Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Critical Conversations about access to water as a human right

JT Shining Oneside shared stories about her Ojibwe and Anishinaabe inheritance during the Native American Heritage Month Celebration on Nov. 15. She spoke about the coming-of-age and traditional birth ceremonies. (Photo credit/ Adrianna Adame)

September 5th, 2012

Two years after the United Nations recognized clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right, Manitoba researchers will lead public discussions on the most effective ways to make that a reality for First Nations.

“It will take a team effort from First Nations leaders, scientists, legal experts, community planners and more to ensure the next generation of First Nations kids grows up with secure water supplies the rest of us take for granted,” said law Prof. Karen Busby, who is organizing the seminar series.

Many University of Manitoba researchers have work underway with First Nations on water issues, in partnership with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and other universities.
read more

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.