Vancouver Co-op Radio is a hotbed for First Nations cultural programming and a tool for Indigenous language revitalization. Long-time programmer Gunargie O'Sullivan wants the trend to spread to radio stations across country -- by law. And she says the Canadian government has an obligation to make that happen.

"If Canada wants to reconcile with First Nations people in regards to the residential school area, it should be law to include First Nations programs from whichever territory radio stations are broadcasting in," O'Sullivan says.

"The deformed human mind is the ultimate doomsday weapon."

I was reminded of this chilling warning from the late British historian E.P. Thompson, while listening to Rex Murphy's Cross-Country Checkup on CBC Radio on Nov. 20.

Murphy was interviewing Terry Glavin, a B.C. author, about Glavin's latest book, one endorsing Canada's so-called "mission" in Afghanistan. Murphy was little less than fawning in his praise of the book's refutation of all those silly notions of imperialism.

The recent Sunday Morning Program's celebration of 75 years of CBC radio -- as hosted by Michael Enright -- was a lovely reminder of this octogenarian's romance with radio.

It started, oddly enough, with Marvel Comics. Every issue had a full page ad on the back cover from a mail-order store in Detroit which sold novelties such as joy buzzers and whoopee cushions. Near the bottom of the page was a little box with the copy: "Crystal Radio -- Really Works! -- 25 cents." I don't recall how the shipping and handling was accounted for. But I taped a U.S. quarter to my order and stuck a three-cent stamp on the envelope.

We are fortunate to have broadcast journalist, scholar, theatre artist and the current holder of the Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies at MSVU, Rita Deverell, as guest speaker for our 10th anniversary celebration and fundraiser. You might recognize Rita from her time on Vision TV. She is also former Director of News and Current affairs at the Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network. The title of her talk is: "Who will Inherit the Resource of the Airwaves?."

We also have a wonderful musician who will play after the sumptuous buffet dinner for a dance - John DeWolfe. It will be a sensational evening. Tickets must be purchased by Nov 16. No tickets will be sold at the door.