Chechock basement: Birthplace of another Nish radio station

WASAUKSING FIRST NATION — Towards the end of the last century and the early part of this one, CHRZ, more commonly known as Rez91, evolved from a dream to a bona fide award-winning Anishinaabe radio station.

Much of that evolution took place in the basement of Anita and Vince Chechock on Wasauksing First Nation. They, along with friend the late Dave Munroe, took the concept and gave it substance with a bit of hardware and Vince’s technical background. It was a very rudimentary beginning, but with the assistance of friends and contacts, it developed and grew into a professional-sounding entity with enough broadcast footprint to cover the neighbouring area including the community of Parry Sound. In September of 2014, Rez91 went online, enabling friends and relatives anywhere in the world to remain in contact with Anishinaabemowin and local happenings. The Anishinabek News also had a link to Rez91 on its front page.

On October 12, 2022, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-279, approving Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation’s application to operate a Low Power FM (LPFM) radio station on their territory. Once again, the Chechock basement is giving birth to another Nish radio station.

David Skead, from Wauzhushk Onigum, was looking into starting a radio station for his community. Kevin Redsky, a friend of Dave’s from a neighbouring First Nation, Shoal Lake 40, had worked on Wasauksing First Nation and was familiar with Rez91. He suggested that Skead contact Vince and Anita, who had built and operated Rez91 for 17 years, for some guidance and support. Early in 2021, Dave made the call and thus began the conception of WONation Radio for Wauzhushk Onigum.

Following their retirement from Rez91, the Chechocks found themselves missing the business and the associated fun and interesting times. So, the call from David Skead was “a gift from Debenjged”, they said.