Coppermine (Dec 20/04) - They don't quite have Johnny Fever working the mick yet, or any live DJs for that matter, but the Kugluktuk Radio Society is on a roll.

A small team of volunteers recently purchased radio station equipment from the United States and southern Ontario to support their own station: 88.7 FM.

"We haven't officially launched the 88.7 station yet," said Mike Webster, acting president of the Kugluktuk Radio Society.

"Right now we're playing a little over 17,000 of Kugluktuk's favourite tunes, but we have a ways to go.

"It might take another two years for 88.7 to develop a real character as people pick up on direct-to-air messaging."

Direct-to-air messaging is like City TV's Speaker's Corner, explained Webster.

The society developed the concept in response to having few DJs to host shows for the 24/7 format the public wanted, Webster said.

To make public service announcements and commercials, organizations can get a user account number and access the society's direct-to-air service by telephone.

There they leave a message for a certain amount of time and a specific show.

Webster explained the positives of direct-to-air include the ability to get more Inuinnaqtun content on the airwaves.

"While certain parts of 88.7 are used by other stations, especially in the south, it's the combination and degree of public access that makes the overall use of technology unique," said Webster.

"Elders can call in and tell their stories from the comfort of their homes."

Before the community had 88.7, listeners only had Kugluktuk's cut-in CBC station on 105.1.

Webster and other radio fanatics went door to door collecting names of people interested in a station. About 400 people signed up.

"There's probably just as many musicians and performing artists as carvers in Nunavut," said Donna Kaitak, a radio enthusiast in Kugluktuk.

"The talent and culture out there is pretty awesome. But there's a real shortage of the Kitikmeot's own supply of tunes and stories."

That is one of the reasons the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth (CLEY) came on board with the station.

Eventually, the station wants to have the technology on hand to make CDs of the music played by Kugluktuk musicians.

Recently, David Akeegeok, assistant deputy minister with CLEY, toured the station to see what they were up to.

Wants building

The Kugluktuk Radio Society is now looking to purchase the building the financially troubled Hamlet of Kugluktuk has been letting the Radio Society use.

That building also houses the community's youth centre.

Webster sees an opportunity in this location to get young people involved in radio.