A Sterling new host for RKR

At 5:45 a.m., while most of Kanesatake is still waking up, Sterling Mallette is already behind the mic at Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM, preparing his morning broadcast. He checks the weather, finds local stories, cues music, and lines up interviews all before the first cup of coffee for many in the community.

The community station is undergoing a major expansion, and leading the early-morning programming is Sterling Mallette, a first-time host who was born and raised in Kanesatake.

“I wanted to try something new, and I’ve been learning a lot along the way, and now I’m up here, learning every day, getting better,” Mallette said.

“Morning radio is one of the most important shows for any radio station,” said Gaspé, one of the lead mentors and coordinators behind RKR and the media training program. “The host accompanies people getting up in the morning, giving them news, information, and entertainment. It sets the tone for the rest of the day.”

Gaspé believes Mallette was the right choice for the job. “Sterling has this quality,” he said. “He’s friendly, easy to listen to, and engaging. He was one of the top students in our recent media training program, and now he’s shining on the air as we begin on-the-air training.

“He’s still learning, but he’s already receiving listener feedback comparing his voice to broadcasters from CJAD or CBC,” Gaspé added. “People are tuning in not just for the music, but to hear someone from their own community telling their stories.

“People are happy to hear a real, local person delivering news, not just music or pre-recorded segments.”

Mallette discussed how the program helped prepare him for the work he is doing now on the radio.

“It wasn’t always easy, it was intense at times,” he said. “Some days it felt laid back, then suddenly we’d have 10 things to do. But I learned how to interview people, write stories, and read them live on radio.”

The internship evolved into on-air training, and soon after, Mallette was offered to be the morning host. “I didn’t expect to get that opportunity,” he said. “But I knew how important it was for the community to have a real morning show, something live, not just pre-recorded.”

Though naturally introverted, Mallette is growing into the role.

“Right now, I’m just trying to gain confidence,” he said. “I want to be more engaging and funny on air. That’ll come in time. For now, I’m just focusing on improving and finding my rhythm.”

Mallette explained he wants to “learn the ropes, get comfortable, then start building out segments and interviews. I’d love to bring in more people from the community to have their voices heard on air, that’s the goal.”

He recently interviewed a language teacher who traveled to Washington, DC, to present at the Smithsonian Museum.

“It was a great moment,” Mallette said. “We talked for 20 minutes live on air. I want to do more interviews like that to spotlight people doing great things in and around Kanesatake.”

For Mallette, the long-term vision is clear: to get better, build trust with his audience, and help grow the station into a cultural and informational space.

Gaspé shares that vision and believes RKR is only at the beginning. “This is just the start,” he said. “Once Sterling gains experience, he can only get better.”

Longer term, the station is working on expanding programming with more content in Kanien’kéha, highlighting the cultural importance of language preservation alongside local storytelling.

“Developing talent and offering opportunities is one of my goals,” Gaspé added. “And I’m proud of Sterling. He’s growing fast, and the community is already very happy.”

“I just want people to walk away with a smile or feel informed,” Sterling said. “If I can do that, even a little, then I’ve done my job.”

For Mallette, the role is both an opportunity and a responsibility. “It’s an honour,” he said. “Morning shows are usually the big ones. I never thought I’d have that shot, but I’m grateful to be here working for the community, sharing stories, and keeping people informed.”

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