The Nelson Bird Show
Join veteran TV news journalist Nelson Bird in his new role as a radio host, where he brings out the storyteller in all of us.
ALL EPISODES
Nov 20, 2024
In this heartfelt episode of The Nelson Bird Show, Nelson sits down with trailblazing journalist, author, and former Poet Laureate, Carol Adams. Carol shares her inspiring journey as the first Indigenous woman in Saskatchewan’s mainstream television newsroom, breaking barriers at CTV Regina in 1983.
The conversation delves into her early determination to succeed in a field with little representation, her love for storytelling rooted in Indigenous traditions, and the challenges she faced navigating racism and systemic barriers. Carol also opens up about her creative evolution from journalism to becoming a celebrated author, poet, and advocate for Indigenous voices.
Listeners will hear about her latest projects, including a new children’s poetry collection celebrating Indigenous culture and her foray into writing horror novels. This episode is a moving testament to resilience, cultural pride, and the transformative power of storytelling.
Oct 30, 2024
In this engaging episode of The Nelson Bird Show, host Nelson Bird talks with Joseph Naytowhow, a respected storyteller and elder from Saskatoon, as they explore First Nations culture in the lead-up to Halloween. Joseph shares personal stories, including a childhood encounter with a mysterious serpent and a haunting experience from his twenties, illustrating the spiritual world’s complexities.
The conversation addresses spirit possession, highlighted by a gripping tale of Joseph’s grandfather confronting a malevolent spirit. They discuss the concept of spirits in limbo, particularly those who have taken their own lives, emphasizing the importance of ceremonies for their transition. Joseph shares insights on spiritual connections and the necessity of releasing grief for the spirits to move on, along with cultural practices like round dancing.
Oct 15, 2024
The Nelson Bird Show features guest Tessa Cook, a filmmaker and advocate from Peepeekisis First Nation. She shares her family’s experiences with residential schools, particularly her grandmother’s survival. Tessa discusses her filmmaking journey, which began at First Nations University, where she created a film inspired by her grandmother’s stories about household cleaning tools. She also highlights her work in community initiatives addressing suicide and her recent battle with stage 3 colon cancer, emphasizing the significance of spirituality and community support in her life.
Oct 2, 2024
This week on The Nelson Bird Show, Nelson welcomes artist, author, and traditional dancer Jim Poitras for a moving and inspirational conversation. A survivor of the ’50s Scoop, Jim shares his journey of being separated from his culture and family, and how he rediscovered his roots much later in life. Having lived in Germany for over 25 years, Jim has been teaching and sharing Indigenous culture around the world, while still returning to Canada often. Now in his 70s, he reflects on how art and culture saved him during his darkest times and continues to be his passion. Jim discusses his ongoing work as a painter and author, creating stories based on his incredible life experiences.
Don’t miss this heartwarming episode!
Sept 25, 2024
In this week’s episode of The Nelson Bird Show, Nelson sits down with Taryn Acoose for an in-depth conversation about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and its powerful impact. They explore the TRC’s mandate and the creation of the Calls to Action, discussing their significance in addressing historical wrongs. Taryn also speaks about the troubling issue of denialism surrounding survivors’ stories and the discovery of burial grounds. As a former student of the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) course on the TRC, Taryn shares her insights and growing knowledge on the meaning of reconciliation today.
Tune in for a thought-provoking and educational discussion.
Sept 18, 2024
In this episode of The Nelson Bird Show, host Nelson Bird speaks with Sarah Longman, an educator with 29 years of experience as a classroom teacher, university instructor, consultant, and Supervisor of Aboriginal Education for the Regina Public School Division. Sarah shares her involvement in the ongoing search and reconciliation efforts surrounding unmarked graves in Saskatchewan, focusing on ensuring that the process is conducted with respect and care for the families impacted by residential schools.
Tune in to hear an insightful conversation about the importance of honoring those who lost their lives and the work being done to bring healing to the affected communities.
Sept 11, 2024
Tune in to this week’s episode of The Nelson Bird Show for an engaging and entertaining conversation with the one and only broadcast journalism superstar—APTN star reporter Creeson Agecoutay! Nelson Bird and his pal Creeson dive into a lively discussion that covers everything from the serious side of news reporting to the lighter moments that make us laugh. With their unique perspectives and shared experiences, Nelson and Creeson explore the highs and lows of the media world, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a top-notch journalist. Don’t miss this exciting episode full of insights, humor, and plenty of fun!
Sept 4, 2024
Nelson speaks with special guest, FNU President, Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann.
Dr. Ottmann is Anishinaabe (Saulteaux) from Fishing Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan. As of September 7th, 2021, Jacqueline became President of First Nations University of Canada. Get to know FNU’s President on this exciting pilot episode of The Nelson Bird Show!
Airs every Wednesday at 9am,
with encores at 1pm & 5pm
Replays on Weekends
at 10am & 5pm
About The Host
Nelson Bird is professional journalist who spent 26 years at CTV Saskatchewan News as a reporter, anchor, producer, cameraperson, and assignment editor. He is also the longest serving host and producer of the weekly CTV SK news segment “Indigenous Circle” .
Nelson is a mix of Cree, Saulteaux, and Metis, and was born in Balcarres SK and raised on Peepeekisis Cree Nation. He is a graduate of University of Regina / First Nations University with a degree in Journalism and Indigenous Studies as well as a diploma in Indian Communication Arts.
