Jaida Beaudin, from Cowessess First Nations and Brittany Boschman from Pimicikamak Cree Nation are the driving force behind the INCA Radio Broadcasting Crash Course, a program created to introduce Indigenous youth ages 16–29 to the world of journalism. In 2024, they secured funding through a grant they wrote together, launching the first-ever crash course in radio broadcasting for Indigenous youth ahead of the FNUniv Spring Powwow.

The program goes beyond just training—it puts students in the driver’s seat. Participants become associate producers of their own live show on CFNU Radio, where they conduct interviews with powwow committee members, dancers, and Elders. They also take song requests, deliver shout-outs to their communities, and get real experience in storytelling that reflects who they are and where they come from.

Now in its second year, the course has welcomed a new group of students, along with returning youth who have come back as mentors. It’s a hands-on, culturally rooted experience that gives participants a feel for university life, and shows them that careers in media—and platforms for their voices—are not just possible, but needed. 

Jaida and Brittany built this course to plant seeds: of confidence, of curiosity, and of career paths in media where Indigenous voices belong front and center.