CIWE-FM

Following the collapse of the Aboriginal Voices Radio Network (which broadcast on 89.3 MHz in Edmonton as CKAV-FM-4), the CRTC pursued new applicants for indigenous radio stations to fill its frequencies. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society, owner of the Edmonton-based CFWE radio network, was granted licenses in Calgary and Edmonton.^[1] While the Calgary station would air a country music format in the mold of CFWE, AMMSA founder Bert Crowfoot described the Edmonton station as a freeform station that would play "anything but country". As with the other AMMSA stations, its schedule would include specialty programming presented in Indigenous languages, and featuring Indigenous music.^[2]

AMMSA prioritized constructing the Calgary station, CJWE-FM, which went on air in April 2018.^[2][3] The wait would be nearly three years longer in Edmonton; CIWE had been planned to launch in April 2020,^[2] but the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta prompted AMMSA to seek a one-year extension.^[4][5] Its transmission tower, named for long-time AMMSA board member Noel McNaughten, is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Spruce Grove.^[2]

The station began test broadcasts on January 11, 2021. On February 1, 2021, CIWE officially launched as 89.3 The Raven; it primarily plays classic rock and pop hits, as well as genre- and decade-based specialty shows (such as blues rock, hip hop, and R&B). Indigenous programming is carried in the Cree, Dene, Nakota, and Michif languages.^[2][4]

• CIWE in the REC Canadian station database