The IndiJ Public Media Board of Directors welcomed five new members during its quarterly meeting on April 28, marking new leadership in the news organization’s long history.
The new members are former ICT editor Mark Trahant, nonprofit executive Michael Johnson, attorney Riley Plumer, journalism professor Melissa Greene-Blye, and design and product lead Vanessa Cassavant. They join board members Holly Cook Macarro, a principal at The Angle, and Karen Michel, president, CEO and chief editorial officer of IndiJ Public Media.
Michel said the organization has always been governed by strong leaders since it began in 1981 as the Lakota Times. Board leaders have understood and aligned with the mission of IndiJ and ICT, and the new board members carry on that tradition, she said.
“Our newly elected leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise in key areas, including journalism, tribal sovereignty, education, philanthropy, and strategic planning,” said Michel. “They will be instrumental in advancing our mission and helping us set a course for the future.”
Trahant, Shoshone-Bannock, is an Arizona-based independent journalist and pioneer in Indigenous media. Trahant will serve as board chair.
“Mark is uniquely qualified to fill this important role,” said outgoing board chair Derrick Beetso, director of the Indian Gaming and Tribal Self-Governance Programs at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. “He revived ICT from the depths of closure and turned it into a growing nonprofit news organization. His stature as a journalist and his institutional knowledge of ICT will be invaluable in leading a mostly new board.”
When asked about his new position as board chair, Trahant said, “It’s hard to understate the importance of ICT — especially in this era. Factual, deeply reported stories are essential tools of a democracy. ICT makes certain that the voices of Indigenous people are included in the national discourse.”
Johnson, Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, is president of IllumiNative, where he co-leads the national Native social justice organization. His understanding of the philanthropic and foundation sectors will provide valuable insights as IndiJ moves forward. Johsnon will serve as board treasurer.
Plumer, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, is an attorney in private practice in Minnesota and serves as the board treasurer of Red Lake, Inc., a for-profit tribal business organization.
Melissa Greene-Blye, Miami Nation, is an assistant professor of journalism and affiliate faculty of Indigenous studies at the University of Kansas. Formerly an anchor and reporter with 20 years of experience in broadcast news, her research focuses on journalistic representations of American Indian identity.
Casavant, Anishinaabe and French Canadian descent, is based in Washington and is a senior design and product lead for the Avatars in Reality Labs at Meta. A former news reporter, Cassavant has an understanding of journalism as well as the latest trends in technology and artificial intelligence.
Holly Cook Macarro, Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, was elected as board secretary.
Outgoing board members whose terms expired are Beetso, Diné; Rhonda Le Valdo, Acoma Pueblo, who served as secretary; Natasha Affia Rohrs (Moore), Atka Aleut, who served as treasurer; Jessica Skye Paul, Nez Perce and Lakota; and Jeanne Givens, Coeur d’Alene. The five former members were recognized with tributes at the April 28 meeting.