The Indigenous Journalists Association hosted a free webinar for members and journalists covering the U.S. election
IJA will hosted a virtual roundtable, “Reporting on the Native Vote,” on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 5 p.m. CT. The discussion focused on the power of the Native Vote and encourage journalists to report ethically on Indigenous communities and issues without relying on stereotypes.
Panelists focused on the impact Native American voters have in national elections, particularly in key swing states, and discussed voting rights for broader public understanding. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from experts about their experience reporting in Indian Country and the resources they utilize.
Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), Board President, Indigenous Journalists Association was the moderator.
The panelists were:
- Pauly Denetclaw (Diné), Political Correspondent, ICT
- April Ignacio (Tohono O’odham), Co-Founder, Indivisible Tohono
- Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Mirror and Secretary, Indigenous Journalists Association
Pauly Denetclaw is a citizen of the Navajo Nation, and Haltsooí (Meadow People) born for Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House People). An award-winning reporter from Gallup, New Mexico, she has worked for the Navajo Times and Texas Observer covering Indigenous communities, and her radio pieces have aired on KYAT, National Native News, NPR’s Latino USA and Texas Public Radio. She is a former board member of the Indigenous Journalists Association. She is based in Washington, D.C.
April Ignacio is Tohono O’odham, a mother to six and lives in Komckud E-wa’osidk on the Tohono O’odham Nation. April is employed with Tohono O’odham Ki:ki Association (tribal housing). She is a co-founding member of Indivisible Tohono, a grassroots and community-based organization that provides opportunities for civic engagement beyond voting. April facilitates an online book club called the Rez Babes Book Club, with members from all over Native North America. She is a Vice Chair for the Arizona Democratic Party and was appointed by the Governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs, to serve on the Arizona State Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force. She dreams of retiring from manual labor, traveling, reading books, writing short stories, and making and admiring art.
Christine Trudeau, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, is an independent investigative journalist and editor, whose work can be found in High Country News, National Native News, Alaska Public Media, and NPR. She is the current president of the Indigenous Journalists Association and has served on the IJA’s Board of Directors since 2019.
Shondiin Silversmith is an award-winning Indigenous journalist from the Navajo Nation who has covered Indigenous Affairs for over 14 years. She currently focuses on Arizona’s 22 federally recognized Tribal Nations. Her stories have appeared in local and national news publications across the country. Silversmith earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northeastern University in Boston and is pursuing a Ph.D. at Arizona State University. She is an active member of the Indigenous Journalists Association and is committed to amplifying Indigenous voices and storytelling through journalism. She has made it a point in her career to advocate, pitch, and produce stories about Indigenous communities in every newsroom she’s worked in.
