Earthsongs Staff Biographies

Susan Braine, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Chief Operating Officer – National
Susan Braine (Assiniboine & Hunkpapa Sioux) grew up on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana and is enrolled on the Ft. Peck Assiniboine-Sioux Res. She has spent more than 30 years working in Native and public radio. She has managed Zuni Pueblo radio KSHI-FM in Zuni, New Mexico, KMXT-FM in Kodiak, Alaska, and KSKO-AM in McGrath, Alaska. Ms. Braine was instrumental in the on-air debut and initial management of the Three Affiliated Tribes' KMHA-FM in Newtown, North Dakota, KNBA-FM in Anchorage, Alaska, and most recently Hopi radio KUYI-FM in northern Arizona. Braine has also worked with the Blackfeet, Northern Cheyenne and Laguna-Acoma Indian communities to help plan local stations for their reservations.

Over the years, Ms. Braine has been a major player in the development of Native radio. She served as the first network manager for AIROS (American Indian Radio on Satellite), and on the boards of the Alaska Public Radio Network, Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc., the Native American Journalists Association and on the Public Radio Satellite System's Distribution and Interconnection Committee.

Shyanne Beatty , Host and Producer

Shyanne is Han Gwich'in Athabascan and grew up in a subsistence lifestyle in Eagle, Alaska. Living in a remote community, radio provided her a connection to the rest of the world. She cites that influence, and her love of singing, for drawing her toward a career in radio where she currently hosts a daily music program on KNBA, Anchorage.

She will take the reins from McVicar who has produced the show at RadioCamp in Walnut Creek, California since 1999. Gregg, who is Tlingit, created a groundbreaking program format that features Indigenous musicians from throughout the Americas , opening a window on today's Native culture through a creative mix of music recordings and artist interviews. Earthsongs is now heard on over 60 stations across the United States and Canada.

"Earthsongs has been a wonderful adventure for me both personally and professionally," McVicar said, "and I hope that our friend and colleague Shyanne finds it every bit as fun and rewarding. She'll give Earthsongs her own unique creative imprint." Gregg will now concentrate his efforts on producing the new music service, UnderCurrents, an ambitious 35-hour per week music mix produced by RadioCamp and KBC. (www.undercurrentsradio.net)

"Gregg is to be applauded for his work and creativity in making Earthsongs the popular show that it is today," said Jaclyn Sallee, CEO and President of KBC.

KBC welcomes your comments and suggestions
E-mail us at feedback@knba.org
Copyright © 2002, 2003

Koahnic Broadcast Corporation
3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508
Office: (907) 793-3500
Office Fax: (907) 793-3536

Funded in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum & Library Services and the Alaska Humanities Forum. Earthsongs is distributed by Native Voice One.