The distant beat of my father’s drums: Contemporary Aboriginal music and NCI-FM broadcasting, Manitoba, Canada

Contemporary Aboriginal music in Manitoba fuses the traditional and modern. Aboriginal songwriters address social and economic issues faced by their communities through a variety of genres ranging from country to hip hop. Native Communications Incorporated (NCI) is an Aboriginal-owned and operated enterprise that addresses the broadcasting needs of Manitoba’s Aboriginal population. It broadcasts a high proportion of contemporary Aboriginal music that mirrors Aboriginal concerns and perceptions. NCI also plays a significant role in developing and promoting Aboriginal music and reflects the challenges of catering to a culturally diverse and geographically dispersed Aboriginal population.