Mission Statement
To provide a voice for Native people in expressing their heritage
and aspirations in order to give people an opportunity to fulfill
their dreams, and to share the heritage and life of Native people
with those of other cultures.
Objectives
- To research thoroughly each topic produced by using primary, secondary and electronic media resources.
- To share the wisdom of Native people with others.
- To produce multimedia materials about the heritage and life of First Nation, Metis and Inuit in Canada.
- To distribute such materials to Native people and the general public through television and education systems.
First Voice Multimedia
First Voice Multimedia was founded by Dr. Raoul McKay to produce
videos about the heritage and life of Native people of North
America. The objective is to create appealing and informative videos
on a variety of themes on the heritage and life of First Nations,
Metis and Inuit people.
First Voice Multimedia was conceived in 1997 and was incorporated by
Raoul and Iris McKay in 1999 as a family business. Raoul, president
and executive producer of the company, created the company to share
the wealth of knowledge he gained as a scholar, educator and
volunteer in education, sports and social services. The principals
of the firm know the importance of using a holistic approach in
developing their multimedia products to reflect the worldview,
beliefs and practices of the Native people over the centuries. While
the participants occupy centre stage in productions, they do so in
the context of their cosmos, their relationship among themselves as
nations, and their rapport with people of other cultures. The
company relies on creative and skilled personnel to produce
informative, sound quality videos and other multimedia products. One
of the visions of Dr. McKay as an educator was to promote education
and training for Native people. As a producer, he continues the
practice of training and employing Native people in all phases of
multimedia production.
Raoul McKay's knowledge on the history and life of Native people is
based on both the written and oral tradition of the Metis and First
Nations people. He knows intimately the background and aspirations
of the Metis through studies, experience and his personal
background. He has done a number of television and radio shows as
well as interviews on a variety of themes regarding Native people.
Other works include The Life and Works of the Woodland Artists, The
Life and Works of Daphne Odjig, St. Laurent Goes to Washington (the
story of a Metis community's participation at the National Museum of
the American Indian), and Standing Tall ( a production depicting the
history and community involvement in two Winnipeg inner city
schools).
The company has completed over thirty productions, including a
thirteen part documentary series called La Voix des Mechif 1 and
II that aired on APTN. They were well received by the general
public and the Mechif in particular.
Dr. Gerald Brown, a former head librarian for the Winnipeg School
Division who currently volunteers in setting up libraries
internationally, viewed the thirteen part series La Voix des Mechif
and suggested that all public and private school libraries in
Manitoba should possess a copy of the series due to its informative,
entertaining, and educational value.
First Voice Multimedia is dedicated to further producing quality
videos on a variety of themes regarding the heritage and life of the
Metis, First Nation's and Inuit people of Canada.
The Principals
Both Dr. Raoul McKay and Iris McKay, have extensive knowledge and
experience in business, education and community work. This gives
them an excellent background in the development and creation of
multimedia products.
Raoul gained his knowledge through experimental learning and formal
education. He knows intimately the background and aspirations of the
Metis through studies, experience and his personal background. He
grew up in St. Eustache, Manitoba, has kept his connection with the
Metis community through his family and friends and through his work
as a professional and as a volunteer. Through experience and formal
studies, Raoul knows the First Nations people well throughout
Canada.
Raoul completed four university degrees including his Ph.D in
history at the University of Toronto. One of his majors in Canadian
history was the history of Native peoples including a comprehensive
study of the heritage and life of the Metis of Canada, and a thesis
on Treaty 5 (1875-1935).
As an educator, researcher and community worker, Raoul's input was
sought by television and radio producers. These included Woodsmoke
and Sweetgrass, CBC (French and English) and CKY news interviews and
short documentaries. He researched and participated in the
production of Seasons of the Buffalo, a very successful one-hour
documentary. The company is well served by the Executive Producer's
in-depth and broad knowledge on topics for multimedia productions.
Iris McKay, a former high school teacher specializing in English and
Mathematics, has extensive business and management experience. She
operates her own financial advisor's business. She has done
extensive editing on reports, theses, and articles, and has also
edited production scripts. Her experience and knowledge of budgets
and business practices serve well the purposes and goals of First
Voice Multimedia