hockey Night in Canada, The CFL on CBC and The National. Born and raised in Ottawa of Algonquin heritage, he was the voice of the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings for CKX-TV and Radio in Brandon.
Aboriginal language show host Rick
Harp
A member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in northern Saskatchewan, Rick Harp is a founder and president of the INDIGENA Creative Group, specializing in media, research and analysis, and event production. Rick's over 15 years of media experience in journalism and communication includes host/producer roles with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
French language show host Charles
Clément
Charles Clément is an independent television producer, director and host. Charles has worked on various international sporting events and was a member of senior management teams at CanWest Global Communications Corporation and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Vancouver on-location host Waneek
Horn-Miller
The co-captain of Canada's women's water polo team at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Waneek Horn-Miller is a powerful Mohawk leader in the tradition of her mother and grandmother and still makes her home on the Kahnawake Reserve in Montreal. Waneek has been a part of APTN's extended family for a number of different projects.
COMMENTATORS +
Abel Charles
Cree commentator
Abel Charles has several years experience in radio as a Cree language broadcaster. He has worked extensively with the Government of Saskatchewan and Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation, but this was his first foray into sports broadcasting. He provided Cree commentary for downhill skiing and ladies aerials.
Barry Ahenakew
Cree-plains commentator
Barry Ahenakew has been a public speaker and Chief in Ahtahkakpoop Reserve, Saskatchewan, his home community, for 18 years. He provided Cree-Plains commentary for downhill skiing and ladies aerials.
Harry Opikowkew
Cree commentator
While Harry Opikowkew has worked in radio for 14 years, including 2 years with NCI in Thompson, Manitoba, this was his first time calling play-by-play for a live sporting event. Originally from Canoe Lake Cree Nation, he provided Cree commentary for speed skating, Nordic combined and men's curling.
Robert Merasty
Cree-Mechif commentator
From Ile a la Crosse, Saskatchewan, Robert has worked for CBC and was the first CEO of the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. He provided Cree-Mechif commentary for a mix of various events, including speed skating, Nordic combined and men's curling.
George Nakogee
Cree-Ontario commentator
George Nakogee from Attawapiskat, Ontario, called hockey in his native Cree language, including the final games that saw the Canadian men and women bring home the gold. He and Jules Spence have called the annual Aboriginal hockey tournament held in Sioux Lookout, Ontario for Wawatay Television for the past several years.
Jules Spence
Cree-Ontario commentator
Jules Spence has called the annual Aboriginal hockey tournament held in Sioux Lookout, Ontario with George Nakogee for Wawatay Television for the past several years. He provided commentary for men's and women's hockey in his native Cree language, including both of Canada's gold medal games.
Brian Francis
Mi'kmaq commentator
Making his first foray into sports broadcasting, Brian Francis from Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, called the closing ceremonies in the Mi'kmaq language native to his home New Brunswick region. He shared these duties with his cousin Justin Francis.
Justin Francis
Mi'kmaq commentator
Justin Francis shared the duties of calling the closing ceremonies with his cousin Brian Francis. Providing commentary in the Mi'kmaq language native to his home New Brunswick region was his first experience calling a sporting event.
Darren Stevens
Mi'kmaq commentator
Darren Stevens provided commentary in Mi'kmaq for men's and women's hockey, including both of Canada's gold medal games. From Eskasoni, Nova Scotia, he has a background in musical entertainment, but this was his first experience in sports broadcasting.
Foster Augustine
Mi'kmaq commentator
Foster Augustine, from Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, called both men's and women's hockey with Darren Stevens in the Mi'kmaq language, including the final games that saw the Canadian men and women take the gold.
Colin Mousseau
Ojibway commentator
Colin Mousseau covered a pair of alpine events in Ojibwa, the men's super G and men's giant slalom, as well as the Canadian men's gold medal game in curling. He is a pipe carrier and an acknowledged expert in the Ojibway language.
Frank Beaulieu
Ojibway commentator
Born and raised on Manitoba's Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, Frank Beaulieau has nine years experience in radio. He provided commentary in Ojibway for a pair of alpine events, the men's super G and men's giant slalom, as well as the Canadian men's gold medal game in curling.
Harry Mawakeesic
Oji-Cree commentator
Harry Mawakeesic lives in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, where he works for the Wawatay Radio Network. He called women's hockey in the Oji-Cree language, which is a combination of Ojibway and Cree.
Bernard Mekanak
Oji-Cree commentator
Bernard Mekanak called women's hockey in Oji-Cree, a combination of Ojibway and Cree. Originally from the Bearskin Lake First Nation, he now lives in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, where he works for the Wawatay Radio Network.
Allan Adam
Dene commentator
Alan Adam provided play-by-play for cross country and biathlon events in the Dene language. Originally from Air Ronge, Saskatchewan, he has spent 11 years with CBC Radio in La Ronge and Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Tiorahkwathe Gilbert
Mohawk commentator
Tiorahkwathe Gilbert provided commentary in the Mohawk language for two alpine events, the men's super G and giant slalom, as well as the opening ceremony. This was his first time providing commentary for a sporting event.
Wesley Miller
Mohawk commentator
Making his first foray into sports broadcasting, Wesley Miller provided Mohawk commentary for the opening ceremonies as well as two alpine events, the men's super G and giant slalom. He is from Oshweken, Ontario.
Abraham Tagalik
Inuktitut commentator
Abraham Tagalik was the first CEO of APTN and has worked as a commentator for the Arctic Winter Games. He provided commentary in the Inuktitut language for the closing ceremonies as well as the semi-final and gold medal games in men's hockey that saw the Canadian men bring home the gold.
Pujjuut Kusugak
Inuktitut commentator
Pujjuut Kusugak provided commentary in the Inuktitut language for the semi-final and gold medal games in men's hockey, including the Canadian men's dramatic overtime gold medal win.
Karliin Aariak
Inuktitut commentator
Hailing from Iqualuit, Karliin Aariak has spent 5 years with CBC North and has also worked independently as a film producer. He provided commentary in the Inuktitut language for the closing ceremonies.
Barbara Nepinak
Ojibway commentator
Barbara Nepinak was part of the team that called the pairs short program in figure skating in the Ojibway language. Well known in her community for being a long time advocate for her traditional language, this was her first foray into sports broadcasting. 
Clarence Nepinak
Ojibway commentator
A well-known advocate for his traditional language of Ojibway in his community, Clarence Nepinak was part of the team that provided commentary in Ojibway for the pairs short program in figure skating. This was his first experience as a sports broadcaster.