Legacy Media Often Miss Mark on Native Nations. ICT News reporter Pauly Denetclaw and Montana state senator Shane Morigeau advise reporters on covering indigenous affairs.
by Samantha Hooley, National Press Foundation
For journalists who cover local communities, understanding what’s at stake for residents is a paramount objective. But equally important is investigating whether those residents have a say in the policies and decisions that affect them. That’s why the 24 journalists who participated in NPF’s Covering Equitable Community Development fellowship in Missoula, Montana started their program by exploring the topic of tribal sovereignty.
That term refers to the right of American Indians and Alaska Natives to govern themselves and make decisions about their citizens and property. The U.S. Constitution recognizes Indian tribes as distinct governments and they have, with a few exceptions, the same powers as federal and state governments to regulate their internal affairs. But the term is often misunderstood and misinterpreted.
On October 7, Montana State Senator and member of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Shane Morigeau, and Pauly Denetclaw, a political correspondent for ICT News (formerly Indian Country Today) and member of the Navajo nation shared insights and advice about how to properly cover these issues.
6 Takeaways:
1. Understand important legal terms
Denetclaw listed and described four terms that journalists covering indigenous nations should understand:
Treaty Law
These are the treaties that nations sign with the U.S. government
Inherent right
The right for nations to govern themselves is not given by the federal government, but it is inherent since they have existed on these lands
Tribal sovereignty
Helps create the foundation for the nation-to-nation relationship indigenous people have with the U.S. government
Self-determination
Tribes have the right to their own form of government, and each nation is different
2. Being Native American is a political identity, not a racial classification
Denetclaw emphasized the importance of understanding that members of nations are citizens of their nations.
“That is really important to understanding the basics of what it means to have a nation to nation relationship with the federal government,” she said.
This is supported by treaties, Supreme Court rulings, case law, federal law and the U.S. Constitution, according to Denetclaw.
Certain rights such as healthcare are paid for through treaty rights, which Denetclaw explained as supreme law of the land.
For unrecognized nations, it can be difficult for historians to find written documentation because a lot of history is oral history, according to Morigeau.
“The only way you get that is by interviews. You interview people and you try to get history that way, or you go and look in the archives and you try and find what you can,” he said.
3. Each tribe is extremely different
There are 574 tribes recognized in the U.S., and each differ in language, culture and government structure.
“There are so many differences that exist within tribal nations. I don’t know anything about tribes in Montana. They’re so different from us in the Southwest,” Denetclaw said.
Denetclaw also referenced the Tribal Nations Media Guide created by the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA), which journalists can refer to in order to find necessary information about tribal nations.
4. Consider your current perspective on tribal nations
“I think a good place to start is just think, ‘What is [my] perspective of native people? What is that?’ And unpack that for yourself, because I think it’s a good place to start,” Morigeau said.
He encourages journalists to consider this because of many of the stereotypes about indigenous people.
“Missoula is a fairly progressive city, but even progressive people that I met would ask me questions or things to me that were stereotypes or founded in racism,” he said.
Morigeau discussed what he called “complicated” tribal history in the U.S. and the importance of knowing this history.
5. Utilize the IJA bingo guide
A resource that journalists can use to ensure fair coverage of indigenous nations is IJA’s bingo card, according to Denetclaw.
“If you write a story and you hit a bingo, rewrite your story,” she said.
The bingo includes stereotypes and other misrepresentations of indigenous people. By utilizing this resource, journalists can ensure better reporting.
Speakers: Pauly Denetclaw, Political Correspondent, Indian Country Today
Shane Morigeau, Montana State Senator, District 48; Tribal Attorney & Public Affairs
This fellowship is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The National Press Foundation is solely responsible for programming and content. This video was produced within the Evelyn Y. Davis studios.
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