Hot off the heels of  four Canadian Screen Award nominations, including best drama, APTN has ordered a fourth season of Blackstone.

The series, produced by Edmonton-based Prairie Dog Film + Television, follows the lives of the residents of the fictional Blackstone First Nation reserve. In its fourth season, the show’s storylines will address issues surrounding human trafficking and the ongoing effects of residential schools.

The season will also look at issues surrounding the high population of Aboriginal people in the prison system, and will be shooting some scenes in the former Remand Centre in downtown Edmonton (the old Remand Centre was replaced by a larger facility on the outskirts of the city last year). The series is shot in Edmonton and the surrounding area.

Blackstone is up for  four Canadian screen awards in March gala, including best dramatic series and best writing in a dramatic series.

Actor Michelle Thrush is nominated for her Blackstone performance in the category of best performance by an actress in a continuing leading role, and Cheri Maracle is up for best performance by an actress in a featured supporting role in a dramatic program or series.

Blackstone is written, directed and executive produced by Ron E. Scott. Damon Vignale is a producer and writer on the series, with Jesse Szymanski also producing. In addition to broadcasting on APTN in Canada, Blackstone also airs in New Zealand on Maori Television, in Australia on SBS/NITV. It is distributed internationally by PPI Releasing.

The show is produced in association with APTN and the Canada Media Fund, with the assistance of the Government of Alberta’s Alberta Media Fund, with the participation of Rogers Cable Network Fund, and also with the assistance of the Canadian film or video production tax credit.

Production on the fourth season of the show is set to start this spring, which will include eight, one-hour episodes.