Wednesday, July 22 – Day 1 

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Registration | Salon Foyer

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Foyer

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. IMC26 Opening Ceremony + Breakfast | Salon EF – Sponsored by NBCUniversal

Presenters: Antonia Gonzales (Navajo Nation), IMC26 Emcee; Gerald Skelton Jr. (Klamath Tribes), Tribal Government Relations Manager, City of Portland; Charles Whitaker, Dean and Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University and 2026 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Awardee; Sunnie Clahchischiligi (Diné), President, IJA Board of Directors

Join members of the Indigenous Journalists Association and conference attendees from around the world during the Opening Ceremony. Colors will be posted by the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Dean Charles Whitaker from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University will present the 2026 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award. President Sunnie Clahchischiligi (Diné) will introduce the 2026 IJA Board of Directors. IJA Education Chair and IJF Director Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma) will introduce the 2026 Indigenous Journalism Fellows. Breakfast will be provided.

10 – 11 a.m. What Journalism Schools Need to Learn from Indigenous Newsrooms | Salon CD

Presenters: Jelani Cobb, Ph.D., Dean & Henry R. Luce Professor, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University (Moderator); Charles Whitaker, Dean and Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University; Melissa Greene-Blye, Ph.D. (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Assistant Professor, William Allen White School of Journalism, University of Kansas; Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Editor-at-Large, Grist

As journalism schools rethink their role in a rapidly changing media landscape, many are still grappling with how to meaningfully serve Indigenous communities and support Indigenous journalists entering the field. This panel brings together journalism school leaders and Indigenous media practitioners to examine where traditional models fall short and what more community-centered approaches can look like. From curriculum design to newsroom partnerships, panelists will discuss what journalism schools are getting right, where they still need to improve, and how stronger relationships with Indigenous-led news organizations can help shape the future of journalism education.

10 – 11 a.m. AI Reporting Tools for Journalists | Salon GH – Sponsored by RTDNA

Presenters: Mike Reilley, Senior Lecturer of Digital and Data Journalism, University of Illinois Chicago 

In this session, we’ll cover Claude, Perplexity, ChatGPT 4o, Google Gemini and other tools. We’ll explore what these tools can do well (help with headlines, writing tips, summarization, photo illustrations) and what they do poorly, and discuss legal and ethical ramifications of using them. Participants will get a handout with tips, prompts and other resources.

11 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee Break | Salon AB/Foyer

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Redrawing the Map: Repurposing Federal Climate Data for Indigenous Stories | Salon EF

Presenters: Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Indigenous Affairs Editor, Grist; Maria Parazo Rose, Data Spatial Analyst, Grist

Federal health and climate data is almost exclusively collected at scales bound by colonial concepts of borders — states, counties, and census tracts. For reporters, this presents a critical area of weakness: administrative boundaries rarely align with tribal land bases, often distorting or effectively erasing Indigenous realities from national datasets. In this session, Grist’s Indigenous Affairs team explains how they overcame these limitations to build a first-of-its-kind dataset that translates and recalibrates disparate federal sources — from FEMA funding to climate vulnerability indices — directly onto tribal lands.

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

12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. IJA Sponsor Appreciation Lunch | Salon EF (Invite Only)

2 – 3:30 p.m. From Assignment to Exit Plan: Staying Safe While Reporting | Salon I

Presenters: Tara Gatewood (Pueblo of Isleta/Diné), Director, IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists (Moderator); Rachael Smith, Program Coordinator, IWMF; Abigail LP, Program Manager, Freedom of the Press Foundation

Reporting in the field increasingly places journalists in unpredictable and high-stress environments — from covering protests and ICE operations to navigating heavy law-enforcement presence and surveillance. In this hands-on session, the International Women’s Media Foundation and the Freedom of the Press Foundation will share practical guidance on situational awareness, identifying different law-enforcement actors in the field, and reducing risk during protests and fast-moving events. Attendees will leave with concrete, field-tested strategies they can apply immediately.

2 – 3:30 p.m. The Psychedelic Story and Indigenous Communities | Salon GH

Presenters: Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Editor-at-Large, Grist; Adreanna Rodriguez (Hunkpapa Lakota/Chicana), Journalist and Audio Producer; Marlena Robbins (Diné and Mescalero Apache), Doctoral Student, UC Berkeley; Jane C. Hu, Independent Journalist and Host, City Cast Seattle; Malia Wollan, Contributing Writer, The New York Times Magazine (Moderator)

Psychedelics are at the center of a global story about mental health, religious mysticism, new drug development and even how we experience death. Many plant-based psychedelics including peyote, mushrooms, ayahuasca and ibogaine are considered medicines by Indigenous peoples, placing Indigenous narratives, knowledge systems, and sovereignty at the center of both these practices and the modern psychedelic industry. This panel will examine how principles such as community consent, relational accountability, and journalistic responsibility to Indigenous communities can shape coverage of this rapidly changing field.

2 – 3:30 p.m. HULA: A Special Preview Screening and Q&A with the Filmmakers | Salon CD

Presenters: Duy Linh Tu, Executive Producer; Farhod Family and Andy Lampard, Directors

Filmed over the course of eight turbulent years in Hawai’i, HULA is a feature-length, vérité documentary that follows the extraordinary journey of La’akea Perry, a Kumu Hula (hula master teacher), as he and his all-male hālau (hula school) from Wai’anae, O’ahu, strive to keep their one-of-a-kind style of hula alive.

3:30 – 4 p.m. Coffee Break | Salon AB/Foyer

4 – 5 p.m. This Is Not Fine: Lessons From The Burnout Box | Salon I

Presenters: Tony Elkins (Comanche), Faculty, Poynter

In this session participants will learn how burnout is affecting the journalism community and learn how to cope with different causes in an interactive exercise.

4 – 5 p.m. Cultivating Indigiqueer Community Within IJA | Salon CD

Presenters: Nika Bartoo-Smith (Osage/Oneida descent), Reporter, Underscore Native News + ICT (Moderator); Lyric Aquino (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo/Isleta Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache Nation), Reporter, Underscore Native News + Report for America; Jarrette Werk (Aaniiih/Nakoda), Independent Multimedia Reporter; Luna Reyna (Little Shell Chippewa), Independent Journalist; Sarah Liese (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians/Diné), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, KOSU

Join the IJA Indigiqueer Committee for a community conversation centered around 2SLGBTQIA+ coverage. This panel will focus on creating space to build upon connections at IMC this year, sharing resources and tips on how to cover more Indigiqueer stories, find sources and prioritize safety in coverage.

4 – 5 p.m. The Reality of Freelance Journalism Today | Salon GH

Presenters: Johnnie Jae (Otoe-Missouria and Choctaw), Independent Journalist; Taylar Stagner (enrolled Cheyenne Arapaho Tribe and Eastern Shoshone), Community Engagement Director, Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative; Katherine Reynolds Lewis, Founder and CEO, the Institute for Independent Journalists

Independent journalists are on the rise. Even as mass layoffs continue to reshape the news business, independents build their own platforms from scratch on social media and through newsletters — and earn money doing it. This session covers business basics for freelancers and creator journalists, including how to determine fair rates, manage time, network with intention, and protect yourself and your intellectual property.

4 – 5 p.m. “Storytelling Sovereignty: Indigenous People and the Media” book launch | Salon EF

Presenters: Dr. Cristina L. Azocar (Upper Mattaponi) Professor and Chair of Journalism, San Francisco State University; Brian Bull (Nez Perce) KLCC News Reporter; Dr. Meta G. Carstarphen, Professor Emerita of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Oklahoma; Melissa Greene-Blye (Miami Tribe of Oklahoma), Assistant Professor, School of Journalism, University of Kansas; Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock), Former Editor, ICT and Board Chair, IndiJ Public Media

Editors Cristina L. Azocar and Meta G. Carstarphen build on the 2012 anthology, “American Indians and the Mass Media,” to explore Indigenous perspectives, storytelling, and influence in their new book, “Storytelling Sovereignty: Indigenous Peoples and the Media.” Joined by journalists featured in the volume, they discuss how emerging platforms, evolving media landscapes, and new challenges are enabling Indigenous voices to connect, mobilize, and shape conversations on a global scale.

5 – 5:15 p.m. BREAK | Salon AB / Foyer

5:15 – 5:45 p.m. Shuttles loading for Opening Night Reception to The Redd – Marriott Front Entrance (follow the signs)

The Redd is located at 831 SE Salmon St., in Portland, OR 97214. The first shuttles will depart from the Marriott front entrance beginning at 5:15 p.m. Shuttles will run throughout the Opening Night Reception with the last departure from The Redd at 8:15 p.m.

5:30–8 p.m. IMC26 Opening Night Reception – The Redd | Offsite Event – Sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (Transportation provided)

Presenters: Antonia Gonzales (Navajo Nation), IMC26 Emcee; Kara Briggs (Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe / Yakama Nation descendant), Vice President, Tribal Lands and Waters Stewardship, EcoTrust; Kaeleen McGuire (Umatilla), Communications Director, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation; Chuck Sams (Cayuse and Walla Walla), Keynote Speaker; Sunnie Clahchischiligi (Diné), President, IJA Board of Directors; Hālau Ke Kai O Kahiki led by Kumu Laʻakea Perry

Join IJA members and conference attendees for Opening Night Reception at The Redd on Salmon Street, sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR). ONR tickets are included with full registration; additional guest tickets may be purchased for $50 on site. 

5:30–7 p.m. IJA ELECTIONS – VOTING MEMBERS ONLY: In-person voting will take place at the IJA Table at The Redd. Only eligible IJA members in good standing may vote.

Thursday, July 23 – DAY 2 

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Registration | Salon Foyer

9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Foyer

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. How to Cover Protests Safely | Salon I

Presenters: Savannah Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, The Associated Press (Moderator); Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe), Senior Editor, MPR News; Claire Rush, Reporter, The Associated Press; Lyndall Herman, Director of Global Safety Risk and Resilience for the Americas, The Associated Press

ICE has conducted unprecedented immigration raids in major U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, the birthplace of the American Indian Movement. Protests, demonstrations and rallies followed. Hear from journalists who covered this and how they approached the stories with safety in mind.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Organizing for a Transformed Media Economy | Salon CD

Presenters: Alleen Brown, Independent Investigative Reporter (Moderator); Shannon Shaw Duty (Osage), Editor, Osage News; Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Editor-at-Large, Grist; McKenna Stayner, Features Director, High Country News

It’s the elephant in the room — we came to talk about how to be better journalists, while most of us are unsure if we’ll be able to keep doing the work amid industry collapse. At this session, we’ll get the inside scoop on union organizing battles fought from behind two Indigenous Affairs desks. We’ll hear about journalists fighting replacement by AI, pushing Indigenous nations to recognize press freedoms, and innovating new kinds of freelancer agreements for fair treatment.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. From Neo-Chumash to Disenrollment: Reporting on Indigenous Identity | Salon GH

Presenters: Allison Herrera (Xolon Salinan), Indigenous Affairs Reporter and JSK Journalism Fellow; Dina Gilio-Whitaker (Colville Confederated Tribes); Julia Furukawa, Reporter, New Hampshire Public Radio; Sunnie Clahchischiligi (Diné), Indigenous Affairs Editor, High Country News and President, IJA Board of Directors

Bad actors and well-meaning but uneducated reporters file stories with false and misleading information about Indigenous identity and notions of belonging in Native communities. Reporting on fraudulent Native identities is important for the integrity of our people and that of journalism, but it is deeply fraught. Indigenous Affairs reporter and John S. Knight Journalism Fellow Allison Herrera, Author Dina Gilio-Whitaker and New Hampshire Public Radio reporter Julia Furukawa discuss their reporting on this issue and their latest story about the Pan-Indian movement in California and beyond.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Backgrounding Like a Boss | Salon EF

Presenter: Francisco Vara-Orta, Interim Deputy Executive 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.

9:30 – 10 a.m. Coffee Break / Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer

10 – 11:30 a.m. Does Climate Journalism Actually Care About the Climate? | Salon I

Presenters: Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson (Samoan), Indigenous Climate Journalist; Latoya Abulu, Indigenous Affairs Editor, Mongabay; Alleen Brown, Environmental Journalist; Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Indigenous Affairs Editor, Grist (Moderator)

What does it mean to report on climate collapse from within the systems that caused it? This panel asks a deliberately uncomfortable question: whether climate journalism, as currently practiced, can care for climate at all — or whether it remains trapped in colonial and capitalist frameworks that reduce catastrophe to data, solutions to products, and land to something interchangeable. Moving beyond hope and hero narratives, the conversation asks harder questions about what climate journalism is for, and what worlds it helps imagine, remember, and build.

10 – 11:30 a.m. Covering the MMIP Crisis: Best Practices | Salon CD

Presenters: Brian Bull (Nez Perce), Reporter, KLCC/Underscore Native News (Co-Moderator); Tara Gatewood (Pueblo of Isleta/Diné), Director, IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists (Co-Moderator); Kimberly Lining (Navajo & Hopi), Founder, MMIW Search & Hope Alliance; Amanda Freeman (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Founder and Chair, Ampkwa Advocacy; Nika Bartoo-Smith (Osage and Oneida Nations), Reporter, Underscore; Sierra Crane Murdoch; Bella Davis (Yurok), Reporter, New Mexico In-Depth; David Adams (Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan) Legal expert

MMIP remains a pressing issue across Indian Country. What are the dos and don’ts in covering these sensitive and concerning cases? How does one best work with MMIP organizations, search teams, and law enforcement? We’ll talk with several Native groups that have taken the lead on missing people cases and address common issues a journalist can encounter including inconsistent data, limited resources, and stigma against Native runaways or people struggling with addiction. We’ll also spotlight the reality of how place and space play into how justice — or lack thereof — affects the targets of this violence.

10 – 11:30 a.m. THE GOOD CANADIAN – Film Screening and Q&A | Salon GH

Presenters: Leena Minifie (Gitxaala/British), Director and Producer, Stories First Productions

The world knows the image of the good Canadian, but what if there was a dark secret behind a national identity? The eye-opening and unflinching documentary, THE GOOD CANADIAN, lifts the mask on the True North Strong and Free, one truth at a time. Join co-director and co-producer Leena Minifie for a screening of the film and talkback to follow.

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. IJA Membership Luncheon and Business Meeting | Salon EF Ballroom (Ticketed Event)

Presenters: Antonia Gonzales (Navajo Nation), IMC26 Emcee; Chris Mercier, Vice Chair, Grand Ronde Tribal Council (Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde), Welcome and Blessing; 2026 IJA Board of Directors and staff; 2026 Indigenous Journalism Fellows

Join leaders and fellow members of the Indigenous Journalists Association for lunch and networking during the annual business meeting where IJA staff and board members will review the organization’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan. IJF students will share their work from the on-site student newsroom. Following the meeting, IJA will host an informal meet-and-greet for board candidates. 

1 – 2 p.m. IJA Elections | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer

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

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Building Your Path: A Career Conversation for Emerging Journalists | Salon I – Sponsored by The New York Times

Presenters: Ted Kim, Director of Career Programs (Moderator); Sharon Chan, Deputy for Newsroom Strategic Culture Initiatives; Rogene Jacquette, Senior Editor for Editing Standards; Michael LaForgia, Metro Investigations Editor; Sona Patel, Program and Editorial Director, Local Investigations Fellowship

Whether you are a student or a journalist with a few years of experience, navigating this fast-changing media landscape can be both exciting and overwhelming. Join New York Times journalists for an interactive conversation to help guide your career planning with intention, building skills and your portfolio and cultivating relationships that will support your growth. Refreshments and snacks will be served.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Rejecting the Premise: “Efficiency” vs. Cultural Resource Preservation | Salon CD

Presenters: Matt Fuehrmeyer, Communications Advisor, National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (Moderator); Official TBD, Historic Preservation Office, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde; Lawrence Squiemphen III (Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon), THPO, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation in Oregon

As federal officials contemplate permitting “reform” in Washington, DC, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers from Oregon will discuss the stakes for Tribal Nations, as well as ways to help ensure “reforms” don’t come at the expense of sacred places and cultural resources.

2:30 – 3 p.m. Coffee Break / Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer – Sponsored by Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde

3 – 4:30 p.m. Fact Checking in and for Indigenous Communities | Salon I

Presenters: McKenna Stayner, Features Director, High Country News (Moderator); Mary Hudetz (Apsaalooke/Crow), IJA Director of Education and Training; Chad Bradley (Diné), Multi-media Journalist and HCN Fact Checker; Alleen Brown, Independent Investigative Reporter

Fact checking in and for Indigenous communities requires cultural sensitivity and awareness, trauma-informed reporting skills, an understanding of data sovereignty — and much more. This panel will cover building a freelance fact checking career, important considerations for fact checking in Indigenous communities, and stories from the field.

3 – 4:30 p.m. Solutions Journalism to Benefit Indigenous Communities | Salon CD

Presenters: Naka Nathaniel (Kanaka Maoli), Host, Hawai’i Radio Hour at Kahilu; Benjamin C. Yazza (Diné), Multimedia Producer, New Mexico PBS; Christine Trudeau (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), Managing Editor, Underscore Native News (Moderator); Bella Davis (Yurok), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, New Mexico In Depth; Meredith Johnson (Chickasaw Nation), Managing Editor, Mvskoke News; Sarah Liese (Diné/Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa), Indigenous Affairs Reporter, KOSU Radio; Mahealani duPont (Mā’ohi), Hawai’i Storytelling Fellow/Reporter-Producer, Hawai’i Radio Hour at Kahilu; Lyric Aquino (Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo), Indigenous Affairs Reporter / Report for America Corps Member, Underscore Native News

Solutions journalism creates audiences that are better informed and more willing to discuss problems with their community. This training and discussion will explore the principles and pillars of solutions journalism specific to Indigenous contexts, including decolonizing practices and aligning solutions journalism principles with Indigenous storytelling. Join the five newsrooms from the 2025–2026 IJA/SJN Indigenous Solutions Cohort to hear their perspectives and experiences from the last year reporting climate solutions stories in their communities.

3 – 4:30 p.m. Screening and Q&A: Producing a Community-Centered Sports Documentary as a Newspaper | Salon GH

Presenters: Finn Wendt, Visual Journalist, Cascadia Daily News; Nick Zeller-Singh, Sports Editor, Cascadia Daily News

For the Lummi Nation Blackhawks, basketball is about pride, community and earning respect. Based in Bellingham, Washington, Cascadia Daily News sports editor Nick Zeller-Singh and visual journalist Finn Wendt spent eight months building bridges and producing a mid-length sports documentary. In this session, they’ll screen the documentary and discuss why they decided to invest in the project, the decisions that shaped it and how they worked to ensure the community’s story stayed their own.

3 – 4:30 p.m. OPB Screening and Discussion: Indigenous Documentary Storytelling | Salon EF – Sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting

Presenters: Kunu Bearchum (Northern Cheyenne, Ho-Chunk Nation), Freelance Producer; Lillian Karabaic (Eastern Band of Cherokee), Weekend Edition Host, (Moderator); Jessie Sears (Karuk), Documentary Film Producer; Kami Horton, Documentary Film Producer

Join OPB documentary filmmakers, producers, and directors to screen a selection of their work and talk with them directly about developing documentaries for Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, including how to thoughtfully craft films that tell impactful stories. Featuring segments of OPB documentaries, “First Descent: Kayaking the Klamath,” “Guardian of the Land,” and “Uncovering Boarding Schools.”

5 – 6 p.m. Indigiqueer Happy Hour Mixer | Proof Reader Bar

The IJA Indigiqueer Committee welcomes you to Portland – please join us for a happy hour hang at the Proof Reader Bar, located in the restaurant on the first floor of the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront hotel. Drinks are on your own and all are welcome!

7 – 9 p.m. Off the Record: A Welcome Event Hosted by Your River City Relatives | University Club of Portland (Offsite Event – No Transportation Provided) – Sponsored by Confluence and Underscore Native News 

Native journalists play a critical role in sharing stories that strengthen communities, preserve cultural knowledge, and increase understanding of Native experiences. Join hosts Confluence and Underscore Native News for the “Off the Record” welcome event at the University Club of Portland, located at 1225 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97204 for art-making, music, and opportunities to connect with local Native artists, organizations, and community members. This gathering creates space for relationship-building, collaboration, and renewal beyond the conference setting and is open to all IMC26 attendees. Light refreshments will be served.

Friday, July 24 – DAY 3

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. / 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Registration | Salon Foyer

9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Foyer

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Good Morning America: What it Takes to Work in Morning TV | Salon I – Sponsored by ABC News

Presenters: Simone Swink, Senior Executive Producer, Good Morning America; Cathy Becker, Coordinating Producer, Good Morning America; Charly Edsitty (Diné), Anchor/Reporter, KTRK-Houston

Executives and on-air talent from ABC News share what it takes to produce news in morning television.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Through Our Lens: Indigenous Photographers Documenting Indigenous Communities | Salon CD 

Presenters: Jarrette Werk (Aaniiih and Nakoda), Independent Multi-media Storyteller; Jill-Marie Gavin (Cayuse, Walla-Walla, Niimiipuu), Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; Lee Gavin (Cayuse, Walla-Walla, Niimiipuu), Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s (CTUIR) Communications; Kari Rowe (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe and Rosebud Lakota), Freelance & Commercial Photographer

Join a panel of Indigenous photographers for an illuminating conversation on documenting tribal communities through an Indigenous lens rooted in care, accountability, and cultural knowledge. Panelists, working across journalism, commercial, fine art, and community-based storytelling, bring extensive experience photographing Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Participants will learn how to build and maintain trust, approach consent and representation responsibly, and navigate industry pressures while staying grounded in community values. The session will also explore tips for reclaiming visual narratives and producing images and visual projects that reflect the depth, diversity, and lived realities of Indigenous communities.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Building Curricula that Bridges Youth Connections to Reporting | Salon GH

Presenters: Dr. Amanda Tachine (Navajo, Náneesht’ézhí Táchii’nii), Assistant Professor in Educational Studies, University of Oregon; Fareed Mostoufi, Associate Director of Education, Pulitzer Center

How can partnerships between journalists, newsrooms, and educators connect youth more directly and authentically to our stories? Panelists will describe methods used to connect K-12 and university audiences with the project “Land Grab Universities” from High Country News. Participants will leave the session with tips for creating simple curricular resources for their stories and building partnerships between educators and journalists in their communities.

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Breaking Down Walls: Strategies for Tribal Press Independence and Funding Sovereignty | Salon EF

Presenters: Angel Ellis (Muscogee Nation), Director, Mvskoke Media & IJA Vice-President; Chris Mercier (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Grand Ronde Tribal Council; Andy Jenness (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Grand Ronde Editorial Board; Tracy Moreland (Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde), Grand Ronde Editorial Board; Danielle Harrison, Editor, Smoke Signals, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

Only five tribal nations in the U.S., have press protections and have been able to balance journalistic freedom with limited tribal government oversight. Two of those tribes – the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde and the Muscogee Nation – will lead this panel discussion about the need for more journalistic freedom in Indian Country and strategies for success.

9:30 – 10 a.m. Break with Coffee and Refreshments / Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer

10 – 1 p.m. What Native Youth Are Telling Us: 10 Years of Digital Storytelling | Salon I – Sponsored by the Confederated Tribe of Siletz Indians

Presenters: Thomas Ghost Dog, Jr (Northern Paiute/Oglala Lakota), We R Native Project Manager, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board; Jeidah DeZurney (Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians), We R Native Youth Engagement Coordinator, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board; Celena Ghost Dog (Navajo Nation), Adolescent Health Co-Director, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board; Taylor Dean (Puyallup), Adolescent Health Outreach Coordinator, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

For over a decade, We R Native has met Native youth where they are, from MySpace to TikTok and beyond. Guided by youth voice, Tribal leadership, and community-based research, this multimedia health resource reaches 100,000 weekly users with culturally grounded content spanning physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. In this interactive session, you’ll step inside the We R Native creative process through a “Creative Brief Rewind” activity, working hands-on to see how formative research, youth input, and evaluation translate into campaigns that land across platforms.

10 – 11 a.m. Reporting on Suicide and Mental Health in Indigenous Communities: Practical Tools | Salon CD

Presenters: Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Ph.D., American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; Charlie Amáyá Scott (Navajo Nation), Ph.D.; Cristina L. Azocar (Upper Mattaponi), Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Journalism, San Francisco State University

Reporters are increasingly asked to cover suicide and mental health in Indigenous communities, often under deadline and with limited context. This skills-focused session offers practical tools for ethical, accurate, culturally grounded coverage. Participants will leave with a reusable checklist and story approaches that center resilience, sovereignty, and culturally relevant solutions.

10 – 11 a.m. So You Want to Do Social Video | Salon GH

Presenters: Ryan Fernandez (Siletz), Social Media/Photo Editor, The Oregonian; Teresa Mahoney, Video Editor, The Oregonian

Ryan Fernandez (Social Media Editor) and Teresa Mahoney (Video Editor) will talk about how they use video on social media to promote, enhance and supplement the news for The Oregonian.

10 – 11 a.m. Best Practices for Covering Pacific Islander Communities | Salon EF

Presenters: Lagipoiva Jackson, Professor of Pacific Island Studies, Portland State University & Editor, The New Atoll (Moderator); Jayden Kepo’o-Caspino, Communications and Marketing Director, Ka ‘Aha Lāhui O ‘Olekona Hawaiian Civic Club of Oregon & SW Washington; Siniva Bennett, J.D., M.A. (Pacific Island Studies), Samoa Pacific Development Corporation Board Chair; Kolini Fusitua, IRCO Community Advocate; Kathleen Jonathan, IRCO Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center Board Member

Pacific Islander community leaders and educators local to Oregon and Washington will share best practices for connecting with and covering Pacific Islander communities, moving beyond stereotypes and crisis reporting to more nuanced coverage and community connections. Participants will learn how to disaggregate “AAPI” data and stories to contextualize specific Pacific Islander data and history.

11 – 11:30 a.m. Coffee Break / Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Gratitude Hour: Honoring the People Behind the Stories | Salon CD

Presenters: Adreanna Rodriguez (Hunkpapa Lakota), Independent Journalist/Producer

In an industry often defined by urgency and hard stories, this session offers a moment to simply give thanks. The Gratitude Hour is an interactive session for conference attendees to honor the people behind their work. Participants can submit notes, have them read aloud, or share them live, creating a collective space for reflection, connection, and appreciation.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Building Relationships Between Journalists and Communications Professionals in Indian Country | Salon GH

Presenters: Brad Angerman (Tlingit), Strategic Counsel, Pyramid Communications (Moderator); Mary Hudetz (Apsaalooke/Crow), Director of Education and Training, Indigenous Journalists Association; Barbara Soulé (Diné), Chief Communications Officer, Intertribal Agricultural Council; Felicia Fonseca, Mountain West Assistant News Director, Associated Press; Nika Bartoo-Smith (Osage and Oneida Nations), Reporter, Underscore News

Strong relationships between journalists and communications professionals are essential to accurate, timely stories across Indian Country. In this session, journalists and communications professionals come together for a conversation about what it takes to make those relationships work. Panelists will explore what journalists need from sources, how communications professionals can show up as credible and responsive partners, and how the current political and media climate is raising the stakes for getting it right.

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lock It Down! Device Safety for Working on the Ground | Salon EF

Presenter: Abigail LP, Program Manager, Digital Security, Freedom of the Press Foundation

Today’s volatile news cycle means many journalists are taking their phones and devices out to do risky field work. Come learn how to take actionable security precautions with your devices to better protect yourself, your sources and subjects. We’ll learn about the common risks, what we can (and can’t) do about them, and take some hands-on time together to lock down our devices.

12:30 – 1 p.m. BREAK / Indigenous Media Expo | Salon AB / Ballroom Foyer

1 – 2 p.m. IJA Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics Planning Session | Salon I

Presenter: Angel Ellis (Muscogee Nation), Director, Mvskoke Media / IJA Vice-President and Ethics Committee Chair

The Indigenous Journalism Association invites members to lend insights and professional expertise into shaping the Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics. Members are encouraged to attend to help draft a code of ethics that will reflect the professional and cultural values of the organization from their perspective. The code will serve as IJA’s standard, a cornerstone for training, and a tool to guide industry leaders who are doing journalism in Indigenous communities. IJA plans to launch the new code of ethics in 2027.

1 – 2:30 p.m. People of the West Docudrama: California’s True History, Told Through Indigenous Voices | Salon CD

Presenters: Brad Munoa (Pechanga Band of Indians), Director, Pechanga Studios; Nico Magee (Pechanga Band of Indians), Executive Producer, Pechanga Studios

People of the West is a ten-part docudrama that tells the true history of California from the Indigenous perspective, from creation histories to the present day. This session explores how the series was developed as both cinematic storytelling and an educational resource, and what it means to tell history from within the communities that lived it. We’ll share insights from the process, the responsibility of Indigenous storytelling, and how media can serve as a tool for cultural preservation, public understanding, and connection across communities.

1 – 2:30 p.m. Murder in Big Horn: Documenting Trauma | Salon GH

Presenters: Luella Brien (Apsàalooke), Featured Journalist, Murder in Big Horn; Razelle Benally (Diné/Lakota), Co-Director, Murder in Big Horn; Ivy McDonald (Blackfeet), Producer, Murder in Big Horn; Ivan McDonald (Blackfeet), Producer, Murder in Big Horn

Panelists will discuss the intricacies of covering community trauma and how to manage internalizing negative feelings.

4 – 5 p.m. Pacific Islanders in Journalism: A Celebration Gathering | Proof Reader Bar

Join Pacific Island journalists, media professionals, journalism students, and allies as we celebrate the launch of the Pacific Islander Journalism Network (PIJN) and the IJA Pacific Islander Committee at the Proof Reader Bar from 4-5 p.m., ahead of the IJA President’s Reception. This gathering marks the beginning of a new Pacific-led initiative dedicated to strengthening connections, collaboration, mentorship, and representation across Pacific journalism in the U.S. All are welcome to join for a brief cultural performance and light appetizers on the first floor of the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront hotel.

5 – 6 p.m. President’s Reception + Silent Auction and IJA Photo Booth | Salon EF

Join IJA leadership and enjoy light bites and a cash bar during the IJA President’s Reception with the Board of Directors. Attendees can also start bidding on IJA Silent Auction items such as Indigenous art, clothing, jewelry and unique items. The IJA Photo Booth will be open from 5 to 10 p.m., to capture all the special moments with awardees and members. Awardees may pick up their division award plaques and take photos in the foyer at the booth and step-and-repeat throughout the evening.  

IJA President Sunnie Clahchischiligi invites all past NAJA / IJA presidents to join a group photo at 5:45 p.m., at the IJA step-and-repeat with IMC26 photographer Cody Hammer. 

6 – 9 p.m. IJA Indigenous Media Awards Banquet + Silent Auction | Salon EF 

(Ticketed event)

Presenters: Antonia Gonzalez (Navajo Nation), IMC26 Emcee; Brian Bull (Nez Perce Tribe), Co-Emcee; Carina Miller (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs), Welcome

Celebrate culture and the outstanding coverage of Indigenous communities by IJA members during the 2026 Indigenous Media Awards Banquet. Antonia Gonzalez (Navajo Nation) and Brian Bull (Nez Perce Tribe) will co-emcee the evening, where IJA will present the 2026 IJA Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism, the 2026 Minnie Two Shoes Award for Excellence in Tribal Media and the 2026 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award. The Silent Auction will run throughout the evening.