Committees

ABOUT

The Indigenous Journalists Association has committees that shape and guide the organization. These committees are made up of board members and IJA members. Any IJA member is able to join most committees, with the exception of the executive committee. The president is ex officio of every committee. To join a committee, email committees@indigenousjournalists.org and note what committee(s) you would like to join, and the chair of that committee will respond within a timely manner. 

CONFERENCE

The Conference Committee organizes and selects programs, suggests speakers and entertainment. This committee is open to community members for the local planning committee.

Chair: Alyssa London
Co-chair: Graham Brewer
Members: Sunnie Clahchischiligi, Brian Bull, Travis Snell, Kaeleen McGuire

EDUCATION

The Education Committee assists IJA with organizing the Indigenous Journalism Fellowship, consulting and cultivating partnerships with educational institutions including high schools, tribal colleges and universities for scholarship opportunities, fellowships, college chapters or workshops, as well as developing a mentorship program in coordination with the Fundraising Committee.

Chair: Melissa Greene-Blye
Members: Angel Moore, Joseph Lee, Victoria LaPoe, Frank Robertson, Angel Ellis, Lyric Aquino, Roselynn Yazzie, Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Sunnie Clahchischiligi

ELECTIONS & GOVERNANCE

The IJA Elections Committee oversees the organization’s elections and the elections process, including recruiting members to run for the board of directors, organizing and managing a meet and greet session with potential candidates and managing the elections booth during the annual conference.

The Governance Committee handles review of IJA policy and bylaws.

Chair: Sunnie Clahchischiligi
Co-chair: Angel Ellis

ETHICS & FREE PRESS

The IJA Ethics Committee leads discussions regarding the challenges of covering Indigenous communities including sourcing, advocacy and lack of freedom of the press among tribal media outlets.

The IJA Free Press Committee strategizes on how to promote and support freedom of press, open meetings and government on Turtle Island, especially regarding tribal media.

Chair: Angel Ellis
Members: Angel Moore, Deb Krol, Joseph Lee, Sunnie Clahchischiligi, Amory Zschach

EXECUTIVE

The Executive Committee is closed to the IJA board of directors’ leadership.

President: Sunnie Clahchischiligi
Vice-President: Angel Ellis
Treasurer: Joseph Lee
Secretary: Roselynn Yazzie

FINANCE & FUNDRAISING

The IJA Finance Committee handles review, IJA executive staff oversight and initial board accountability for the IJA budget.

The IJA Fundraising Committee works with and assists the executive director in pursuing grant revenue to support IJA programs as well as compliance and reporting for obtained funding. As well as developing a mentorship program in coordination with the Fundraising Committee and pursuing funding for the IJA MMIP database project.

Chair: Joseph Lee
Members: Bryan Pollard, Angel Ellis, Sunnie Clahchischilligi, Alyssa London, Melissa Greene-Blye