In a remote First Nations community 850 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, a group of determined teenagers is taking control of the airwaves—and potentially saving lives in the process.
The Dene Tha' Community School (DTCS) in Chateh, Alberta has launched its own online radio station, staffed entirely by high school students who broadcast to their community of over 900 residents. What started as a creative learning project has evolved into something far more critical: a rapid-response communication tool during emergencies.
Chara Metchooyeah, 19, serves as host and program coordinator for DTSC radio. The recent graduate understands the dual responsibility of her role—one moment she's entertaining listeners with music and personality, the next she's delivering life-or-death emergency information.
"One minute I can be adding humour or personality to a segment, and the next I'm sharing important information that people actually rely on," Metchooyeah told WestNet News.
Beyond emergency broadcasts, the station features weather updates, evening shows, and cultural programming. Hosts regularly share a Dene Tha' "word of the moment" to help preserve and promote the Dene language within the community.
When Nature Strikes, Information Saves Lives
The urgency behind this project is rooted in harsh reality. Chateh sits in a precarious geography—vulnerable to both catastrophic wildfires and spring flooding. In recent years, evacuation orders have become routine, with residents forced to abandon their homes multiple times.
Just last summer, residents fled as wildfires crept dangerously close. The 2025 fire was particularly harrowing. Students were in class when the situation escalated rapidly, leaving the community with precious little time to react.
"It can get pretty scary at times," Metchooyeah reflected on the experience.
School acting principal Christopher Mangaser acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the region's weather patterns. While wildfires pose a seasonal threat, spring snowmelt creates flooding risks that regularly disrupt the school year.
"With a lot of snow melts here, our rivers rise up and we kind of have to get on out," Mangaser explained.
Empowering Youth Through Real-World Impact
Sean Hickman, the DTCS teacher who oversees the radio program since 2024, sees far more than a school project. He views it as a powerful tool for student empowerment and community resilience.
"Getting local input into things like radio, especially the younger you are, allows the students to take control a little bit of their own destinies," Hickman said.
The radio station represents a model that works—students gain practical broadcasting experience while their community gains a trusted, immediate source of emergency information. When disaster strikes, there's no time for bureaucratic delays or outside coordination. Local voices broadcasting local knowledge can mean the difference between orderly evacuation and chaos.
For Chateh residents concerned about their safety during the unpredictable northern Alberta weather, the presence of an alert, informed, and communicative generation behind the microphone offers genuine reassurance.
Originally reported by CBC Calgary.