First Across the Line

Getting too hot

This Tuesday Sept. 8 at 730 pm est on APTN
Episode 5 - Volleyball directed by Paul M Rickard.

Volleyball is a sport well recognized by First Nations communities. This episode follows the Walkingbear family of Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan, who started their own community-based volleyball club, which has produced highly trained players and elite volleyball athletes.
Founder Winston Walkingbear is the knowledge giver and head coach, Thundersky Walkingbear wants to play at the highest-level, and Savana Walkingbear is the trailblazer, who paved the way for his little brothers and other team members to become successful athletes in the sport.

Tonight is rebroadcast of Episode 4 - Boxing of First Across the Line
730 pm on APTN

This episode features the accomplishments of two dynamic women making their mark in the traditionally male world of boxing. Winnipeg resident Kenzie Wilson, of the Cross Lake First Nation in Northern Manitoba, talks about the hard work and perseverance that got her through hard times.
Olympic Boxer Mary Spencer also talks about what it takes to succeed in this difficult sport, and we follow her as she trains and mentors youth in the First Nation community of Kashechewan in northern Ontario. The Sinclair brothers look back on their father, trailblazer Sam Sinclair, who fought and boxed in the war, and later became a community leader for the Metis Nation.

This week rebroadcast of First Across the Line is Episode 3 - Football directed by Paul Rickard Tues. Aug. 18 at 730 pm est on APTN
Football is one of Canada’s mainstream sports. Despite the vast distances between communities, the sport has found its way into many First Nations schools in northern Saskatchewan. We follow Dray Tinker and the Pinehouse Lake school football team as they compete with other schools in Six-A-Side football.
We tell the little-known story of Aboriginal role model Jack Jacobs and of the mark he made on the sport, as well as that of Josh Sacobie, a native from New Brunswick and a coach for the Carleton University Ravens football team in Ottawa.

APTN has started its rebroadcasting First Across the Line . Tune in Tuesday August 11 at 730 pm est for Episode 2
EPISODE 2. Lacrosse
The ancient game of Lacrosse has gained popularity through the years with more teams and regions joining the sport. Kallen Currie of Mistawasis First Nation in Saskatchewan is an aspiring lacrosse athlete who is given a chance to compete at the World Junior Lacrosse Championship.

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TONIGHT! Episode 13 - Speed Skating directed by Asinnajaq on APTN at 730 pm est.
In the Nunavut town of Iqaluit, a small group of determined athletes push themselves to the limit in speedskating. This episode profiles the young skaters Rosalie Demaio, Emma Carpenter, and Akutaq Williamson Bathory, of Team Nunavut, led by former competitive skater Kyle St. Laurent, as they train, prepare themselves for, and compete in the Arctic Winter Games.
Trailblazer John Maurice talks about how he was able to bring the sport to Iqaluit and the impact it has had on the community.

Final episode of First Across the Line - Tuesday July 25th at 730 pm est on APTN
Episode 13 - Speed Skating directed by Asinnajaq
In the Nunavut town of Iqaluit, a small group of determined athletes push themselves to the limit in speedskating.

TONIGHT: Episode 12 of First Across the Line at 730pm est on directed by Jeff Dorn

The Arctic Winter Games is an international celebration of circumpolar sports and indigenous culture, showcasing traditional Arctic and modern athletics. We join young athletes, Emily King, Matthew Jacobson, and Kuduat Shorty of Team Yukon,
as they compete and recount what they aspire to in these circumpolar Olympics.

Next episode of First Across the Line is about Arctic Sports. Tues. July 21st on APTN
The Arctic Winter Games is an international celebration of circumpolar sports and indigenous culture, showcasing traditional Arctic and modern athletics. We join young athletes, Emily King, Matthew Jacobson, and Kuduat Shorty of Team Yukon,
as they compete and recount what they aspire to in these circumpolar Olympics. Arctic Games official Donald Kuptana, speaks about the history of the sport and what it means to be a part of it. Trailblazer Johnny Issaluk has competed for many years, making his mark as an athlete, a mentor to youth, and as an actor.

Dont forget. Tonights episode 11 of First Across the Line is Long Distance Running on APTN at 730 pm Est.

Director Spotlight : Felix Atencio-Gonzales who directed Episode 11- Long Distance Running of First Across the Line

Felix Atencio-Gonzales, a Quechwa native from Peru, immigrated to Canada over 20 years ago. He lives in Listuguj, Quebec where he works as a journalist, translator and community organizer. Felix has directed episodes for the television series, “Eastern Tide”, about Canada’s Aboriginal people, with an emphasis on the Mi’gmaq, as well as several episodes of the Mushkeg produced series, “Finding Our Talk”.
His film, “Mama Coca: The Sacred Leaf”, about the sacred and medicinal uses of the coca plant, was winner of the Planet in Focus Mark Haslam Award (2008). In 2014, he wrote, shot and edited a documentary about the cultural, social and spiritual relationship of the Mi’gmaq people of Listuguj and the salmon, commissioned by Gespe’gewaq Mi’gmaq Resource Center in Listuguj. In 2015-16, he was the researcher, soundman and translator on the APTN/Knowledge network series “Connected”, produced by Productions Vic Pelletier. The series was about indigenous peoples in Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Chile