VANCOUVER, BC — Wapanatahk Media is pleased to announce that its original docuseries Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet, produced in partnership with Thunderbird Entertainment’s Great Pacific Media, premiered on APTN in Cree on May 3 and in English on May 4.
Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet – Season 1 on APTN
- Premiered in Cree on May 3, 2022, at 8:30 p.m. CT on aptn n
- Premiered in English on May 4, 2022, at 9 p.m. ET on aptn e/hd/w; 9:30 p.m. CT on aptn n
- New episodes air every Wednesday on APTN (check your local TV listings for showtimes)
The 9 x 30-minute series follows the adventures of Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith, a Métis veterinarian based in rural Alberta. Each day presents a host of new challenges at the Rocky Rapids Veterinary Service in Drayton Valley, Alta. From wildlife rescues to performing a C-section on a cow, no job is too big or too small for Dr. Savannah.
Dr. Savannah is on a mission to use her veterinary knowledge to keep rural Alberta’s pet and animal population healthy, while embracing and exploring her cultural identity as a Métis woman. From her work at Rocky Rapids Veterinarian Service to her volunteer work in nearby communities, Dr. Savannah is an animal’s best friend. Through poignant stories about the connection between humans and their furry companions, this docuseries shines a positive light on rural veterinary practice and Métis culture.
“Authentic Indigenous representation is at the heart of our mission at Wapanatahk Media,” said company co-founders Tania Koenig-Gauchier and Shirley McLean. “We aim to provide a platform for new Indigenous voices, and we are proud to debut Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet, and highlight the incredible lived experiences, successes — and challenges — of a young Métis woman living in rural Alberta.”
In the premiere episode, we meet Dr. Savannah who is living out her childhood dream of being a real-life Dr. Doolittle through her mixed-animal veterinary practice that can accommodate everyday dog and cat complaints, as well as large farm animals and exotic species. As the season progresses, we see days where she simultaneously treats a baby goat with a heart problem, a sickly dachshund, and an anxious hairless guinea pig. Other days could lead her to volunteering at a vet clinic in Nunavut, all the while exploring her newly discovered Métis heritage and Indigeneity.
“Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet is a refreshing, uplifting story that centres around the incredible connections between humans and animals, and the beauty of Indigenous Peoples,” said Dr. Savannah Howse-Smith. “I am proud to be a part of this ground-breaking series and can’t wait to share my personal and heartfelt journey with the world.”
A companion 15-episode Dr. Savannah Wild Rose Vet podcast, chock full of tips for pets and wildlife, is also set to debut on May 18.
For more information (including clips and images) on Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet please visit APTN’s Media Centre.
ABOUT WAPANATAHK MEDIA
Wapanatahk Media develops and produces top-quality unscripted, scripted, digital, and animated content for broadcasters and streaming platforms, with a focus on telling original and authentic Indigenous stories and providing training and hiring opportunities for BIPOC employees in the television industry.
Wapanatahk Media is co-owned and headed by Indigenous producers Tania Koenig-Gauchier and Shirley McLean.
ABOUT GREAT PACIFIC MEDIA
Great Pacific Media (“GPM”) programs are seen in more than 170 countries, and the Thunderbird Entertainment Group division specializes in the financing, development, production, and co-production of factual, documentary, and reality television. Current productions at GPM include the highly rated Discovery Canada series Highway Thru Hell and its two spin-offs Heavy Rescue: 401 and Mud Mountain Haulers, all of which are also broadcast on The Weather Channel in the US, with Heavy Rescue: 401 also on Netflix there. Recently announced new series include Deadman’s Curse (History, Hulu), Gut Job (HGTV, Hulu), Dr. Savannah: Wild Rose Vet (APTN, Cottage Life) and Styled (HGTV, Hulu).
ABOUT APTN
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world. Since then, the network has become a global leader in programming that celebrates the rich diversity of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island and beyond. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, APTN shares authentic stories in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages with over 10 million Canadian households. APTN proudly features over 80% Canadian content and inspires audiences via multiple platforms, including its Indigenous-focused streaming service, APTN lumi.
