The Winnipeg-based Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) launched a new interactive site yesterday, DigitalDrum.ca, as part of the net’s strategy in targeting aboriginal youth. The site showcases aboriginal culture, people, creativity and languages through a collection of APTN vignettes and user-generated video, audio, blogs and photos.

The DigitalDrum.ca interactive forum encourages Aboriginal youth to share their personal stories in an online community environment through videos, poetry, music and artwork while learning about history and innovations through videos of Elders from communities across Canada.

The net’s official launch also kicked off the ‘Show Us Your Beat Video Contest,’ which offers APTN-sponsored prizes such as a $2,500 scholarship for BC’s Gulf Islands Film & Television School, a MacBook Pro laptop and a Sony Handycam and tripod.

APTN CEO Jean LaRose says the net ‘wants to appeal to our Aboriginal youth in a way that encourages them to reconnect with the teachings of our Elders and to interact with one another directly in their medium of choice. By providing the largest collection of Aboriginal video content on-line, we believe the DigitalDrum.ca site will be an invaluable resource to Aboriginal schools, educational programs and community organizations. Linking tradition with innovation is a way to bridge the gap.’