Nearly a decade after it was written here that a relevant Native journalism, among other things, should champion the protection and enhancement of American Indian rights in national and world affairs, a predicament confronts our industry.
The national Native press is experiencing limited access to major events during a history-making year of news regarding Indian peoples. This era of change and transparency still has not afforded the Native American press a seat in the room, despite a respectful relationship with Obama staffers during his campaign.
The stringent rules governing who can participate in the White House Press Corps effectively eliminate the Native media, which generally are owned or largely supported by tribal government. Journalists, then, must rely on mainstream sources to gather information about news relevant to Indian country. Often this results in a lack of nuance or understanding about Indian sovereignty or culture, shortchanging Native peoples as well as American society.
First lady Michelle Obama recently made a major announcement germane to Indian country and policy and was gifted with a traditional shawl during a visit to the Department of Interior, but only one outlet of the Native press was present to record the occasion. The wonderfully important moment made news, but unfortunately, it was told by the mainstream press with little regard for the symbolic and real significance of the day.
In fairness, no accusations of racism are being waged here. Often, individuals in positions to aid the Native press do so, providing avenues to sources otherwise blocked off. We get the story one way or another. However, it is imperative that the diversity of the country is reflected in the media which reports its news. Other minority journalists have raised similar concerns about the lack of color at White House press conferences. It is our right and obligation to do the same.
Journalism involves collecting, organizing and analyzing information into stories that portray people and situations accurately and with necessary depth. As Native journalists, our mission is to inform readers about events and developments that could affect their lives. It is vital to that mission to report on all of the items happening now: the Indian funds contained in the economic stimulus bill, the work of NCAI to educate legislators about the need for those resources, the appointment of Native people to critical positions in the Obama administration, and the decisions across the federal government that have the potential to threaten Indian sovereignty.
It is said that communities, big and small, national and local, thrive when its citizens are informed. In the reference, “Rebuilding Native Nations: Strategies for governance and development,” (2007, The University of Arizona Press) the authors note that “successful nation building requires that leaders and decision makers know what they are doing and that citizens have knowledge of constructive ways to hold their leaders to the task of nation building and to serving the community as a whole instead of just themselves. Knowledge about what is necessary and what works tells a nation what needs to be done, focusing the effort to change things on what’s most likely to be effective.” Native media, whatever size or circulation, takes this task seriously.
The opposite of this belief is more than likely to be true. Limited communication technology, an absence of local media, or lack of access to federal processes, can all negatively affect the process of nation building.
Journalism can and should be a watchdog for policies that endanger American Indian rights or disrespect Native culture. This is also true for the collective community of Indian nations. Media access to events which speak to the nature of tribal-federal relations or that include dissemination of information relevant to Indian people – the primary audience for the Native press – is vital. Because no one can tell the story of Indian peoples better than the Native press, the effort to gain access must persist until we are able to get the story directly and free of interpretation by others.
