Fundraiser for WHITE EARTH LAND RECOVERY PROJECT

baapi-makwa:

Niijii Radio is your community radio station serving the White Earth Reservation and surrounding communities.  Our signal reaches a 50 mile radius of our tower location reaching the communities on the reseration of Mahnomen, White Earth, Waubun, Ogema, Ponsford, Naytahwaush, and Callaway.  We also reach the communities of Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Audobun, Lake Park, Hawley, Frazee, Perham, Wadena, and Pelican Rapids.  

In 2008, we were awarded a construction license for a community based radio station by the Federal Communications Commission.  In 2009-2011, we struggled with this opportunity, and received a large PTFP grant of $466,000 to build a radio station, secure transmitter space and be on the air.  With your support we continue on air.  

Our purpose is to have a positive effect on the lives of the people living on the White Earth Anishinaabe reservation as well as the surrounding communities through the public discussion of issues and events that will impact the consciousness of the community. We now play music which comes from our Anishinaabeg people, have language, and Indigenous news programs, and are beginning to allow the beauty of our community to resonate again on the airwaves.  We also stream our content across the nation, reaching 10,00 plus tribal members in urban areas.  This is very significant, as our reservation is both economically poor and remote- the poorest county in Minnesota- Mahnomen County is completely encompassed by the reservation (over one half the children live below the poverty level), and many people do not have phone or internet service.  Radio, however, remains intact and free.

The White Earth Land Recovery Project (WELRP) is a federal 501©(3) non-profit organization, and serves as the licensee of NIIJII Broadcasting.  Our board of five members represents significant expertise in a wide arena of work, geographic and ethnic diversity.  

The Goals of Niijii Broadcasting are as follows:           

1.      To be a resource of local, regional, and world news;

 2.      To bring educational information to our listeners in the form of locally created programming, other community station programming,  and through airing nationally syndicated programs;

 3.      To assure that arts, history, and culture thrive in and throughout our listening community;

 4.      To bring a balanced voice to our community to foster the elements of justice.