Who’s Got Reservations? Journalism In Indian Country
When: Monday, April 1, 7-9 p.m.
Where: Columbia Journalism School, Joseph Pulitzer World Room (third floor), 2950 Broadway at 116th Street
*Free to the public*
The popular narrative of Indigenous North Americans, “American Indians,” “Native Americans,” or simply “Natives” living in Indian Country, i.e. the Native American community, is often shaped from a western perspective. It comes of no surprise to Natives that indigenous peoples are misrepresented far too often and crafted into stereotypical mystical beings that “once roamed the west” but are supposedly no longer around. As it is said, listen the language used.
The continual genocidal action against Native peoples manifests explicitly when mainstream media dramatizes Indian Country and exploits the rich culture, spirituality and strength of these multifaceted communities. Superficial media coverage on Indian Country (or any country) handicaps real solutions.
Indigenous North Americans continually fight for and maintain their sophisticated sovereignty despite years of colonization. The general American irreverent ignorance about Native Americans only further marginalizes the people whom are the original inhabitants of North America.
How does one begin to educate non-Natives so they can eschew stereotypes in order to begin understanding and seeing the dynamic truth that is Native America?
We wish to explore the critical role of contemporary media in Native America with the scholars, activists and media professionals whom have extensive experience advocating for or reporting from Indian Country.
Panelists:
Harvard PhD candidate and Native Appropriations author, Adrienne Keene (Cherokee): http://nativeappropriations.com/
Indian Country Today Op-Ed Editor, Ray Cook (Mohawk): http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/author/ray-cook
Canadian Aboriginal Journalist, Musician, and Director of Indigenous Inclusion at the University of Winnipeg, Wab Kinew (Midewin):http://wabkinew.ca/
Actor and Activist, well known from “Skins,” “Dreamkeeper,” “Into The West,” and as “Sam Uley” from the “Twilight Saga” film series “New Moon,” “Eclipse,” and “Breaking Dawn” parts 1 & 2, Chaske Spencer (Lakota Sioux): http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftherealchaske.com%2F&h=uAQGaobrp&s=1
Columbia Journalism School Dean of Academic Affairs and founding editor of the weekly Dakota Sun on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation in North Dakota and co-author of “The Story So Far: What We Know About The Business of Digital Journalism,” Bill Grueskin: http://www.journalism.columbia.edu/profile/40-bill-grueskin/10
