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A SELECTED "NORTHERN
LIGHTS" MAGAZINE ARTICLE
(from Issue #473)
Behind the Scenes at Tribal
Trails
(from Issue #473)
"Tribal trails, tribal trails, the Son of God is near; He chose
to walk with us these tribal trails...." As the guitar accompaniment
and Joe and Hazel Patenaude's voices fade into the background, each
week thousands of viewers from all over North America are once again
introduced to NCEM's half-hour television program.
 The
format may vary somewhat from one week to the next -- there may be
Bible teaching by Cree pastor Bill Jackson or others, and there are
always several songs -- but most often the program focuses on a Native
Christian telling his or her own story.
You may be among the many Northern Lights readers who have had
opportunity to view Tribal Trails. Have you wondered how it is all put
together?
Work on each program starts months before the airing date, says
missionary Ed Peters, who serves in a variety of ways "behind-the-scenes" in NCEM's TV Department. He briefly explains
the following steps that carry a program through to completion:
-- Through pastors or missionaries from various churches and missions
across the country, Tribal Trails staff make contact with Native
believers qualified and willing to appear on the program. A "pre-interview" visit helps guests and staff get to know each other.
-- The "TT" production crew travels to the guests' home
communities where the videotaping takes place. Most years the crew plans
at least one trip, which can be up to four weeks in length. This past
September's trip included northern Alberta and BC -- past years have
seen them in eastern Canada and Alaska.
-- Transcribing the tapes comes next (i.e., typing out each word).
It's a big task that Tribal Trails' staff (presently 9 in number)
simply don't have time for, but volunteers working in their homes help
get the job done. (By the way, like all NCEM members, Tribal Trails
staff are responsible for finding their own team of financial supporters
--ed.)
-- Then, in NCEM's TV studio building in Prince Albert,
program-planners such as MiLin Lau spend hours viewing and reviewing the
interview tapes and scripts and selecting segments. Though a taped
interview may have been an hour long, only about 12 to 15 minutes will
be used. Program planning also involves writing scripts which hosts
Conrad Flett and Bonnie Knight use to bridge -- to introduce guests,
summarize testimonies, and give a spiritual challenge to viewers.
Videotaped music by Native singers is selected with the theme of the
program in mind.
-- Bridging is recorded in the studio, or perhaps outdoors. This, and
all other segments of a program, must be planned with strict time
limits, to the exact second.
-- "Editing" takes place next. The accompanying photo shows Diane
Salmond using computerized equipment to bring together the weekly
program intro, interview tapes, bridging, songs, background music, cover
shots (scenes that illustrate the script), and phone numbers and
addresses that appear on screen.
-- When the finished tape (27 min./ 50 sec.!) is given a final check
and approval, copies are made (each of which must also be checked for "glitches") and sent by staff member, Lorrayne Breen, to the various
TV stations.
Yes, those are the steps to a finished program, and they represent
many many hours of work. But Ed Peters and all the others involved would
be quick to tell you that that doesn't fully explain how it all
happens.
Each program really starts in the lives of the Tribal Trails guests
themselves. TT staff have often commented on the privilege of being able
to meet in person so many wonderful Native Christian people from across
the country. They come from all walks of life -- some are in full-time
ministry; some in secular jobs or in business in urban or remote
communities. Some have grown up in Christian homes; others are first
generation believers boldly standing for their faith with little
encouragement from their families or communities.
Ivan and Sophia Harper are among recent Tribal Trails guests. On a
January broadcast they told how they themselves came to the Lord a few
years ago through watching Billy Graham and Tribal Trails, and through a
follow-up visit from missionary (and TT administrator) Ed Stobbe.
Through earlier experiences God had been individually preparing their
hearts. Both were struggling to find meaning in life. Sophia told
viewers, "When I look back on our lives, what we tried to do on our
own just didn't work."
"We knelt down and we asked the Lord to forgive us," explained
Ivan on the program. "We wanted this new life ... and from that point
on life started to change." The Harpers soon got involved in a local
church, were married and baptized. "We started Bible study right away
... we just hungered after the Word," added Ivan. "I wanted so much
to do right, because of so many years of being under all this guilt."
Today Ivan and Sophia are spiritual leaders in their home to their
four children. They are reaching out to people at work and in their
community, involved in church leadership, and considering full-time
ministry.
How does a Tribal Trails program come into being? There's a lot
that goes on behind-the-scenes. But first of all there is the work of
the Holy Spirit in the hearts of First Nations people. And that's just
the beginning!
Haven't seen Tribal Trails? If you are not in a broadcast area,
why not click Tribal Trails below for information on ordering a Tribal
Trails video?
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