Kadin Mills
ICT

WASHINGTON — On Friday, ICT was named one of the best digital publications serving Indigenous nations and peoples by the Indigenous Journalists Association.

In IJA’s announcement of the 2024 Indigenous Media Awards, the organization names over 200 award recipients for “outstanding coverage of Indigenous communities.” The awards recognizes seven divisions including one for student journalists and three for professional and associate journalists, respectively.

This year, there were nearly 850 entries into the media competition.

ICT received third place in the Professional Division III – Print / Online for Best Digital Publication. A number of its reporters and freelancers were also honored, including shared reporters Amelia Schafer, Wampanoag and Montauk-Brothertown Indian Nation descent, and Nika Bartoo-Smith, Osage and Oneida Nations descendant.

Schafer is a shared reporter with the Rapid City Journal and ICT. She received the highest accolades, first place in the Professional Division III – Print / Online for AARP Best Elder Coverage. Schafer tells the story of 90-year-old Korean War veteran Basil Brave Heart, Oglala Lakota.

Bartoo-Smith reports for both ICT and Underscore Native News. She received three second place awards in Professional Division II – Print / Online for Best Feature Story, Best Feature Photo and Best News Story.

Other ICT staff or freelancers who were chosen by judges include:

  • Charles Fox — Honorable mention, Associate Division III – Print / Online for Best Photo of Indigenous Communities and Best Coverage of Indigenous Communities
  • Dacoda McDowell-Wahpekeche, enrolled Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma and affiliated with Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma — Second place, Student Division – Print / Online for Best News Story
  • Mark Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock — Third place, Professional Division III – Print / Online for Best Environmental Coverage
  • Joaqlin Estus, Tlingit — Third place, Professional Division III – Print / Online for AARP Best Elder Coverage and Best News Story

The announcement came three days after IJA announced the winners of its three special prizes. Mary Hudetz, Apsáalooke, was announced as the recipient of the Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Journalism, Brandi Morin — who is Cree, Iroquois, and French — as the 2024 Tim Giago Free Press Award recipient and Nellie Moore, Iñupiaq, is recognized posthumously as the 2024 IJA-Medill Milestone Achievement Award recipient.

Moore died on Feb. 10, 2024. She was 69. Her legacy, as well as the other award winners will be honored in July at the annual National Native Media Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The full list of winners can be found here.

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