By Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Koĩts-Sunuwar, CS Staff)
Standing as an Indigenous journalist among more than 400 fellow Indigenous-led media professionals, reporters, broadcasters, storytellers, Indigenous media scholars, and press-freedom advocates from July 22-24, 2026, I felt a sense of belonging and a pride in reclaiming our narratives. An annual gathering, organized by the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) and the Indigenous Media Conference 2026 in Portland, OR, brought together Indigenous media delegates from across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. For Indigenous storytellers and media professionals who have spent decades defending the truth, the conference made a clear message: reclaiming story ownership is important for our cultural, economic, political, and environmental survival.
Observing and experiencing this conference firsthand, amid the worsening climate crisis, rapid expansion and changes in artificial intelligence, and increased threats for Indigenous journalists on the ground, was transformative. From intensive sessions of drafting a historic Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics to panels on frontline climate reporting and digital safety, the three-day conference redefined press freedom through the lens of Indigenous self-determination.
Storytelling Sovereignty
Attending the launch of a book titled “Storytelling Sovereignty: Indigenous Peoples and the Media,” edited by Cristina L. Azocar and Meta G. Carstarphen, I felt like witnessing a masterclass in narrative reclaiming. Listening to the visionary scholars, I was reminded of the deep responsibility and honor of our work.
During the session, Dr. Cristina Azocar (Upper Mattaponi), a professor and Chair of Journalism at San Francisco State University, traced the philosophical and legal roots of Indigenous communities. She highlighted Article 16 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007, which provides the rights of Indigenous Peoples to establish media in their own Indigenous languages without discrimination.
“Indigenous storytellers carry great responsibility because media shapes every part of our lives,” Dr. Azocar emphasized. “Storytelling sovereignty is self-determination. It connects us to our past, guides our present, and shapes our future.”
Dr. Azocar explained in detail how outsiders have often misrepresented us in the media and distorted the coverage. “If we don’t tell our own stories, they are often wrong,” she said. According to her, storytelling sovereignty lets us share our stories from our own perspectives. Our voice can also then drive change in social and climate justice. Her advice was to keep telling your own stories, stay resilient, and do not let others speak for you and about you.
Fact-Checking and Protecting Sensitive Data
Attending the workshop titled “Fact-checking in and for Indigenous communities,” I was reminded that strong journalism requires both accuracy and respect for culture. Mary Hudetz (Apsaalooke/Crow), Director of Education and Training for the IJA, and a journalist, emphasized the need for careful verification to protect credibility and show our commitment to community trust.
“Fact-checking lets you review your stories to ensure every detail is accurate,” Hudetz said, adding, “it builds trust within communities and shows you care about how they are represented. For non-Indigenous media, it helps prevent stereotypes and mistakes.”
Hudetz highlighted that the so-called mainstream media outlets often get facts wrong by reducing the distinct cultures, treaty rights, the customs and laws of Tribal Nations to stereotypes. She stressed the importance of Indigenous data sovereignty when reporting on sensitive information about the culture, sacred knowledge, or historical trauma.
“Tribal groups have the right to review and control data about their people and community,” Hudetz said, “so much information was taken from Tribes without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Now, as Tribes assert data sovereignty, the world must respect their power to protect and manage their information.” Her advice to journalists was practical: “Make fact-checking a part of your process, especially when you are covering sensitive stories. It protects your organization and ensures you do right by the communities you cover.
Frontline Climate Journalism
Listening to our colleagues from the Pacific island nation made me think that there is an urgent need for frontline climate reporting. Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson (Samoan), Professor of Pacific Island Studies at Portland State University, described the harsh realities of the climate crisis that her communities back home are facing, from extreme weather and saltwater intrusion to damaged infrastructure and lost livelihoods.
She acknowledged major international legal milestones, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion and an international campaign led by Vanuatu and other Pacific Island leaders, but noted the ongoing gap between the global promises and real actions. On July 23, 2025, the ICJ issued an Advisory Opinion to the General Assembly, clarifying that States have binding obligations under international law to prevent and redress the adverse impacts of climate change and to protect the climate system as well as present and future generations.
“Pacific Islanders suffer the most from the climate crisis, yet contribute the least,” Jackson said, “Indigenous Peoples’ voices are present at climate change-related Conventions, but often not genuinely included. The real question is whether the international community will truly listen and act.”
Jackson argued that Indigenous journalists are well-qualified to bridge this gap because of their understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures and lived experiences. “Indigenous Journalists, especially those from the Pacific Islands, are best positioned to tell our stories, not just about the impacts, but also about our advocacy efforts for positive change,” she said; “We know our communities are best and are the most qualified to report on our own experiences, solutions, and efforts.”
She encouraged young Indigenous Journalists to specialize in climate reporting from their own communities, to consider what Indigenous Peoples stand to lose, both tangible and intangible, and to recognize the communities' strengths in facing the climate crisis.
Cultural Survival Staff at the IMC: Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Koĩts-Sunuwar), Community Media Program Coordinator; Aimee Roberson (Choctaw and Chickasaw), Executive Director; and Edison Andrango (Kichwa Otavalo), Indigenous Rights Radio Program Assistant.
Field Safety
As there is increasing involvement of Indigenous Journalists in covering risky and contentious issues such as land defense actions, natural disasters, and an intense political environment, the physical safety, digital security, and mental well being; were prioritized in several workshops. The session “from assignment to exit plan: Staying Safe While Reporting and How to Cover Protests Safely provided practical advice.
Tara Gatewood (Pueblo of Isleta/ Diné), Director of the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), stressed that risk assessment is rooted in traditional Indigenous survival skills. “Preparation is central to who we are as Indigenous Peoples, always thinking ahead and caring for others,” Gatewood said; “Risk management today is just an extension of that. Keeping safe is part of living well.”
Gatewood elaborated on the risks Indigenous journalists face at protests or disasters, where authorities may mistake them for demonstrators. “Sometimes people don’t see the difference,” she said, It’s important to ask oneself beforehand: Could we be a target?” She further said, “Mental stability is a key. Be sure you are rested, fed, and hydrated before entering high-stress situations. Preparation is part of our Indigenous traditions.”
Trainers Rachel Smith, Program Coordinator at IWMF, and Abigail LP, Program Manager at Freedom of the Press Foundation, shared how to conduct a risk assessment using real examples from protests like Standing Rock and other disasters. Their tips included using strong device passcodes, turning off biometrics, carrying satellite flares, mapping evacuation routes, and writing emergency contacts on the arms before entering dangerous areas.
Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics
One of the sessions I personally enjoyed the most was brainstorming and consultation to develop the Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics, a standard for training and a tool to guide the Indigenous journalism industry and media professionals practicing journalism in Indigenous communities.
Veteran Indigenous journalists described how western journalism rules, like banning gifts or sharing food, clash with Indigenous values of respect, reciprocity, and care. Some newsroom veterans said they had to pay their own way to support Elders and trauma survivors because editors wrongly labeled these acts as "bribes."
To address this dilemma, IJA has begun leading the development of an Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics, which is scheduled to launch at next year's 2027 Indigenous Media Conference. According to IJA officials, this code will eventually help Indigenous journalists push for change in both Tribal-led and mainstream newsrooms by giving them official support.
Events like Digital Storytelling, AI reporting tools for Indigenous Journalists, Indigenous Documentary Storytelling, Indigenous Media Expo, and all other networking spaces throughout sent a clear message: Indigenous Media today is claiming its space. While standing together with hundreds of fellow Indigenous storytellers, I came to realize that storytelling sovereignty is our greatest strength. The 2026 Indigenous Media Conference, therefore, to some extent, created a space to connect, learn, strengthen our skills in sharing our own stories, and redefine press freedom from an Indigenous Peoples’ perspective, laying a strong foundation for media sovereignty that will last for generations.
Cultural Survival was a proud sponsor of the 2026 Indigenous Media Conference in Portland, Oregon, organized by IJA. Led by Aimee Roberson (Choctaw and Chickasaw), Executive Director, Cultural Survival's delegation included Edison Andrango (Kichwa Otavalo), Indigenous Rights Radio Program Assistant; Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Koĩts-Sunuwar), Community Media Program Coordinator; and Phoebe Farris, Ph.D. (Powhatan-Renape), Contributing Arts Editor.
Top photo: Aimee Roberson (Choctaw and Chickasaw), Cultural Survival Executive Director, receiving recognition for sponsorship of the conference.
Facts Only
* The event took place from July 22-24, 2026, in Portland, OR.
* The gathering was organized by the Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) and the Indigenous Media Conference 2026.
* Dr. Cristina Azocar highlighted Article 16 of UNDRIP (2007), which pertains to the right of Indigenous Peoples to establish media in their own languages without discrimination.
* Mary Hudetz emphasized that fact-checking builds community trust and protects against stereotypes by respecting Tribal data sovereignty and FPIC.
* Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson noted that Pacific Islanders suffer the most from the climate crisis while contributing the least, advocating for Indigenous voices in climate action.
* Risk assessment for safety was linked to traditional Indigenous survival skills; practical tips included mapping routes and ensuring mental stability.
* The IJA is leading the development of an Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics, scheduled for launch at the 2027 conference.
* Cultural Survival sponsored the 2026 Indigenous Media Conference.
Executive Summary
An Indigenous media conference was held in Portland, Oregon, from July 22-24, 2026, bringing together Indigenous media professionals, scholars, and advocates from across the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. The event focused on reclaiming narrative ownership through discussions on press freedom, data sovereignty, and climate journalism. Sessions addressed the philosophical roots of Indigenous rights, such as Article 16 of UNDRIP, emphasizing that storytelling sovereignty is a form of self-determination that guides cultural, economic, political, and environmental survival.
Participants engaged in workshops on fact-checking to build community trust, stressing that reporting must respect cultural contexts and protect sensitive data by acknowledging Tribal data sovereignty and the need for Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Furthermore, frontline climate journalism was highlighted, with Pacific Islanders noting the urgent need for their voices to shape climate action, as they are most impacted despite contributing least. Safety workshops emphasized that risk assessment in reporting should integrate traditional Indigenous survival skills, focusing on mental stability alongside practical preparation for physical security during protests or disasters. The gathering concluded with the development of an Indigenous Journalism Code of Ethics, aiming to provide a framework that respects Indigenous values over Western journalistic norms.
Full Take
The convergence of themes reveals a shared structural critique: external media systems operate from a paradigm that inherently invalidates Indigenous knowledge and self-governance. The emphasis on "Storytelling Sovereignty" is not merely an aesthetic claim but a direct political demand rooted in the legal and philosophical framework of UNDRIP, suggesting that control over narrative is inseparable from survival and justice. The discussion around data sovereignty and fact-checking points to a systemic imbalance where non-Indigenous institutions extract information without consent (FPIC), reinforcing historical patterns of misrepresentation and distortion.
The argument for Indigenous journalists bridging the climate gap underscores a crucial point: lived, localized knowledge holds unique epistemic authority regarding crises like climate change, contrasting sharply with global, legally framed responses that often sideline Indigenous experience. The focus on physical safety and traditional risk management links cultural survival directly to contemporary security concerns, suggesting that true resilience requires integrating historical frameworks into modern protocols rather than imposing external ones.
The process of developing a Code of Ethics demonstrates an attempt to institute internal governance structures, moving from reactive defense (fact-checking) to proactive self-determination. The inherent tension lies in balancing the need for practical, externally verifiable standards (like fact-checking and safety protocols) with the ultimate goal of achieving full narrative sovereignty—a goal that requires dismantling the very systems that have historically sought to erase Indigenous truth. The enduring pattern is a struggle over whose definitions of "truth" and "safety" hold legitimate authority.
Bridge Questions: If cultural and environmental survival are intrinsically linked, how can international legal frameworks be redesigned to genuinely recognize data sovereignty as a prerequisite for accountability? What mechanisms exist beyond voluntary consensus-building to enforce the principles embedded in UNDRIP within mainstream media practices? How can the principles of traditional risk assessment be integrated institutionally into global disaster response protocols?
Sentinel — Human
This text reads as a reflective, experiential account synthesized from an organized event, blending personal perspective with the themes discussed, suggesting human authorship grounded in direct involvement.