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NAJA will participate in 22nd Session of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

NAJA Logo - Photo: NAJA website NAJA Logo - Photo: NAJA website

The Native American Journalists Association will participate at the 22nd Session of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues with two side events in partnership with UNESCO, CCUNESCO, Whakaata Māori (Māori Television), and Grist

The 22nd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place April 17-28, in New York. Indigenous Peoples from across the globe will be in attendance to discuss solutions surrounding this year’s theme, “Indigenous Peoples, human health, planetary and territorial health and climate change: a rights-based approach.”

The UNPFII is a high-level advisory body to the Economic and Social Council. The Forum was established in 2000 with the mandate to deal with Indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, the environment, education, health and human rights.

Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) Board President Graham Lee Brewer and Associate Director Francine Compton will attend the Forum to observe and share how NAJA’s mission of advocating for free press and Indigenous Peoples’ inherent right to storytelling may be considered by the UNPFII chairs.

NAJA will partner on two side events with UNESCO, CCUNESCO, Whakaata Māori (Māori Television) and Grist: Multi-stakeholder event on Indigenous Community Media and Share Your Story: Communicating Effectively with Journalists. These partnerships highlight the expansion of the organization’s mission to support Indigenous journalists across the globe on free press and freedom of expression within their communities. More information about the events is below.

NAJA aims to recruit new members, create new international partnerships and train Indigenous leaders on storytelling to strengthen the organization’s presence at future UNPFII sessions.

Multi-stakeholder event on Indigenous Community Media

When: April 18, 2023 at 1:15 p.m. ET
Where: Conference Room VI, UNHQ, New York, United States or Live webcast on UN Web TV
Who: NAJA is partnering with the UNESCO, Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and Whakaata Māori (Māori Television)
About: The event centers on a discussion to create an enabling environment for free and independent Indigenous Community Media.

Register here

Share Your Story: Communicating Effectively with Journalists

When: April 24, 2023, from 8:30 – 16:00
Where: Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice (320 E. 43rd St. New York, New York 10017)
Who: NAJA and Grist, with support from Canadian Commission for UNESCO
About: Training for UNPFII attendees. Participants will learn how to craft their story pitch for media attention, hear about our storytelling techniques, and gain skills for communicating effectively with journalists. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. The training will be held in English.

The training will be facilitated by Tristan Ahtone (Kiowa), Editor at Large, Grist

  • Graham Lee Brewer (Cherokee), National Investigative Reporter, NBC News
  • Francine Compton (Anishinaabe), Associate Director, NAJA
  • Savannah Maher (Mashpee Wampanoag), Reporter, Marketplace
  • Kate Schimel, News & Investigations Editor, High Country News

Register here.

Questions regarding these events can be directed to Francine Compton at fcompton@naja.com

Contributing Writer

Buffalo's Fire collaborates with other content producers, such as AP Storyshare, independent news organizations, freelance journalists, opinion writers, community members, and academic outlets. We also appreciate ICT for sharing their stories.