First Across the Line

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.

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.

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.