Dec. 4 marked 10 years on the air for 97.7 FM The Moose. The Station was founded back in 2002 by Lana Littlechief and her husband after she switched careers as administrative assistant in the oil and gas sector.
"A lot of people thought that we wouldn't make it this long," said Littlechief. The station continues to inform and entertain the Moose Mountain area, though, and there are plans to expand its listenership in the New Year.
The Moose is known for its eclectic sounds, which range from more traditional First Nations to contemporary pop culture content.
Littlechief puts a great deal of care into selecting content for the radio station. From elders to youth and everyone in between, she tries to strike a chord with a broad range of listeners. There is also plenty of content for those living outside the White Bear First Nations community to enjoy.
The station was founded with the intention of providing employment opportunities to members of the community with special needs. Summer students have also been gaining valuable work experience doing programming research at The Moose.
It's a station rooted in helping out the community and it continues to do so by spreading sounds that inspire many groups in many ways.
For Littlechief, music can be an important source of healing and is something she holds close to her heart.
Funding for the not-for-profit station has sometimes been a challenge, but serving the beautiful Moose Mountains is "the greatest feeling," said Littlechief. One can't help but appreciate the spiritual side of music when speaking with Littlechief. It has the power to make "the spirit feel really good inside"-something she is very proud to share with listeners both in-and-around the White Bear First Nation.
Littlechief is excited about her future plans for the station. The next step is to reach audiences through the Internet, which is expected to happen early in the New Year. She is also planning to put a First Nations language instruction show on the air.
Running 97.7 FM The Moose is a role that Littlechief is deeply passionate about and she is hopeful that listeners will keep tuning-in.
