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October 16, 2024

Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

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Bismarck Documenters host first orientation, reach first-assignment milestone

Alicia Hegland-Thorpe
by
alicia@imfreedomalliance.org
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Alva Cottonwood, who lives on the Standing Rock Reservation, asks questions during the first-ever Bismarck Documenters orientation on May 15. (Photo Credit, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear) Alva Cottonwood, who lives on the Standing Rock Reservation, asks questions during the first-ever Bismarck Documenters orientation on May 15. (Photo Credit, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear)

Welcome to our first newsletter post. I’m Alicia, project manager of the Bismarck Documenters program, powered by Buffalo’s Fire newsroom. We had a successful first orientation at our downtown office on Wednesday, May 15. About a dozen people were in attendance and ready to learn how to take notes for the Bismarck Documenters. A meal was served, a brief presentation was made and we had some fun door prizes.

Several people who attended orientation already had experience taking meeting notes. One person signed up immediately for their first assignment. You can read their notes here. Thank you, Gabe Benson, for making history and being the first-ever Bismarck Documenter. 

Several in attendance were eager to learn how to start documenting tribal council meetings. We will share more on that in future newsletters.  

Participants welcomed to Bismarck Documenters orientation on May 15. (Photo Credit, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear)
Annie High Elk, left, looks on as Alicia Hegland-Thorpe (right) works through a powerpoint presentation during a May 15 orientation of the Bismarck Documenters. (Photo Credit, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear)
Adrianna Adame, Buffalo’s Fire reporter, (front center) introduces herself to Bismarck and Standing Rock Reservation community members during first-ever Bismarck Documenters orientation on May 15. (Photo Credit, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear)

The Bismarck Documenters program is committed to making our orientation workshops accessible to all. We plan to hold these workshops at least once a month, either virtually via Zoom or in person. The next workshop is tentatively scheduled for mid to late June. 

We’ve received several inquiries since our last orientation, asking if it’s still possible to become a documenter. The answer is yes! All you need to do is attend an orientation workshop, the date of which will be posted on the Bismarck Documenters website. If you haven’t already, sign up now for a free account to stay updated on the next orientation and other training workshops. 

This will also give you a chance to familiarize yourself with what assignments look like and read notes from Documenters in 15 other states. 

Looking forward to meeting you at our next orientation! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. alicia@imfreedomalliance.org 

Posted in Community Documenters FeaturedTagged
Alicia Hegland-Thorpe
alicia@imfreedomalliance.org

Alicia Hegland-Thorpe, a citizen of the Spirit Lake Nation (Mni Wakan Oyate), is the the Bismarck Documenters Program Manager for Buffalo’s Fire. She brings community-organizing skills to her new role that primarily focuses on civic engagement. She will be working with citizen journalists to cover local meetings. In addition, Hegland-Thorpe will put her writing, reporting and podcasting skills to work in contributing content to buffalosfire.com. She began her journalism career in broadcasting and mass media. Her first job was as an on-air radio personality in her senior year of high school. After attending the University of North Dakota and Minot State University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and Communications and became the first Indigenous television news anchor for the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts in Minot. Her career also includes producing voice-overs for commercials, photography, reporting and writing digital content. For a brief time, she was co-host and assistant producer for the statewide radio show ‘Mainstreet’, on Prairie Public, using her platform to bring Indigenous issues and voices to the forefront of North Dakota. Alicia also worked as freelance journalist and podcast host. She can most likely be found helping to coordinate or organize grassroots efforts in her community, focusing on indigenous-led initiatives, or writing about them.

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