Working as a film maker over the last 24 years (wow!) I've often felt enriched by the depth and power of the people and the stories that I've been blessed to work with. My experience on THE MIX has certainly been a continuation of that experience. We are currently witnessing an explosion of musical expression from the Native community (that includes Metis) here in Canada, and I know that's true in the U.S. as well. This summer we worked with a lot of great artists including an exceptional group from Ampcamp, the annual, week-long workshop for emerging musical talent hosted by the Manitoba Audio Recording Industry Association in Winnipeg. One of the facilitators there, Heather Bishop, a veteran of the folk scene (who was recording back before many of the Ampcampers were born!) said she felt that what was going on muscially in the Native community was similar to what she'd seen in the black community in the 60's, and in the women's movement in the 70's. Exciting stuff!

Here at THE MIX we are very pleased to be bringing highlights of that explosive scene to our weekly audience on APTN. And in March '08, the full 13 part series on SEASON ONE will begin airing nationally on Canadian Learning Television.

To date, the experience of producing and hosting this series has been incredibly rich. I trust it is enriching your musical world too.