2025 Indigenous Media Conference Full Agenda

All events will take place at Isleta Resort and Casino at 11000 Broadway Blvd. SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, unless otherwise noted.

View the Agenda-at-a-Glance here.

Wednesday, Aug. 13 – Day 1

7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Registration | Grand Ballroom AB Foyer

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. IMC Opening Ceremony + Breakfast | Grand Ballroom AB

Join members of the Indigenous Journalists Association and conference attendees from around the world during the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 13, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., in Grand Ballroom AB. Breakfast will be provided.

Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo), host of the nationally syndicated radio show, Native America Calling, will emcee, and Regis Pecos (Pueblo of Cochiti), the former Governor of Cochiti Pueblo, will welcome attendees and offer a blessing. The Isleta Color Guard will post colors during the grand entry. Charly Edsitty (Diné), Anchor/Reporter, KTRK Houston and Chris Di Vincenzo, Executive Producer, KABC LA will give remarks on behalf of ABC News as the opening ceremony and breakfast sponsor. President Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) will introduce the current 2025 IJA Board of Directors.

This event is sponsored by ABC News.

10 – 11 a.m. Indigenizing Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Reporting | Bosque

Presenters: Andi Murphy (Diné), journalist, Toasted Sister, Native America Calling; Jillian Waln (Siċaŋġu Lakota), Director of Marketing and Storytelling, Siċaŋġu Co.; Carl Wassilie (Yup’ik), Organizer, Block Corporate Salmon; Estefanía Narváez, Organizer, Block Corporate Salmon; HyoJin Park, Press Relations Strategist, A Growing Culture; Feini Yin, Communications Director, North American Marine Alliance; Hamida Kinge, Media Coordinator, North American Marine Alliance

Although a beat of increasing importance and relevance, much of food reporting remains niche (industry-focused) or fluffy (categorized as ‘lifestyle’). To change the dominant food system of industrial agriculture, trends like organic or regenerative are not enough to hold the drastic shift in narratives we need. In this session, we will discuss the dominant worldview that is common in mainstream food reporting, and why it is critical to highlight Indigenous foodways, practices and sovereignty as living alternatives.

10 – 11 a.m. Social Media, Research and Sovereignty | Sunrise

Presenters: Angel Ellis (Muscogee), Director, Mvskoke Media; Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton (Cherokee), Reporter, Tulsa World; Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Mirror; Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), The University of Kansas; Ben LaPoe, University of Cincinnati; Victoria LaPoe (Cherokee), University of Cincinnati; Sarah Liese, Indigenous Affairs Reporter, KOSU

Social Media, Research and Sovereignty will explore how professionals and researchers center Indigenous voices in storytelling. Discussions will include how social media may be used to reach communities to enhance the breadth of discussion on current events as well as ongoing in-depth reports.

10 – 11 a.m. Covering Indigenous Environmental Justice | Seminar

Presenters: Anita Hofschneider (Chamorro), Senior Staff Writer, Grist; Noel Lyn Smith (Diné), Reporter, Inside Climate News; Maria Parazo Rose, Data Journalist; Alleen Brown, Senior Editor, Drilled

Learn tips on covering environmental justice for Indigenous peoples.

10 – 11 a.m. How to Sell Your News Pitch to Traditional Media | Rio Grande

Presenters: Moderator: Alyssa London (Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska), Contributor, NBC News & MSNBC; Richard Lui, Anchor, MSNBC; Melissa Mack, Supervising Producer, NBC News; Jessica Machado, Senior Editor, NBCU

Great stories about Indigenous communities deserve more airtime and attention, but too often, they’re overlooked. So how do you break through? Hear from NBCU News Group editors and producers who are greenlighting this coverage. They’ll share what makes a pitch stand out, how to match it to the right show or platform and how to tell the story with authenticity, sensitivity and care.

This session is sponsored by NBCUniversal.

11 – 11:30 a.m. BREAK

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. “Native America Calling” Live Radio Broadcast | Manzano

Presenter: Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo), host of Native America Calling

Beyond just spin, public officials and media personalities are issuing audacious lies meant to resonate only with those inclined to believe them. By the time the facts come out, the damage is usually done. In this new era of made-up facts, is fact-checking effective? What is the best way to reach audiences inclined to believe damaging rhetoric about Native people?

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. How Will Cuts to CPB Impact Tribal Broadcasters? | Bosque

Presenters: Loris Taylor (Hopi/Acoma), President/CEO, Native Public Media; Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo/Diné), Director, IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists; Antonia Gonzales (Navajo Nation), Managing News Editor, Koahnic Broadcast Corporation and Producer/Host, National Native News

With the rescinding of $1.1 billion in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the passage of the rescission package delivered a blow to American public media that places hundreds of Indigenous community-based stations serving rural and tribal communities at immediate risk. Tribal stations are trusted sources of local news, educational content, emergency alerts and Native language and cultural programming, with a singular focus on serving the informational needs of tribal citizens. This decision undermines the public’s right to information, the diversity of American voices and the democratic principle that media should serve the public interest. Despite this setback, tribal broadcasters are committed to rebuilding a stronger, community-owned and governed media system and investing in training the next generation of Indigenous media leaders.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Narrating Climate Change Through Indigenous Storytelling | Sunrise

Presenters: Danielle Paradis (Metis Nation of Alberta)

Through examples from the High Arctic to the Prairies, panelists will share how they center Indigenous voices, challenge colonial narratives and blend oral history with investigative techniques. Participants will learn how climate reporting rooted in Indigenous worldviews offers not only urgent environmental insight, but also cultural continuity and resistance. This session affirms storytelling as both a reporting tool and a method of cultural survival in the face of accelerating ecological change.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Behind the Scenes with Tazbah Chavez on Crafting Modern Stories | Rio Grande

Presenters: Richard Lui, Anchor, MSNBC; Tazbah Chavez (Nüümü, Dinè, San Carlos Apache), Director / Producer

Presented by NBCUniversal, this fireside chat with acclaimed writer and director Tazbah Chavez explores how stories go from script to screen with style, purpose, and intention. From Rutherford Falls to Reservation Dogs to the upcoming The Paper, Chavez shares the creative instincts, visual storytelling choices, and behind-the-scenes decisions that bring her characters – and entire worlds – to life. Featuring curated clips and candid conversation, this session offers a masterclass in modern directing from one of TV’s boldest and most versatile storytellers.

This session is sponsored by NBCUniversal.

12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. LUNCH BREAK (on own)

2 – 3:30 p.m. Reporting on MMIP | Bosque

Presenter: Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo/Diné), Director, IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists

Indigenous journalists’ reporting on violence that targets members of Indigenous nations, both on sovereign ground and in urban settings, is essential. The dominant media narrative around Indigenous issues, including the injustice of Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), often perpetuates stereotypes and lacks critical nuance – victimizing Indigenous people and ignoring their survivorship. In this session, attendees will hear first-hand from Indigenous journalists who have made an impact with their MMIP coverage and hear best practices on how to bring the Indigenous voice forward with a “no harm” approach.

2 – 3:30 p.m. How to Write your Memoir | Manzano

Presenters: Sara Kehaulani Goo (Native Hawaiian), journalist and author of Kuleana; Jessica Machado (Native Hawaiian), journalist and author of Local; Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag), writer and author of Nothing More Of This Land

Learn from Indigenous authors about how they got their books published and how you can too.

2 – 3:30 p.m. Backgrounding Like a Boss with Investigative Reporters & Editors | Sunrise

Presenters: Francisco Vara-Orta, DBEI Director, Investigative Reporters & Editors

Even great reporters can get tricked by fake names or sketchy backgrounds. We’ll walk through some strategies you can use to create a routine and spot potential red flags before you get burned.

2 – 3:30 p.m. Visual Storytelling with Indigenous Communities | Rio Grande

Presenters: Christopher Lomahquahu (Gila River Indian Community), journalist, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting; Adreanna Rodriguez (Hunkpapa Lakota/Chicana), independent journalist; Ross Franklin, staff photographer, The Associated Press; Chris Keller, data journalist, The Associated Press; Julio Cortez, Texas/Oklahoma chief photographer, The Associated Press

A story isn’t a story without visuals. Panelists will offer insights on best practices for visual storytelling within Indigenous communities through photos, video and data visualization. They’ll share their own work and be available for one-on-one portfolio reviews or brainstorming following the panel.

This session is sponsored by The Associated Press.

3:30 – 4 p.m. BREAK

4 – 5 p.m. Land Back: What Journalists Need to Know | Bosque

Presenters: Julia Bernal (Sandia Pueblo and Yuchi), Executive Director, Pueblo Action Alliance; Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag), author, IJA Board Member; Lani Tsinnajinnie (Diné and Filipino), University of New Mexico School of Architecture and Planning

Land Back has been described as an effort by Indigenous people and nations to reclaim land taken from them during the colonization of North America. But #landback is about so much more than land: It’s about Indigenous people reasserting sovereignty over homelands, resources, sacred spaces and stewardship. From California to Maine and points between, Indigenous people are using a wide array of tools to restore their heritage. Each new advancement raises a wide range of legal, economic, cultural and jurisdictional questions that journalists across the country must understand to accurately report on them.

4 – 5 p.m. Narrative Audio Storytelling in Indian Country | Manzano

Presenters: Moderator: Sam Yellowhorse Kesler (Navajo/Diné), Planet Money, NPR; Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, Planet Money, NPR; Savannah Maher (Mashpee Wampanoag), Marketplace, APM; Adreanna Rodriguez (Standing Rock Sioux), Tribal Justice, Audible; Allison Herrera (Xolon Salinan), Reporter, APM Reports

What makes a compelling audio story? What makes people stop in their tracks and listen? A good story can put a listener inside a point of view, break past the news to draw an emotional response and can even challenge perceptions. On this panel, expert audio storytellers will discuss their strategies for crafting a narrative, guiding great interviews and the sounds that go into a great audio story.

4 – 5 p.m. How Should Native Journalists Respond to Deliberate Misinformation? | Sunrise

Presenters: Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo), host, Native America Calling; Shaun Griswold (Laguna, Zuni and Jemez Pueblo), correspondent, High Country News; Graham Lee Brewer (Cherokee), national writer, The Associated Press

4 – 5 p.m. Designing Awareness: Discussion on Creating an International Database on MMIWP | Rio Grande

Presenters: Chelsea Curtis (Diné), reporter, AZ Luminera; Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Mniconjou Lakota), Founder and Director, Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance; Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Mirror; Loris Taylor (Hopi/Acoma), President/CEO, Native Public Media; Gina Jackson (Western Shoshone & Oglala Lakota), Co-Founder & CEO, Return to the Heart Foundation; Victoria LaPoe (Cherokee), University of Cincinnati

Through this panel, experts will discuss what can be done to create a free international, customizable database for MMIWP. The discussion will include the work behind a first-of-its-kind database in Arizona, fueled by the filing of public records, connection to national databases, social media and accounts from family members.

5 – 5:15 p.m. BREAK

5:15 p.m. Shuttles begin loading for Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

5:30 – 8 p.m. IMC Opening Night Reception sponsored by NBCUniversal | Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (Offsite Event – Transportation provided)

Emcee: Aliyah Chavez (Kewa Pueblo), Reporter, KOAT Albuquerque; Welcome: Charles Jojola (Isleta Pueblo), Lieutenant Governor, Isleta Pueblo; Sponsor remarks: Salvador Mendoza, Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, NBCUniversal and Alyssa London (Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska), Reporter, MSNBC; Welcome Address: Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), President, IJA Board of Directors; Keynote Presentation: Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo/Diné), International Women’s Media Foundation

Aliyah Chavez, reporter at KOAT Albuquerque, will emcee the Opening Night Reception, where Isleta Pueblo Governor Charles Jojola will offer a prayer and welcome. President Christine Trudeau will address attendees and Tara Gatewood will deliver the keynote address. Small bites will be served and a cash bar will have drinks for purchase.

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is located at 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Shuttles will depart from the Isleta Resort beginning at 5:15 p.m. from the front entrance. Shuttles will run throughout the Opening Night Reception with the last departure at 8:15 p.m.

Opening Night Reception is sponsored by NBCUniversal.

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025 – DAY 2

7 – 8 a.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga | Go Wa’ Lawn (outside)

Rose Whitehair discovered the healing and balance that yoga provides and has practiced yoga since 2010. Yoga has helped Rose heal from hip replacement, scoliosis, thyroid issues and work-related stress and trauma. She gained her certification through Native Strength Revolution and Yoga Alliance. As an instructor, Rose guides Vinyasa flow to reconnect us to our inner selves while building strength and stability.

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration | Grand Ballroom AB Foyer

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. A New Era in Plant Medicine: Storytelling & Qualitative Data to Drive Healing | Bosque

Presenters: Mary Jane Oatman (Nez Perce/Delaware), Founder, THC Magazine and Executive Director, ICIA

Discover how storytelling and qualitative data are transforming plant medicine in this powerful session. “A New Era in Plant Medicine” explores how personal narratives, lived experiences and cultural knowledge complement scientific research to drive holistic healing. Learn how integrating qualitative insights can deepen understanding, build trust and guide more inclusive, effective plant-based therapies.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Faces of the Diaspora: Covering your Indigenous Community from Afar | Manzano

Presenters: Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton (Kanaka ʻŌiwi), Reporter, The Seattle Times

Though you may be away from home, you should feel empowered to continue uplifting Native issues and voices in your reporting. Join journalist Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton (Kanaka ʻŌiwi) to learn tips and tricks on how to keep your finger on the pulse of your Indigenous community from afar. She will draw from her experiences writing Ka Wai Ola’s “Faces of the Diaspora” series, which features different Native Hawaiians living in Hawai’i’s growing diaspora.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Bringing Back the Buffalo: Can Indigenous Land and Species Management Save Us? | Sunrise

Presenters: J Dallas Gudgell (Yankton Dakota, Fort Peck Assiniboine, Sioux), Tribal Programs Director, Vice-President Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) Board; Wildlife and Tribal Policy Director, International WIldlife Coexistence Network (IWCN)

Settler/colonial structures of land management and species conservation have failed. Primarily transactional structures of commodity-based extraction and exploitation of the natural world as an inanimate resource centers individualism for individual gain. Individuals, communities and societies are viewed as separate from with supremacy over the natural world. This paradigm is not sustainable. Conversely, centuries of Indigenous land management and species conservation in relational structures consider the natural world and non-human species (relatives) as vital, dynamic, animate and interconnected with humans a part of nature, subject to natural law and a responsibility to exist in balance and right relationship. This paradigm is sustainable.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Muscogee Voices: Student Journalists Covering Indigenous Communities | Rio Grande

Presenters: Tracy Everbach, professor, Mayborn School of Journalism, UNT; Tabitha Hidalgo, student, Mayborn School of Journalism, UNT; Angel Ellis (Mvskoke), director, Mvskoke Media

This session focuses on a spring 2025 student journalism project that featured a field reporting trip to the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma from the University of North Texas. Students reported, produced and edited their stories about people who live in the nation during spring break. They created a website with their stories: muscogeevoices.com. The panel will feature a student journalist from the Mayborn School of Journalism, a journalism professor who supervised the class and a journalist from Mvskoke Media. Panelists will discuss the experience, including the cooperation between the tribe and the student journalists.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Preserving Our Stories in Real Time: Indigenous Journalists’ Oral History Archives | Seminar

Presenters: Will Chavez (Cherokee/San Felipe Pueblo), Assistant Editor, Cherokee Phoenix; Erin Fehr, (Yup’ik), Assistant Director/Archivist, Sequoyah National Research Center, University of Arkansas at Little Rock; Melissa Greene-Blye, Ph.D., (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Media Historian, University of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications

As journalists, we recognize the importance of sharing stories, often informed by breaking news and driven by deadlines; this session takes a longer view, discussing the importance of preserving the (his)stories of the journalists who tell those stories. Our stories, and the people who tell them, are often missing or misrepresented in the broader landscape of media history. This session will discuss the importance of preserving Indigenous media history in a way that authentically represents those stories and journalists. Conference attendees will be invited to do an oral history interview and share their (his)stories during this year’s conference.

9:30 – 10 a.m. BREAK / Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drop-in Resource Table | Grand Ballroom AB Foyer

Stop by the IJA table near registration to speak to a rotating lineup of newsroom leaders, editors and hiring managers for advice on pitches, resumes and more!

10 – 11:30 a.m. Unveiling the Scars of Indian Boarding Schools | Bosque

Presenters: Kathy Baird (Sicangu Lakota / Oneida), former chief communications officer, The Washington Post; Dana Hedgpeth (Haliwa-Saponi of N.C.), journalist, The Washington Post; Mary Annette Pember (Red Cliff Ojibwe), national correspondent, Indian Country Today, author, “Medicine River”; Patty Talahongva (Hopi), journalist, documentary producer, news executive

Four panelists who have spent years researching, writing and publishing projects and books on the hidden legacy and generational impact of Indian boarding schools run by the U.S. government and religious groups and churches showcase their experiences and stories behind their deep and revealing work in an up-close and personal way. One panelist attended Phoenix Indian School; another wrote two large-scale investigative stories on sexual abuse and deaths at the schools; and two others have mothers who attended these institutions and will share how it’s impacted their lives and their families.

10 – 11:30 a.m. Holistic Safety Clinic: How to Protect Yourself in an Increasingly Hostile Environment | Manzano

Presenters: Moderator: Tara Gatewood (Isleta Pueblo & Diné), Director, IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists; Jeje Mohamed, Holistic Safety and Security Advisor, IWMF; Leslie Briggs, Senior Staff Attorney, RCFP; Tat Bellamy-Walker, Program Manager, Digital Safety, Pen America

As Indigenous journalists face heightened concerns for their safety under a new and unpredictable presidential administration, the need for holistic safety measures is increasing. In this workshop, Indigenous journalists can tour expert-facilitated “safety stations” where they can receive hands-on support on how to help protect themselves from a range of physical, digital, legal and psychological safety concerns. The workshop will cover identity-aware risk assessments; situational awareness; best practices when reporting alone; defending against doxing, hacking and other abusive tactics online; high-level guidance on identifying and mitigating potential legal threats; and taking care of your psychological well-being.

10 – 11:30 a.m. Using Signal for Secure Confidential Communication | Sunrise

Presenters: David Huerta, Senior Digital Security Trainer, Freedom of the Press Foundation

Protecting your communication with sources is crucial to protecting their confidentiality. In this session, we’ll go through the pros and cons of using Signal versus other apps. We’ll also deep dive into some powerful features Signal has to offer, and how they can help you do your work more safely.

10 – 11:30 a.m. Indigiqueer Committee Presents: Building Better 2SLGBTQIA+ Coverage in your Newsroom | Rio Grande

Presenters: Moderator: Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi), President, IJA, Chair, IndigiQueer Committee and Managing Editor, Underscore; Jarrette Werk (Aaniih & Nakoda Nations), Reporter + Photographer, Underscore; Nika Bartoo-Smith (Osage & Oneida descent), Reporter, Underscore + ICT

In an era of increased threats to journalism, LGBTQIA+ and Two-Spirit rights, how do we ensure the necessary stories from our Indigenous queer and Two-Spirit communities are told the right way? As reporters and editors, how do we navigate the newsroom? This session will be in two parts. The first part will be a panel with the Underscore Native News team moderated by Managing Editor Christine Trudeau. The second half is an open discussion format, where attendees can share, ask questions and brainstorm on resources to help build a connected community. Guides and resources will be shared and expanded upon as the IJA IndigiQueer Committee continues to grow our community support.

10 – 11:30 a.m. Film Screening: SHE CRIED THAT DAY + Q&A | Seminar

Presenters: Amanda Erickson (San Carlos Apache), Director, She Cried That Day; Karen Watson (Arikara, Diné and Dakota), sister of Dione Thomas; Darlene Gomez, lawyer for MMIWR families

Join us for a powerful and intimate panel following a teaser screening of the feature documentary, She Cried That Day, which follows Christine Means and her family, who have spent years questioning the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death. In 2019, a renewed sense of hope for justice placed Christine at the center of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives movement in New Mexico. Despite the inherent trauma, this is a story of love, spirit and the unwavering power of Indigenous women and allies who refuse to let their loved ones be forgotten. This urgent conversation brings together frontline advocates, impacted family members and journalists to explore the gaps in mainstream storytelling, the needs of families seeking justice and the emotional toll placed on those committed to documenting these stories within their own communities. Together, we’ll examine how media can uplift or fail these stories, the responsibility of storytellers to center Indigenous voices and what aftercare looks like for journalists navigating trauma and cultural accountability. This is a call to action and a step toward collective healing and advocacy.

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. IJA Membership Luncheon and Business Meeting | Grand Ballroom AB (Ticketed Event)

Emcee: B. Toastie Oaster (Choctaw Nation), Staff Writer, High Country News; Welcome: Jenelle Roybal, Governor, Pueblo of Pojoaque; Presenters: Charles Whitaker, Dean and Professor, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism; Dana Hegpeth (Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of North Carolina), Reporter, Washington Post; Christine Trudeau, President, IJA Board of Directors; IJA Staff

Join leaders and fellow members of the Indigenous Journalists Association for lunch and networking during the annual business meeting. Attendees will review IJA’s strategic plan and recognize the 2025 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recipient, Dana Hedgpeth. IJA will host an informal meet-and-greet for board of directors candidates at the conclusion of the meeting.

1 – 2 p.m. IJA Elections | IMC Registration

MEMBERS ONLY: In-person voting for the IJA Board of Directors will take place at the IJA Voting Table in the conference foyer of the Isleta Resort & Casino. Only eligible IJA members in good standing may vote.

1 – 2 p.m. Q&A with the 2025 Indigenous Journalism Fellows | Bosque

Presenters: Troy Littledeer (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians), 2025 IJA Tim Giago Free Press Awardee; Alana Minkler (Navajo); Brooke Burnette (Rosebud Sioux Tribe); Mariah Hernandez-Fitch (United Houma Nation); Marissa Meilleur (Kwanlin Dün First Nation (citizen), Teslin Tlingit Council); Kaiya Laguardia-Yonamine (Uchinānchu (Indigenous Okinawan); Kaiya Little (Seminole Nation of Oklahoma)

Join students from the 2025 Indigenous Journalism Fellowship for a Q&A with the 2025 IJA Tim Giago Free Press Awardee, Troy Littledeer (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians), for a conversation about how independent Indigenous media strengthens tribal sovereignty. The audience will also have a chance to question the fellows about their experiences, interests and fellowship reporting projects.

1 – 2 p.m. The Demise of Indian Time: The Void Left When an Indigenous Outlet Stops Reporting | Manzano

Presenters: Stephanie Sugars, Senior Reporter, U.S. Press Freedom Tracker; Marjorie Kaniehtonkie Skidders, Editor, Indian Time; Isaac White, Reporter, Indian Time

Founded in 1893, Akwesasne’s Indian Time newspaper published its final edition late last year. Indian Time editor Marjorie Skidders and reporter Isaac White will talk about the economic issues and law enforcement harassment that made their work unsustainable. They’ll also talk about how the closing of an Indigenous outlet impacts the community, and what can be done to fill the void. Stephanie Sugars of the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker will put Indian Time’s story in the context of national trends.

1 – 2 p.m. How to Write Stories Rooted in Scientific Research | Sunrise

Presenters: Sunnie R. Clahchischiligi (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Editor, High Country News, Board Member, Indigenous Journalists Association; Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Freelance Writer, Board Member, Indigenous Journalists Association; Tim Appenzeller, News Editor, Science Magazine; Rachel Bernstein, Careers and Community Editor, Science Magazine

What is science writing? Covering science can mean reporting on technology, health, culture, climate and a wide range of subtopics and beats. But from the outside, reading scientific research and talking to the people who do this work can seem daunting, technical and inaccessible. In this interactive session, expert panelists from Science magazine’s news sections, in collaboration with Indigenous journalists, will offer examples of how to read through a scientific paper for the most salient parts – from caveats to the takeaways – and ways to engage with scientific research to enhance your reporting. Scan these QR codes to preview the articles we will discuss in the session!

1 – 2 p.m. Covering Tribal and State Legislatures – Insights from Indigenous Affairs Reporters | Rio Grande

Presenters: Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Arizona Mirror; Noel Smith (Diné), freelance Indigenous journalist; Sarah Liese (Diné and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, KOSU; Meredith Johnson (Chickasaw), Reporter, Mvskoke Media; Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné), Indigenous Radio Reporter, KUNM; Bella Davis (Yurok), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, New Mexico In Depth

This breakout session will feature experienced Indigenous reporters who will discuss the unique challenges and responsibilities of covering both tribal and state legislatures. Panelists will explore the key differences in governance structures, legal frameworks and political dynamics while sharing best practices for accurate and ethical reporting. The session will also highlight the importance of Indigenous perspectives in legislative coverage and the role of journalists in fostering informed public discourse.

1 – 2 p.m. Building International Solidarity Among Indigenous Journalists as a Mental Health Strategy | Seminar

Presenters: Rachael Hocking (Warlpiri), Journalist and Researcher; Dr. Cait McMahon, trauma specialist

This workshop aims to bridge gaps between our global Indigenous journalists, share knowledge and build solidarity. Indigenous journalists are exposed to extreme stress and trauma in their work. We will share knowledge from an Australian perspective, using the Australian Indigenous notions of social and emotional wellbeing, to support resilience and longevity for fearless journalism and Indigenous truth-seeking in an increasingly anti-truth world. We invite knowledge-sharing from journalists about the cultural foundations that support them to cover tough stories, in an effort to build international solidarity.

2 – 2:30 p.m. BREAK / Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

2:30 – 4 p.m. Reproductive Sovereignty in the Media | Bosque

Presenters: Rachael Lorenzo (Mescalero Apache/Laguna Pueblo/Xicana), Co-Founder/Executive Director, IWR; Marcus Trujillo (Laguna Pueblo), Communications & Media Manager, IWR; Danielle Lucero (Isleta Pueblo)

Indigenous Women Rising (IWR) will go in-depth on the framework of reproductive sovereignty and what it means to be represented in the media when we are talking about topics that are seen as typically taboo: sex, sexual health, pleasure, birth and abortion and puberty. IWR will discuss our experience talking to Native communities about our work in a culturally respectful way and how to portray abortion and our personal experiences in the media. IWR will also share internal policies about sharing our work without exploiting callers to our various reproductive health funds and respecting privacy.

2:30 – 4 p.m. How to Inspire the Next Generation of Native Journalists | Rio Grande

Presenters: Shawn Spruce (Laguna Pueblo), host, Native America Calling; Dr. Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), professor of journalism, University of Kansas; Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous affairs reporter, The Arizona Mirror

This panel will explore what it takes to recruit and encourage new Native voices in an industry that already has poor Native representation. What should new Native journalists be doing to respond to the changing employment landscape? And what is the effect of the new direction in diversity, equity and inclusion practices in both education and employment on inspiring and supporting Native talent?

2:30 – 4 p.m. Film Screening: REMAINING NATIVE + Q&A | Seminar

Presenters: Jarrette Werk (Aaniiih and Nakoda), Journalist and Associate Producer of “Remaining Native”; Paige Bethmann (Haudenosaunee), Director of “Remaining Native”

Join Director Paige Bethmann (Haudenosaunee) and Associate Producer Jarrette Werk (Aaniiih and Nakoda) for a special screening and discussion of the award-winning feature documentary, Remaining Native. Remaining Native is a coming-of-age film told through the perspective of Ku Stevens, a 17-year-old Native American runner navigating his way to college athletics while the memory of his great-grandfather’s 50-mile escape from Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present and future.

4 – 5 p.m. IJA Networking | Sunrise

All conference attendees are invited to gather for a networking power hour accompanied by light snacks.

5 – 7 p.m. Film Screening: BLOOD & MYTH + Q&A | Seminar

When a series of shocking violent crimes shatter a remote native village in Northern Alaska, one man embarks on a journey to investigate a frightening paranormal connection. True crime meets a truly haunting mystery in this feature documentary. Blood & Myth is ultimately a tale about identity, American dreams and the dangers of veering too far from one’s home. A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow.

This screening is sponsored by Hulu.

5 – 7 p.m. Freelancer Happy Hour | Triple Sevens Restaurant and Bar

Join Katherine Reynolds Lewis, founder of the Institute for Independent Journalists, and Tara Gatewood, director of the Fund for Indigenous Journalists: Reporting on MMIWG2T, as well as editors from High Country news and representatives from the National Writers Union’s Freelance Solidarity Project, to network with other freelancers! Attendees will also be able to sign up for IJA’s soon-to-launch freelance database.

This event is sponsored by the Institute for Independent Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation and High Country News.

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 – DAY 3

7 – 8 a.m. Vinyasa Flow Yoga | Go Wa’ Lawn (outside)

8 a.m. – 1 p.m. // 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Registration | Grand Ballroom C

9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. How to Get (and Keep) Emerging Journalists in your Newsroom | Bosque

Presenters: Angela Belleau (Garden River First Nation), fellow, GISF; Tyler Shingoose (Waywayseecappo First Nation), fellow, GISF; Veronica Blackhawk (Anishinaabe), fellow, GISF; Julia Ross (Pinaymootang, Fairford First Nation), fellow, GISF; Rose Jacobs (Chippewas of Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation), fellow, GISF; Ryan Cunningham (Cree, Michel Band First Nation), fellow, GISF; Angel Moore (Cree, Peguis First Nation), Video Journalist, APTN News

The demand for Indigenous storytellers and perspectives in the news ecosystem is higher than ever, and yet the channels that might propel more Indigenous people to careers in journalism often remain inaccessible. In this panel discussion, fellows from the first year of the Growing Indigenous Storytellers Fellowship program will talk about how they came to journalism, and what newsrooms and the industry can do to encourage more like them to choose – and keep choosing – the news.

The Growing Indigenous Storytellers Fellowship is an initiative for emerging Indigenous journalists, jointly launched by the Indigenous Journalists Association, Journalists for Human Rights and APTN News, with support from the Google News Initiative in Canada.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Indigenous Journalism Education in Canada | Sunrise

Presenters: Shannon Avison, Associate Professor/Program Director, First Nations University of Canada

In March 2024, the First Nations University of Canada launched the first and only Bachelor of Arts four-year degree program in Indigenous Journalism and Communication Arts (INCA). Our students study ethics, investigative journalism, digital storytelling and media policy. The BA program evolved from a diploma program started in 1982 and a certificate for remote students (specializing in community radio and community relations that launched during COVID). The INCA department has built a reputation by offering students hands-on training with Indigenous professionals, and opportunities to gain experience with projects like pikiskwewin: Sharing Indigenous Languages on Radio and Online, and CFNU radio, a streaming radio station that provides original programming 24/7 and is one of two Canadian radio services that broadcasts Native American Calling (NV1) daily, in an effort to connect Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.

8:30 – 11 a.m. Film Screening: THESE SACRED HILLS + Q&A | Seminar

Presenters: B. Toastie Oaster, (Choctaw Nation), Staff Writer, High Country News; Jeremy Takala (Rock Creek Band of Yakama Nation), Yakama Nation Tribal Council; Elaine Harvey, (Rock Creek Band of Yakama Nation), Watershed Department Manager, Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission; Chief Bronsco Jim Jr. (Rock Creek Band of Yakama Nation), Community Outreach Coordinator, Yakama Nation Language Program; Jacob Bailey, Director and Producer, Struck Films; Christopher Ward, Producer and Editor, Struck Films

The feature-length documentary These Sacred Hills follows members of the Kahmiltpah band of the Yakama Nation as they resist the development of a renewable energy project while fighting to maintain culture and identity. Subjects retrace foodways of their ancestors, gather foods, strengthen family relationships and learn ancient cooking techniques from aunties. The community shares protected cultural knowledge in an effort to raise awareness about threats to sacred lands. The film features IJA member B. ‘Toastie’ Oaster and their investigative work about green colonialism.

9:30 – 10 a.m. BREAK / Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

10 – 11 a.m. Law Enforcement Surveillance Technologies and Indigenous Communities | Bosque

Presenters: Dave Maass, Director of Investigations, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Reynolds Scholar in Residence at the University of Nevada, Reno Reynolds School of Journalism

Law enforcement agencies are adopting increasingly advanced surveillance technologies to gather intelligence on the populations they are meant to protect – and this includes Indigenous communities. Through the AtlasofSurveillance.org project, the Electronic Frontier Foundation has been documenting the growth and evolution of this technology, including drones, license plate readers, face recognition and artificial intelligence. The session will cover the tech deployed by tribal police and how it’s funded, as well as how federal surveillance is growing in tribal communities in the borderlands. It will also include tips and techniques for covering and investigating surveillance tech as it continues to proliferate.

10 – 11 a.m. Climate Visual Storytelling: Skills for Amplifying Indigenous Narratives | Manzano

Presenters: Benny Polacca (Hopi/ Havasupai/ Pima/ Tohono O’odham), Senior Reporter, Osage News; Echo Reed (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), Multimedia Specialist, Osage News; Tyler Thomas (Cherokee), Executive Editor, Cherokee Phoenix; Lindsey Bark (Cherokee), Reporter and Photographer, Cherokee Phoenix; Angela K. Evans, Director Communities of Practice, Solutions Journalism Network

Drawing from case studies in Indigenous newsrooms participating in the Solutions Journalism Network’s Climate Beacon Newsroom Initiatives, this session will provide practical insights into crafting impactful climate visuals. It will explore how co-reporting from the beginning of a story, proactively planning visual strategies, and focusing on community solutions can lead to stronger narratives. Attendees will learn techniques for representing climate adaptation and mitigation, while amplifying Indigenous knowledge and solutions as key components of climate reporting. By emphasizing proactive approaches and the importance of working together, this session will empower attendees to tell deeper, more inclusive climate stories.

10 – 11 a.m. Going into the Weeds: Strategies and Tools to Guide Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Reporting | Sunrise

Presenters: Mary Jane Oatman (Nez Perce/Delaware), Founder, THC Magazine and Executive Director, ICIA

Language and words have power. Accurate and transparent reporting is a crucial piece of communicating the benefits of cannabis for both personal and community health. In this presentation, Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Executive Director Mary Jane Oatman will provide educational resources and opportunities for discussion to help participants understand the applications of plant medicine and industrial hemp as well as the current state of the industry and how Indigenous communities can benefit from cannabis reporting. With decades of experience as publisher of THC Magazine, Mary Jane will provide context to the current landscape of Indigenous cannabis and discuss how affirming language in media promotes the application of culturally informed and evidence-based practices in plant medicine restoration.

10 – 11 a.m. What Journalism School Didn’t Teach Me | Rio Grande

Presenters: Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné), Radio Reporter, KUNM; Bella Davis (Yurok), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, New Mexico In Depth; Benjamin C Yazza (Diné), Multimedia Producer, NMPBS

In this session, listen to early-career journalists chat about what they wish they’d known before graduating from the University of New Mexico, along with challenges and successes working at three nonprofit news organizations in the state. They will also talk about how they benefited from mentorship through fellowships like the Indigenous Journalism Fellowship and the New Mexico Local News Fund and how they continue to grow as journalists in radio, print and digital media.

11 – 11:30 a.m. BREAK / Indigenous Media Expo | Grand Ballroom C

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Designing Entrepreneurship Systems that Work for You | Bosque

Presenters: Katherine Reynolds Lewis, founder, the Institute for Independent Journalists; Joseph Lee (Aquinnah Wampanoag), freelance writer and author; Adreanna Rodriguez (Standing Rock Sioux), independent multimedia journalist

More journalists are freelancing, out of need or by choice – and creating their own newsletters or startup businesses. This session will cover how to create entrepreneurial systems and habits! You’ll see a demo of the Institute for Independent Journalists’ interactive online freelance startup guide, which helps ramp up a side hustle into a full-time business. Panelists will share tools for setting your rate, networking to find great assignments, building relationships with clients, juggling multiple projects and even writing a book. Participants will leave the session with new tools and strategies for becoming an emotionally and financially sustainable freelancer.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Wandering Toolkit: Creating a Tribal Safety Net to Address Wandering Persons | Manzano

Presenters: Megan Dicken (Houma), Public Health and Aging Associate, International Association for Indigenous Aging

This session introduces The Wandering Toolkit, a culturally grounded resource designed to help Indigenous communities prevent and respond to wandering among elders with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of the strategies within the toolkit and how they are applied in a real-world setting. Through reflection, discussion and Q&A, journalists will gain insight into the public health challenges surrounding elder safety and explore how they can inform their audiences about the toolkit’s impact on community safety and elder care, emphasizing the role of community involvement in safeguarding vulnerable populations.

This session is sponsored by AARP.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Voting on Tribal Lands: Advancing Voting Rights with Data | Sunrise

Presenters: Chelsea Jones, Democracy program researcher, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law; Allison Neswood (Navajo), senior staff attorney, Native American Rights Fund; Shondiin Silversmith (Diné), Indigenous affairs reporter, The Arizona Mirror

For too long, Native Americans have faced barriers to voting that impede their full political participation. While de jure disenfranchisement of Native Americans no longer exists, de facto disenfranchisement continues to flourish, as is evident in the turnout gap between voters on and off tribal lands. Experts with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law and Native American Rights Fund will present findings from the 2024 Brennan Center report, Voting on Tribal Lands: Barriers to Native American Turnout, alongside journalist Shondiin Silversmith, who will provide her perspective on the reality of reporting on Native voting rights.

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pathways and Possibilities: A Forward-Focused Conversation between MacArthur Local News Program and Indigenous Journalists | Seminar

Presenters: Cassie Haynes, J.D., M.P.H., President, Plot Twist Consulting; Liliana Velázquez, Program Officer for Local News, MacArthur Foundation

The Local News program at MacArthur Foundation is creating space to hear directly from Indigenous journalists about what’s on your minds – the challenges you’re navigating, the opportunities you see and the ideas that deserve more attention. Liliana Velázquez, program officer for Local News at MacArthur Foundation, and Cassie Haynes, principal consultant and president of Plot Twist Consulting, will host this conversation as a chance to share perspectives and spark connections.

This session is supported by the MacArthur Foundation.

5 – 6 p.m. President’s Reception, Silent Auction, Indigenous Media Expo and Photo Booth | Grand Ballroom Foyer

Join IJA leadership and enjoy light bites and a cash bar during the IJA President’s Reception with President Christine Trudeau and the Board of Directors. Attendees can also start bidding on IJA Silent Auction items such as Indigenous art, clothing, jewelry and unique items. The photo booth will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. to capture all the special moments with awardees and members.

6 – 9 p.m. IJA Indigenous Media Awards Banquet + Silent Auction | Grand Ballroom AB

(Ticketed event)

Celebrate culture and the outstanding coverage of Indigenous communities by IJA members during the 2025 Indigenous Media Awards Banquet. Antonia Gonzalez (Navajo) and Shaun Griswold (Pueblos of Laguna, Jemez and Zuni) will co-emcee the event, where IJA will present the Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism to Grist, the Tim Giago Free Press Award to Troy Littledeer (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians), the Minnie Two Shoes Award for Excellence in Tribal Media to Denise Titian (Nuu-chah-nulth) and the Elias Boudinot Free Press Award to O’odham Action News.

The Silent Auction will run throughout the evening. Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers will perform.

Farmer is an actor and musician, born on Six Nations along the Grand River, Ohsweken, Ontario. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the development of Indigenous media in Canada and was the founding director of an urban Indian radio network, Aboriginal Voices Radio Network. He also published Aboriginal Voices Magazine from 1993-2003. Gary has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Male in: Powwow Highway, Dead Man and Smoke Signals. Recent credits include: Resident Alien, Reservation Dogs, The English, The Curse, Quantum Cowboys, Blood Quantum, The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw, Run Woman Run and Hey Viktor! Gary has also directed several popular short films, both independent and for television, and was the executive producer and a director of the APTN entertainment series Buffalo Tracks.

Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers album, Fool For Love, won Best Americana Album at the 2023 New Mexico Music Awards. Sing That Song reached no. 5 on the Top 40 Indigenous Music Countdown in Canada.