Osage News Editor Shannon Shaw Duty will be honored during the 2026 Indigenous Media Conference with the IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award and Minnie Two Shoes Award for Excellence in Tribal Media
The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) has selected Shannon Shaw Duty (Osage Nation) as the recipient of two 2026 IJA Distinguished Awards: the IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award and the Minnie Two Shoes Award for Excellence in Tribal Media.
“It is an incredible honor to name Shannon as the recipient for both the Medill and Minnie Two Shoes award. It is a first in IJA history to name both awards in the same year to the same nominee,” said IJA president Sunnie Clahchischiligi. “The distinguished awards committee described Shannon’s impact as ‘legendary’ above all else as her work has been proven to be pivotal for not just the Osage News, but the Osage Nation as a whole. It is fitting for Shannon to have made IJA history as a leader whose work stretches beyond the borders of tribal media and has made a lasting impact on Indigenous journalism and communities.”
The IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award honors IJA’s mission and the exemplary people who have led the way with outstanding work and contributions to the field of journalism. The award recognizes important work by journalists in the past and encourages the new generation of Indigenous journalists to achieve career excellence.
Shaw Duty was nominated for both awards by the Osage News Editorial Board, who cited her tireless dedication to leading the independent tribal media outlet since 2007.
“Shannon’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing unprecedented press protections for tribal media. Through her advocacy and leadership, the Osage Nation passed groundbreaking legislation, upheld by our highest court, that protects the Osage News and its staff while mandating congressional funding for the publication. This achievement stands as a landmark in tribal media history, making the Osage News the first tribal media entity in the United States with such robust legal protections, securing its independence and longevity. Under her leadership, the Osage News serves not just as a news source but as a critical institution for cultural preservation, accountability and community-building.”
The Minnie Two Shoes Award for Excellence in Tribal Media celebrates the hard work of tribal media professionals who keep our communities engaged, informed and connected. In their nomination letter, the editorial board likened Shannon’s approach to Minnie’s when it came to journalism.
“Like Minnie, Shannon brings the same tenacity in uncovering the truth, no matter the topic or scope. We have seen her determination to get to the facts in the face of obstacles ranging from difficult relatives to the highest, obstinate elected officials. Shannon Shaw Duty represents the very best of tribal media leadership—combining journalistic excellence with cultural understanding and a fierce dedication to press freedom. Her work has not only strengthened the Osage News but also created a model for what independent tribal media can achieve.”
Distinguished award nominees are nominated by their peers for each respective IJA distinguished award. The IJA distinguished awards committee, made up of seven IJA members and led by the IJA board president, then selects the best candidate for each award that has a qualified nominee.
About Shannon Shaw Duty
Shannon Shaw Duty, Osage, is editor of the Osage News, the official independent media of the Osage Nation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Legal Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Her reporting has appeared in ICT, The Washington Post, the Center for Public Integrity, NPR, Associated Press, Tulsa World and more.
Shaw Duty is credited as a co-author of Assouline’s Killers of the Flower Moon: The Making of the Movie, A Martin Scorsese Picture and a co-author of Osage News’ The Making of Killers of the Flower Moon, which won a 2026 Oklahoma Book Award.
She has served on several local and national boards during her career, including the Society of Professional Journalists’ Freedom of Information Committee; LION Publishers; and NAJA, now the Indigenous Journalists Association. She has also served on the Pawhuska Public Schools Board of Education and the Pawhuska Johnson O’Malley parent committee. She was also named to The Journal Record’s 2026 Power List for Native American Leaders in Oklahoma.
In addition to her newsroom work, she has led community-centered initiatives, including the “Voices for Justice: Tackling the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People” symposium and the “Reclaiming Our Water” symposium for the Osage News.
Her Osage name is Xleh-Dah Su-Wi^ (White Hawk Woman). She is from the Grayhorse District and is the mother of the current Grayhorse Drumkeeper, George Shaw. She lives in Pawhuska with her husband and their family. Follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or TikTok @OsageOnTheRoad.
