Daniela Aki: Igniting a New Chapter at Buffalo’s Fire

Born in Fort Yates, North Dakota, and an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Lakota Hunkpapa, Aki grew up in Pocatello, Idaho. She returned to North Dakota 11 years ago, driven by economic necessity and a desire to be closer to family.

“We weren’t going to be able to do anything on a $7.25 minimum wage,” Aki recalls. “So we packed up and moved in one day.”

Now based in Bismarck, Aki brings a background in business administration and a deep commitment to community engagement to her new role.

Bridging Business and Journalism

Aki earned her business degree from United Tribes Technical College and is pursuing an MBA at Sitting Bull College. Her passion for staying informed has been a guiding force.

“If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s hard to have an opinion,” she says. “I found out early that if I knew what was happening, I could speak from my point of view.”

Her path to journalism came through civic engagement. While working on outreach initiatives at Fors Marsh, she collaborated with Buffalo’s Fire founder Jodi Rave Spotted Bear. That experience sparked something new.

“I wasn’t looking for a position,” Aki says. “But I told my husband, ‘She does amazing work. She’s trying to keep our communities connected and informed, and that makes our communities better.’”

Expanding the Documenters Program

The Documenters Program trains and pays residents to attend and document local government meetings, helping to ensure that Native voices are part of critical conversations.

Aki sees her role as a connector, mobilizing people to engage in the democratic process.

“If we know more, we can ask for more,” she says. “We can demand a seat at the table when we know what’s going on.”

Her first priority is expanding community outreach.

“We’ve already got a foot in the door with the economic summit,” she says. “Now, I want to activate clubs and students at UTTC and Sitting Bull College. They’re already engaged. They just need direction.”

“Our entire team at Buffalo’s Fire and the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance is grateful to have Daniela join us as we work with the local community on civic engagement issues,” said Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, executive director of the IMFA. “Daniela is quickly proving to be a wonderful people person who also understands how freedom of information can help raise the quality of life for all citizens. We look forward to supporting her goals and community vision.”

Strengthening Indigenous Narratives

Aki is keenly aware of the barriers Native communities face in accessing reliable news and broadband connectivity.

“Broadband is supposed to be the great equalizer, but it really isn’t in our communities yet,” she says. “If we don’t have internet, how can we stay connected? How can we access information that impacts us?”

She believes Indigenous-led journalism is essential to filling those gaps. “The narrative has only ever been told from one side,” she says. “We need to be the ones telling our stories. We bring the full story, the enrichment that’s missing.”

A Vision for Growth

Aki says she envisions a thriving Documenters network.

“Success looks like rows and rows of Documenters—Indigenous and non-Indigenous—who understand that our issues are community issues,” she says. “Documenting makes all of us better. It gives us all a piece of the pie, and there’s enough pie for everyone.”

She hopes to encourage more Native people to step into civic spaces.

“One of the biggest barriers is putting ourselves out there,” she says. “But if there are enough of us, which one do you hammer first? If we build this network of Documenters, there won’t be a way to stop it.”

A Personal Mission

Beyond her professional work, Aki is committed to lifelong learning. One of her proudest achievements was returning to college at 35.

“I sat there thinking, ‘I’m going to have five teenagers one day. What kind of example do I want to set for them?’”

Outside of work, she enjoys reading and tending to her plants, though with mixed success. “They say snake plants can’t be killed, but I’ve proven them wrong,” she laughs. She’s currently nurturing an avocado plant. “It’s about nine inches tall now. I’m determined to keep it alive.”

Igniting Change

As she settles into her role, Aki says she remains focused on empowering Native communities through information.

“We deserve a seat at the table, and we deserve to have our stories heard,” she says. “If we build it, they will come. And I really believe it’s time we start building.”