Indigenous Reporters Program
Community Media Training 2018-2021
About the Indigenous Reporters Program (IRP) Launched in 2014 after a successful pilot program ‘The Northern Ontario Initiative’, the now multi-award winning Indigenous Reporters Program seeks to increase the quality and quantity of Indigenous stories and voices in media in Canada. To achieve this the program ● ● ●
Works directly in and with Indigenous communities, engaging interested community members on journalism and media literacy capacity building programming. Creates pathways of opportunities for Indigenous peoples to pursue careers in journalism through internship, mentorship and networking opportunities ultimately strengthening Indigenous voices in Canadian media. Engages and trains non-Indigenous journalists and journalism students on best practices for reporting on Indigenous stories to ensure stories are reported on with more accuracy, frequency, and offer better informed perspectives.
With better coverage, people across Canada can have a better understanding of Indigenous stories and the media can better reflect the diverse voices in the country.
About the Indigenous Reporters Program (IRP)
Video published on January 10, 2020
About the Indigenous Reporters Program (IRP)
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community members attended workshops community members published stories
public forums held
479
stories published 419 in community publications 60 in mainstream publications
IRP trainees’ survey results
A endline survey of IRP trainees show that trainees increased their confidence in four key skills: ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
ability to produce a print story ability to produce radio/audio ability to produce publishable photos ability to conduct effective interviews.
IRP trainees’ survey results
A endline survey of IRP trainees show that a majority of trainees reported that they would apply their skills within their communities, though a significant majority also said that they had been inspired to become working journalists.
IRP trainees’ survey results
A endline survey of IRP trainees show that a majority of trainees agreed that the programme had either been ‘helpful’ or ‘very helpful’ in engaging people in community activities.
TRAINEE TESTIMONIALS
Jolene Banning is an Anishinaabe-kwe journalist, writer, and storyteller whose documentary, podcasting and written work highlights Anishinaabe resilience and culture, and how these intersect with colonialism.
Read Jolene’s work: ❖ Opinion: Justice for Audrey: The toil and the toll of reopening the decades-old case of my aunt’s roadside death - The Globe and Mail ❖ How tapping sugar maples is reconnecting me to the land — and my roots | CBC Radio ❖ New water plant for First Nation under boil water advisories for 22 years - APTN News
Michel Dumont is a Métis, Two-Spirit artist descended from the Robinson-Superior Treaty Area.
View Michel’s work: ❖ On Tokenization, Funding and Being an Indigenous Artist Who Is Differently Abled (canadianart.ca) ❖ Plan for reconciliation released by City of Thunder Bay (aptnnews.ca) ❖ Michel Dumont - Outliers on Vimeo
At 12 years old, Kristina Nodin is the youngest trainee of JHR’s Indigenous Reporters Program, and the host and producer of Nshiime Voices, a weekly podcast featuring interviews of Indigenous changemakers and a Anishinaabemowin word-learning segment.
Listen to Kristina’s podcast: ❖ Stream JHR Indigenous | Listen to Nshiime Voices playlist
Zongwe Binesikwe Crystal A. Hardy is a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe storyteller from Biinjitiwabik Zaaging Anishnabek living in Thunder Bay, Ontario, working to create social change, healing and understanding through storytelling.
Read Zongwe’s work: ❖ ‘We need this:’ Getting COVID-19 vaccine to remote and urban Indigenous populations | The Star ❖ How First Nations are using radio in the fight against COVID-19 | TVO.org ...and listen to their podcast: ❖
Nokomis Speaks: Teachings from Grandmother Moon with Zongwe Binesikwe
MEDIA COVERAGE
Media coverage Articles: ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Indigenous Reporters Program helping shape new group of storytellers in Northern Ontario - The Globe and Mail Rewriting journalism: How to support emerging Indigenous reporters | TVO.org Journalists for Human Rights brings Indigenous Reporters Program to Grassy Narrows | Kenora Miner Youth in Thunder Bay use digital storytelling to tackle local issues - National | Globalnews.ca Podcasts:
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Challenging media stereotypes of Indigenous people | CBC Radio La baladodiffusion pour donner une voix aux jeunes Autochtones | Radio-Canada.ca Audio fil du mardi 20 août 2019 (radio-canada.ca) Audio fil du lundi 4 juin 2018 (radio-canada.ca)
Media coverage Articles: ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Indigenous Reporters Program helping shape new group of storytellers in Northern Ontario - The Globe and Mail Rewriting journalism: How to support emerging Indigenous reporters | TVO.org Journalists for Human Rights brings Indigenous Reporters Program to Grassy Narrows | Kenora Miner Youth in Thunder Bay use digital storytelling to tackle local issues - National | Globalnews.ca Podcasts:
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
Challenging media stereotypes of Indigenous people | CBC Radio La baladodiffusion pour donner une voix aux jeunes Autochtones | Radio-Canada.ca Audio fil du mardi 20 août 2019 (radio-canada.ca) Audio fil du lundi 4 juin 2018 (radio-canada.ca)
TRAINER TESTIMONIALS
IMAGE GALLERY
Freddie, a trainee in Grassy Narrows First Nation, interviews NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh
IRP trainee Breanne Meekis interviews elders Saggius and Elizabeth Rae in Deer Lake
IRP trainees Jared and Tyla Meekis pair up for a mock elections streeter activity
JHR trainee’s photograph, published in Wawatay News’ June 15, 2019 edition.
JHR trainee’s photograph, published in Wawatay News’ August 15, 2019 edition.
JHR trainee’s photograph, published in Wawatay News’ May 15, 2019 edition.
We thank Ontario Trillium Foundation for its generous support of the Indigenous Reporters Program.