IJA continues to advocate for Indigenous journalists’ rights at an international level
This week, three Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) members represented IJA at the 25th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in New York, with two IJA members delivering interventions.
An intervention at the UN is a brief statement that raises awareness of an issue and provides recommendations to address it. An impactful intervention has the potential to be listed in official UN resolutions, reports and programs that impact Indigenous communities.
Dionne Phillips (Xats̓úll First Nation) delivered an intervention on Wednesday before the official UNPFII members on freedom of expression and the importance of speaking the truth without fear of unnecessary retaliation, especially in times of uncertainty and duress.
On Thursday, Indigenous Journalism Fellowship (IJF) alumna Cheyenne McNeill (Coharie Tribe) read her intervention during a closed session and shared the importance of journalism by and for Indigenous peoples. McNeill discussed topics that affect Indigenous peoples today, such as generative AI threatening histories and languages, and the continued exploitation of land through data centers, pipelines and mining.
In 2024, IJA President Christine Trudeau delivered an intervention that was included in the 2024 UNPFII report, and in 2025, IJF alumna and IJA member Carrie Johnson (Chickasaw Nation) delivered another intervention on behalf of IJA. This year, Johnson supported Phillips and McNeill as they prepared and delivered their IJA interventions.
The UNPFII is being held April 20 – May 1, 2026, at UN headquarters in New York. This year’s Indigenous media pool consists of Grist, Mongabay, Whakaata Māori and IndigiNews.
Check out live UNPFII coverage from IJA members and the Indigenous News Alliance here.
About the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues:
The UNPFII is an advisory body to the Economic and Social Council with a specific mandate on Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. According to its mandate, the Permanent Forum:
- Provides expert advice and recommendations on Indigenous issues to the Council, as well as to programmes, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through the council.
- Raise awareness and promote integration and coordination of activities related to Indigenous issues within the UN system.
- Prepares and shares information on Indigenous issues.
About IJA:
The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) empowers members representing tribal, nonprofit, freelance and mainstream media professionals in promoting accurate coverage of Indigenous communities, supporting newsroom diversity and defending challenges to free press, speech and expression. IJA addresses these challenges by fostering the development of new talent and activating a powerful membership. IJA is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
For more than 40 years, Indigenous journalists have worked to support and sustain IJA. Originally formed as the Native American Press Association in 1983, the name changed in 1990, to be more inclusive of broadcast journalists. The organization has grown from just a handful of reporters to a membership including Indigenous journalists, supporters, associates, educators and partners across the United States and Canada.
In 2023, the membership voted to change the organization’s name from the Native American Journalists Association to the Indigenous Journalists Association. This change recognizes the need to develop relationships, contacts, and cooperation across international borders and reflects a desire to align terminology with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
