2022 National Native Media Conference Agenda
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Friday, Aug. 26 – Saturday, Aug. 27 – Main Conference Page
Thursday, Aug. 25
7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration | Atrium I-III
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Atrium I-III
8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast | Hyatt Regency Ballroom
Daily breakfast is included with full registration.
8 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. NAJA Opening Ceremony | Hyatt Regency Ballroom
Welcome – Robert Miguel (Ak-Chin Indian Community), Chairman, Ak-Chin Indian Community; Posting of Colors – Ira H. Hayes Post 84 Honor Guard (Gila River Indian Community); Indigenous Land Acknowledgement – Dr. David Martinez (Akimel O’odham / Hia Ced O’odham / Mexican), Arizona State University; Introduction of Native American Journalists Association Board of Directors – President Francine Compton (Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation); Welcome to Phoenix – NAJA Local Planning Committee Member Debra Krol (Xolon Salinan Tribe), Environmental Reporter, Arizona Republic
Join NAJA leadership, fellow attendees, the National Native Media Conference Local Planning Committee, and representatives of Indigenous nations from across the state of Arizona for breakfast during the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 8-9:15 a.m., in the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. Dr. David Martinez will deliver a land acknowledgement and Chairman Robert Miguel of the Ak-Chin Indian Community will welcome attendees. The Ira H. Hayes Post 84 Honor Guard from Gila River Indian Community will post colors.
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. These Canoes Carry Culture: Indigenizing Journalism Education | Hanson
Presenters: Patty Loew, Ph.D. (Bad River Ojibwe), Professor, Medill School of Journalism and Inaugural Director of the Native American & Indigenous Research Center at Northwestern University; David Deloso, Newsroom Engineer at Hearst Newspapers; and Koji Taylor, Medill Journalism Student
Students, faculty, and staff at Northwestern University built a traditional birchbark canoe under the direction of master canoe builder Wayne Valliere (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe). Journalism students documented the process and created an interactive website with video, podcasts, blogs, 3-D modeling, and Indigenous language learning for a project that received national news attention. Indigenous people understand the importance of decolonizing education. This journalism education project emphasizes culturally relevant teaching and enhances place-based storytelling. It is culturally consistent with how Indigenous journalists tell stories.
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Covering COVID-19 in Indian Country | Ellis
Presenters: Rebecca Blatt, Senior Associate Dean & Professor of Practice, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (Diné), Editor, ICT; Pauline Arrillaga, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Professor of Practice in Health News
With COVID-19 affecting Indigenous communities at an alarming rate, critical coverage of the issue has been a necessary lifeline for many. At ICT, the pandemic brought about the creation of a national television broadcast and the COVID-19 database for Indian Country. At the Cronkite School, it has become a priority to bring this topic to light through its Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, which focuses on reporting health disparities. Panelists will discuss lessons learned and areas of focus moving forward.
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Covering D.C. Politics with Indian Country in Mind: Powered by NBCUniversal News Group | Hanson
Presenters: Moderator: Chiara Sottile (Karuk), Producer, Business Technology & Innovation Unit I; Graham Brewer (Cherokee), National Enterprise Reporter, NBC News; Vaughn Hillyard, Correspondent, NBC News & MSNBC
For reporters covering local communities, accessing the halls of power in Washington can seem daunting. Journalists from NBC News and MSNBC will discuss their tips and best practices for covering Congress and the federal government, as well as how to gain access to key players and documents to report on how federal policies and laws affect your community.
This session is sponsored by NBCUniversal.
12 – 2 p.m. NAJA Membership Luncheon and Business Meeting | Regency Ballroom (Ticketed Event)
Presenters: Gabriella Cázares-Kelly (Tohono O’odham Nation), Pima County Recorder; Rebecca Landsberry-Baker (Muscogee Creek), Executive Director, NAJA and Sterling Cosper (Muscogee Creek), Membership Manager, NAJA; Patty Loew, Ph.D. (Bad River Ojibwe), Professor, Medill School of Journalism and Inaugural Director of the Native American & Indigenous Research Center at Northwestern University; 2022 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award Winner Cheryl McKenzie (Anishinaabe / Cree and Peguis First Nation), APTN
Join leaders and fellow members of the Native American Journalists Association for lunch and networking during the annual business meeting on Thursday, Aug. 25 from 12-2 p.m. Attendees will review NAJA’s accomplishments and the organization will present the 2022 NAJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award. An informal meet-and-greet with NAJA Board of Directors candidates will follow.
This event is sponsored by the Google News Initiative. Conference attendees must have a ticket to attend. Tickets are available for $75 each and may be purchased online through July 31.
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Cultural Identity: Protecting Cultural and Sacred Sites on Public Lands | Ellis
Presenters: Debra Krol (Xolon Salinan Tribe), Environmental Reporter, Arizona Republic; Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee; Vernelda Grant (San Carlos Apache), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, San Carlos Apache; and Dr. Len Necefer (Navajo), Associate Professor, American Indian Studies and Udall Center for Public Policy, University of Arizona
Tribes across the nation are working with elected officials, local communities, conservationists, and archeologists to move Congress and the U.S. President to action in protecting cultural sites (Chaco Canyon, Avi Kwa Ame, lands in the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, etc.) which requires elevating the visibility of these places and addressing faulty historical narratives. How do reporters play a role in sharing these protection efforts and need for increased resources, while not attracting looters, vandals, and over-visitation?
This session is sponsored by The Wilderness Society.
2:30 – 3:30 p.m. Finances for Freelancers | Hanson
Presenters: Monica Braine (Assiniboine / Hunkpapa Lakota), Project Specialist, AMERIND Risk; and Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo), Programs Consultant, First Nations Development Institute and Host, Native America Calling
Freelancing can provide flexible schedules, professional and creative independence, and lucrative pay. However, it also brings financial challenges. Self-employment taxes, gross receipts, and monthly billing schedules are just a few financial hurdles a freelancer or gig worker navigates. This interactive workshop will provide an overview of tips, tools, and resources to assist freelancers with making the most of their self-employment income and financial independence. Door prizes included!
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. NPR Next Gen Radio: Indigenous | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Doug Mitchell, Founder / Director, NPR Next Generation Radio; Manuelita Beck (Navajo) Senior Politics Editor, Philadelphia Inquirer; Adreanna Rodriguez (Lakota / Chicana), Associate Producer, VICE; Taylar Stagner (Arapaho and Shoshone), Tribal and Rural Affairs Reporter, Wyoming Public Radio; Shana Lombard (Cowlitz/Yakima), Communications and Media Specialist, Shoalwater Bay Tribe
Next Gen Radio is doing a series of non-narrated, audio-centric, digital first media projects for early-career Indigenous journalists. Our selected reporters are finding people who have a personal story to tell about climate change. Reporters will discuss how they went about reporting their stories, what they have learned and take questions.
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. What the Media Got Right and Wrong About Coverage of COVID in Native Nations | Hanson
Presenter: Moderator: Antonia Gonzales (Navajo), Anchor/Producer, National Native News; Arlyssa Becenti (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Republic; Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi (Diné), freelance journalist; Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous Communities Reporter for the Arizona Mirror
The Navajo Nation endured increased national scrutiny when data revealed it had the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in the country. After the initial shock, follow-up coverage of the Navajo Nation’s progress with the pandemic dwindled. Native nations were asked to provide answers during a prolonged and evolving public health crisis. At times, tribal public health measures were at odds with those in the surrounding states or neighboring cities. We’ll bring together panelists with expertise in medicine, journalism and tribal leadership to explore and evaluate the evolution of COVID-19 reporting and messaging since the start of the pandemic to now.
6 – 8:30 p.m. NAJA Opening Reception | ASU Cronkite School – First Amendment Forum
Welcome – Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., Dean and Professor, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University; Welcome – Honorable Stephen Roe Lewis (Gila River Indian Community), Governor, Gila River Indian Community; Entertainment – Gila River Basket Dancers and PeePosh Bird Singers; Membership Address – President Francine Compton (Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation), Native American Journalists Association; Keynote Address – Connie Walker (Cree from Okanese First Nation), Journalist / Host of the “Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s” Podcast
Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., at ASU and Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community will welcome attendees to Arizona State University for the Opening Reception from 6-8:30 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the First Amendment Forum in the Cronkite School. Shuttles will load at 5:50 p.m., on the north side of the Hyatt along Monroe Street. Entertainment will be provided by the Gila River Basket Dancers and PeePosh Bird Singers. President Francine Compton will address members of the Native American Journalists Association and Indigenous journalist Connie Walker will deliver the keynote address.
Appetizers and refreshments will be served and transportation will be provided.
Friday, Aug. 26
7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration | Atrium I-III
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Atrium I-III
8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast | Cameron
Daily breakfast is included with full registration.
8 – 11 a.m. Sharpening your watchdog skills with IRE | Hanson
Presenter: Francisco Vara-Orta, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Investigative Reporters & Editors
Journalists should background every source and business in their stories. In this session, we’ll cover strategies to help reporters do this quickly and effectively using free and low-cost online tools and pinpoint where to look for records. The session will conclude with a Q&A on investigative journalism techniques.
8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Investigating the State of the Economy in Indian Country | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Alana Rocha, Editor, INN’s Rural News Network; Dianna Hunt (Cherokee Nation), Senior Editor, ICT; Chris Aadland (Red Lake and Leech Lake Ojibwe), Reporter ICT and Underscore News; Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa and Mniconjou Lakota), Founder and Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance and Publisher, Buffalo’s Fire
A collaboration with the Institute for Nonprofit News, ICT and 9 other news organizations examined the state of the economy in Indian Country and how to create jobs of the future for tribal communities.
This session is sponsored by The Walton Family Foundation.
9:30 – 11 a.m. ABC News Storytellers Summit | Ellis
The ABC News Storytellers Summit is a 90-minute development workshop created by ABC News and the ABC Owned Television Stations designed to bring producers, writers, reporters and content creators together for a series of cutting-edge conversations and training sessions to take their storytelling to the next level. This summit is led by ABC News journalists and executives from across all of our platforms and shows. Participants will walk away with first-hand knowledge and skills to enhance their storytelling.
The ABC News Storytellers Summit encourages the following to attend: Producers, Writers, Reporters and Content Creators with (3) years of experience or more seasoned storytellers looking for new innovative ways to create news content.
This session is sponsored by ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations (OTVS).
11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Be the Boss and Build a Journalism Startup | Hanson
Anika Anand, Deputy Director, LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers; Kara Meyberg Guzman, Co-Founder, Santa Cruz Local & Founding Board Member, Tiny News Collective; Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa and Mniconjou Lakota), Founder and Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance and Publisher, Buffalo’s Fire
You’re on a mission. You’re tired of the layoffs, the cutbacks, the mergers and potential mergers. So now is your time to act – find out what it takes to start your own journalism startup from fundraising to technology requirements to turning a revenue.
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Enduring Legacy of Boarding Schools | Ellis
Moderator: Felicia Fonseca, Northern Arizona Correspondent and Indigenous Affairs Reporter, The Associated Press; Shaun Griswold (Pueblo of Laguna / Jemez and Zuni), Journalist, Source New Mexico; Peter Smith, Religion Reporter, The Associated Press; Kenrick Escalanti, Quechan (Kwatsan), Creative Director, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
Participants will hear from journalists who have covered residential and boarding schools extensively to understand how policies carried out by governments and churches led to generations of trauma within Indigenous communities. Panelists will discuss how those institutions are reckoning with their history and what Indigenous communities expect from the process.
This session is sponsored by The Associated Press.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Tribal Water Rights in the Colorado River Basin | Hanson
Presenters: Pauly Denetclaw (Diné), National Political Correspondent, ICT; Jason T. Hauter (Gila River Indian Community), Tribal Water Rights Attorney, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Daryl Vigil (Jicarilla Apache), Water Administrator, Jicarilla Apache Nation; Amelia Flores (Mohave), Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes; Rebecca Loudbear, Attorney General, Colorado River Indian Tribes; Felicia Fonseca, Northern Arizona Correspondent and Indigenous Affairs Reporter, The Associated Press
Nearly 30 Native American tribes, seven U.S. states and Mexico rely on water in the Colorado River basin. A 1922 agreement that divided the water in the basin left out the tribes. Now, they’re pushing for a bigger role in determining how to sustain the river amid a deepening drought and climate change. This presentation will include steps taken to secure tribal water rights, how tribes have put those rights to use and how they have contributed to the river’s health. Presenters also will discuss key legal concepts to help guide journalists in their coverage.
This session is sponsored by The Walton Family Foundation.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Develop Your On-Air Presence: Powered by NBCUniversal News Group | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Alyssa London (Tlingit), Contributor, NBC News and MSNBC; Vaughn Hillyard, Correspondent, NBC News & MSNBC; Omnika Thompson, Executive Editor, NBCU News Group Diversity Equity & Inclusion; Sean Mclaughlin, Former MSNBC/Weekend Today-AZ Family Meteorologist; Mary Kim Titla, Reporter, KVOA/KPNX, Executive Director, UNITY; Aliyah Chavez (Kewa Pueblo), Anchor/Producer, ICT
Hear from NBCUniversal News Group anchors, reporters and experts on how to think about pacing, enunciation, and delivery to build on-camera authority. Moderated by Alyssa London (Tlingit), NBC News and MSNBC contributor and host of MSNBC’s upcoming special The Culture Is: Indigenous Women, the panel discussion will focus on the expertise of NBCUniversal News Group journalists who have covered breaking news and major stories across the globe.
This session is sponsored by NBCUniversal.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Language, Please: A Living Resource to Thoughtfully Cover Evolving, Social, Cultural, and Identity Related Topics | Hanson
Presenters: Tanya Pai, Style and Standards Editor, Vox Media; Christopher Clermont, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Vox Media
For some journalists—especially in the past two years—when news breaks, too many newsrooms are left scrambling, trying to create standards around complex, sensitive topics while juggling deadlines and their own staff’s potential lack of diversity and unconscious biases. We all rely on language—it’s how we connect to one another, how we understand the world. But how we use it and whose experience it reflects is evolving more rapidly than ever. And while moving these conversations forward too often falls to people of color and other historically underserved populations, it’s never been clearer that this work is a responsibility every single one of us shares.
“Language, Please” is a free, living resource available to all journalists and storytellers seeking to thoughtfully cover evolving social, cultural, and identity-related topics. This is a conversation where we can explore style guidance, tools, and inclusivity readers, and offers necessary context to help newsrooms make informed decisions about language usage.
This session is sponsored by VOX Media.
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Free Press in Indigenous Communities: Ongoing Challenges | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi), Managing Editor, NAJA Indigenous Investigative Collective; Bryan Pollard (Cherokee), Project Manager, News Partnerships, Associated Press; Angel Ellis (Muscogee Creek), Director, Mvskoke Media; Sterling Cosper (Muscogee Creek), Membership Manager, Native American Journalists Association; Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa and Mniconjou Lakota), Founder and Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance and Publisher, Buffalo’s Fire
Even with free press legislation and tribal FOIA laws in place, reporters can still face issues accessing information and public records and reporting on tribal government officials without repercussions. This panel will discuss current challenges facing tribal media and how newsroom leaders are addressing the ongoing threats to press freedom in Indigenous nations.
4 – 5 p.m. Face-to-Face with Facebook | Hanson
Presenter: Lynn K. Walsh, Freelance Journalist, Society of Professional Journalists
This session covers everything journalists need to know to engage their communities, get story ideas and share newsworthy information using Facebook as a tool. The presentation will discuss best practices for Facebook Live, Facebook groups, Instagram and Facebook Stories, Photos, Video and more. It will also introduce new tools to journalists.
4 – 5 p.m. Developing Resiliency Against the Information Disorder | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Paul Cheung, CEO, Center for Public Integrity; Loris Taylor (Hopi / Acoma), President/CEO, Native Public Media; Russel Contreras, Race and Justice Reporter, Axios
The tactics and technology used by bad actors to misinform the public from COVID-19 to BLM and beyond are rapidly evolving. This session will share the latest tactics on how to combat misinformation and disinformation and examine how this crisis has changed under the Biden/Harris administration. Are fact checkers relaxing with less tweets and unscripted speeches to research? With ever evolving technology, misinformation is consistently finding new ways to spread.
This session is sponsored by Axios.
6:30 – 9 p.m. PREY Screening + Q&A with Jhane Myers | AMC Arizona 24 (Offsite Event – Transportation Provided)
Join fellow conference attendees for a free private screening of PREY, followed by a Q&A with Producer Jhane Myers (Comanche / Blackfeet). Transportation for attendees will be provided to and from the theater, which is located at 565 N 3rd Street Ac, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Shuttles will begin loading at 6 p.m., outside of the Hyatt. The screening will be the Comanche Dub version with English subtitles and will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the moderated Q&A following.
The newest entry in the “Predator” franchise, 20th Century Studios’ “Prey” is an all-new action- thriller set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. It is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior who has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains. So when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
“Prey” is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and written by Patrick Aison (“Jack Ryan,” “Treadstone”), with a story by Patrick Aison & Dan Trachtenberg based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. The film is produced by John Davis (“Jungle Cruise,” “The Predator”), Jhane Myers (“Monsters of God”), and Marty Ewing (“It: Chapter Two”), with Lawrence Gordon (“Watchmen”), Ben Rosenblatt (“Snowpiercer”), James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas and Marc Toberoff (“Fantasy Island”) serving as executive producers. The filmmakers were committed to creating a film that provides an accurate portrayal of the Comanche and brings a level of authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples. Myers, an acclaimed filmmaker, Sundance Fellow and member of the Comanche nation herself, is known for her attention and dedication to films surrounding the Comanche and Blackfeet nations and her passion for honoring the legacies of the Native communities. As a result, the film features a cast comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent, including Amber Midthunder (“The Ice Road,” “Roswell, New Mexico”), newcomer Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp (“Sooyii”), Michelle Thrush (“The Journey Home”), Julian Black Antelope (“Tribal”). The movie also stars Dane DiLiegro (“American Horror Stories”) as the Predator.
Saturday, Aug. 27
7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Registration | Atrium I-III
5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Registration | Regency Ballroom
8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast | Cameron
Daily breakfast is included with full registration.
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. NAJA Elections | Atrium I-III
In-person voting for the NAJA Board of Directors will take place on Aug. 27, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., local time at the NAJA booth near registration.
8:15 – 9:15 a.m. Words Matter: Disability Language in the Media | Ellis (Updated)
Presenter: Kristin Gilger, Reynolds Professor in Business Journalism and Senior Associate Dean, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and Director, National Center on Disability and Journalism, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication; Kyle Knox (Gila River Indian Community), Managing Editor, Gila River Indian News; and Amy Silverman, Executive Producer, The Show, KJZZ
Covering disability issues and people with disabilities is important, yet journalists need help navigating the constantly changing and highly charged language around disability. What terms are OK? Which are offensive or inaccurate? The National Center on Disability and Journalism at the Cronkite School will lead this training for journalists and communications professionals with the goal of encouraging improved coverage of disability issues.
8:30 – 12:30 p.m. ICWA in Native Media | Cassidy
Presenters: Moderator: Colleen Thurston (Choctaw), Documentary Filmmaker and Assistant Professor in the Gaylord College of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma; Brooke Pepion Swaney (Blackfeet / Salish), Documentary Filmmaker; Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee), Journalist and Host of “This Land” Podcast; Kendra Mylnechuk Potter (Lummi), Documentary Producer
Since the Baby Girl case in 2013, media coverage of the Indian Child Welfare Act has been dominated by inaccuracies and bias. From focusing on blood quantum and racist stereotypes to misreporting the facts of custody cases or how the law works, non-Indigenous media coverage of ICWA has consistently fallen short of journalistic standards.
This workshop uses examples of how Indigenous storytellers are changing the narrative and provides resources to journalists to combat disinformation about Native American adoption. This half-day session includes a documentary film screening, a discussion on storytelling to impact social change, and a workshop to provide journalists with documents and resources to report on Brackeen v. Haaland.
The documentary Daughter of a Lost Bird follows Kendra Mylnechuk Potter, a Lummi woman adopted as a baby into a white family in 1980- the year that the Indian Child Welfare Act went into effect. As Kendra reconnects with her Native identity, the film explores the ethics surrounding American Indian adoption, while also exposing a history of cultural genocide through “lost birds” – generations of Natives adopted out in the years before ICWA.
Following the screening, Kendra joins filmmaker Brooke Pepion Swaney (Blackfeet/Salish) and journalist Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee), host and reporter behind the award-winning podcast “This Land,” to discuss how they are using storytelling to change the public’s understanding of ICWA, Native adoption, and identity.
After a short break, participants will then join Nagle for an information share and workshop about the pending Supreme Court case Brackeen v Haaland, which is the most significant legal challenge to ICWA yet and will be heard by the Supreme Court this fall. Nagle will share data and documents uncovered in her own reporting and answer participants’ questions to prepare journalists to report on the SCOTUS case.The session concludes with brainstorming time for Indigenous journalists and media groups to discuss how together we can create more accurate coverage of ICWA.
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Online Resiliency: Securing Your Online Accounts | Ellis
Presenter: David Huerta, Digital Security Trainer, Freedom of the Press Foundation; Amelia Winger-Bearskin (Seneca-Cayuga Nation of Oklahoma), Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Arts, Digital Worlds Institute at the University of Florida
Data breaches and account hijacking are so common that it might seem like there’s nothing we can do about it. Digital attacks against journalists are on the rise, but behind the scenes, everything from Instagram account hijacking to Ring camera hacking is made possible, not by an unstoppable cyber-army, but by common password habits we’ll be unlearning in this session. We’ll show you how to use password managers to create unique, random and long passwords available across multiple devices and teams. We’ll also apply strategies to make sure we don’t lock ourselves out of our own accounts. This session will be hands-on, so please bring your laptop and smartphone.
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. CBC Indigenous: Indigenous Journalism in a Mainstream Newsroom | Hanson
Presenters: Jillian Taylor (Fisher River Cree Nation), Executive Producer of News, CBC Manitoba; Ka’nhehsí:io Deer (Kanien’kehá:ka), Reporter, CBC Indigenous; Stephanie Cram (Métis), Reporter, CBC Manitoba and Podcast Host, Muddied Water: 1870, Homeland of the Métis
From investigating Canada’s residential schools to telling stories to inspire reconciliation, join members of the CBC Indigenous team to learn about their latest projects and how they navigate working in mainstream newsrooms. Attendees will hear about best practices and preferred language to use when reporting in Indigenous communities.
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. All About NAJA | Hanson
Presenters: NAJA President Francine Compton (Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation), Assignment Producer, CBC Indigenous; NAJA Vice President Graham Lee Brewer (Cherokee Nation), National Investigative Reporter, NBC News
Are you all about NAJA? Do you want to be involved but don’t know where to start? Join president Francine Compton, alongside board members and NAJF fellows to hear all about NAJA. Current and future leaders of the organization will answer questions and share personal stories on why and how we joined NAJA.
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. Indian Country and Climate Change | Ellis
Presenters: Moderator: Peter Prengaman, Climate Change Editor, The Associated Press; Ann-Marie Chischilly (Navajo), Executive Director, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Northern Arizona University; Donovan Quintero (Navajo), Photojournalist, Navajo Times; Joaqlin Estus (Tlingit), National Correspondent, ICT
Native American and Alaska Native communities are at the center of climate change and energy transition stories. They have generations of knowledge about sustainable practices that federal officials have only recently warmed up to incorporating into land management decisions. Tribal land — some drenched by the sun and some with lithium beneath it — is pivotal in reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Hear from panelists about how tribes have confronted climate change and what’s at stake when it comes to energy production.
6 – 7 p.m. NAJA President’s Reception | Hyatt Regency Ballroom
Join NAJA leadership from 6-7 p.m., to enjoy light appetizers and refreshments during the NAJA President’s Reception with Francine Compton and the NAJA Board of Directors. Attendees will also get a sneak peek of the NAJA Silent Auction.
7 – 10 p.m. NAJA National Native Media Awards Banquet and Silent Auction | Hyatt Regency Ballroom (Ticketed Event)
Celebrate local Indigenous culture and the work of fellow NAJA members across Indian Country during the annual National Native Media Awards Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 7-10 p.m. The Pascua Yaqui Youth Deer Dancers will provide the blessing for dinner and the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers will provide the evening’s entertainment.
Attendees can bid on authentic art, and unique items. All donated items can be viewed in advance on the silent auction site and online bidding will begin Aug. 20. Auction proceeds will support scholarships for Indigenous students pursuing careers in media.
Conference attendees must have a ticket to attend this event. Tickets are $100 each and may be purchased online in advance by July 31.
Thank you to Google News Initiative for sponsoring the 2022 National Native Media Conference program.
