Jodi Spotted Bear to Moderate UNESCO Panel on Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Media

PARIS — Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, founder and publisher of Buffalo’s Fire and the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, will moderate a panel Wednesday during the UNESCO Media Partnership Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Media.

The panel, “Amplifying Indigenous Voices through Free, Independent and Viable Media,” will bring together media leaders to explore strategies for empowering Indigenous communities in media. Spotted Bear will lead the discussion with panelists from the U.S., Norway, Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Colombia, focusing on themes such as free press, representation, and sustainability in Indigenous-led media.

“Indigenous peoples have long been underrepresented in mainstream media, and this session is an important step toward addressing that imbalance,” Spotted Bear said. “By sharing knowledge and strategies, we can amplify the stories and voices of Indigenous communities worldwide.”

The Paris forum aims to enhance Indigenous participation in media industries and address challenges of fair representation. Discussions over the two-day event will include topics such as improving Indigenous representation, promoting collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous media organizations and advancing press freedom for Indigenous communities.

Panelists will include:

• Bryan Pollard (Cherokee Nation), Grant Operations and News Partnerships Manager, Associated Press (USA)
• Johan Ailo Kalstad, Director of NRK Sámi, Sámi Division, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (Norway)
• Jorge Guachamín, Executive Secretary, Coordinator of Popular and Educational Community Media (Ecuador)
• Satej Chakma, Executive Editor, Indigenous Peoples’ News (Bangladesh)
• Gustavo Ulcué Campo, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, National Commission of Indigenous Territories (Colombia)

Spotted Bear’s participation underscores IMFA’s ongoing commitment to global Indigenous media initiatives and advancing press freedom.

Dateline:

Paris, France