The IJA conference took place in Oklahoma City from July 25-27
CBC Indigenous: Over 400 Indigenous journalists from around the world gathered in Oklahoma City, Okla., last week for the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) conference, which celebrates Indigenous storytellers, and promotes diverse Indigenous cultures and languages.
Journalists were given awards for their hard work and dedication to telling Indigenous stories on Saturday, where they were celebrated at the IJA media awards ceremony.
Three CBC Indigenous reporters won awards from the association.
Janell Henry, who works with CBC Indigenous in Winnipeg, got a first-place award in the radio/podcast category for her story on rez radio. This story told the importance of rez radio in a Manitoba community that uses it for all their updates, and keeps them connected.
Jacqueline McKay works with CBC Indigenous in Vancouver. She got a second-place award in the television — best feature category for her story on Sinixt’s exclusion in Columbia River Treaty negotiations. This story highlighted the Sinixt’s struggle with being removed from their traditional territories that were on the Canadian side of the border, and not having any right to negotiate.
Candace Maracle’s story about the overdose crisis in Six Nations nabbed third place in the print/online best health coverage category. This story discusses Ganohkwasra, a 29-bed shelter and counselling and outreach services that helps people who are struggling with addiction.
Susan Bell from Cree Media CBC won three awards in the categories of print/online — best feature story; print/online —best longform/magazine story; and print/online — AARP Elder coverage award for the stories “Honour walk held for Indigenous organ donor,” “Healing footsteps” and “Cree elder has been playing the fiddle for 70 years.” Two of those awards were shared with Marjorie Kitty.
- Honour walk held for Indigenous organ donor
- Cree elder has been playing fiddle for 70 years — and opened his grandson’s wedding with 1st tune he learned
CBC’s Unreserved received three awards in the categories of best feature story for “Search the Landfill,” best two-spirit coverage for “Two-spirit artivists share two ways of seeing the world” and general excellence for “Healing after Harm: The Buffy Sainte-Marie investigation.”
A full list of the winners is posted on the Indigenous Journalists Association website.
The Oklahoma City location gave attendees the opportunity to learn about the city and Indigenous territories that were in Oklahoma during the conference, which was held July 25-27.
The next location for the 2025 IJA conference has not been officially announced yet.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darla Ponace is a Saulteaux woman from Zagime Anishinabek First Nations. She started as an associate producer in the Indigenous Pathways program at CBC. She is currently working with CBC Indigenous Saskatchewan. You can email her at darla.ponace@cbc.ca with story ideas.