Montreal: Ernest Webb says the whole idea behind Moose TV is to get the native people on television away from social issues. ‘It seems like when we’re concerned, everything has to be issue-obsessed,’ he says.

But no more. Webb, who is Cree, and his partner Catherine Bainbridge of Montreal’s Rezolution Pictures have created Moose TV, a sitcom about a group of natives who break into an abandoned TV station in a small community and make programming on their own – with loopy results.

The first episode sees the debut of a kids show called Me and My Beaver, featuring a militant activist sock puppet.

‘We’re being really silly with this,’ says Webb, ‘and we’re really enjoying ourselves.’

The series is directed by Tim Southam (One Dead Indian, Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making), with four scripts by executive story editor Paul Quarrington (Due South, John Woo’s Once a Thief). Webb and Bainbridge exec produce alongside producers Christina Fon and Linda Ludwick, and associate producer Megan Thorne. Michelle McCree and Rachel Fulford oversee production for Showcase. Daniel Jobin is DOP, Philippe Ralet is editor.

The shoot continues until mid-July, turning out eight episodes on a budget of $4 million, backed by Telefilm Canada, the CTF and SODEC.

Moose TV is already being touted as the first native-produced comedy series, and stars such impressive aboriginal talent as Adam Beach (Windtalkers), Nathaniel Arcand (Da Vinci’s City Hall,), Gary Farmer (One Dead Indian) and Jennifer Podemski (Moccasin Flats).

A pilot was shot and aired on CBC two years ago. The series has since moved to Showcase and will debut early in 2007.

‘I think of this show as a building block for the future,’ says Webb. ‘We shouldn’t be constrained by the kinds of forms we can explore. I consider this a real honor to be doing the first native sitcom.’