How can we cover Robert Saunders’ upcoming trial in a good way?

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Robert Saunders trial

We’re getting ready to cover the Robert Riley Saunders’ trial and we want to do it in a way that serves our community. 

The former social worker has been arrested and is due to appear in a Kelowna courtroom this week. He’s been accused of stealing from dozens of — mostly Indigenous — youth in the child welfare system. 

As we prepare to cover Robert Saunders’ trial, we want to hear from you: 

  1. As this trial unfolds, what kind of information would be useful to you? 

  2. Whose voices do you hope to see amplified and how can we do this in a good way?

  3. How can we honour the Indigenous youth who Saunders is accused of exploiting?

Please take a moment to leave a comment or email: chehala@indiginews.com 

For background on the Saunders case, see our previous coverage here.  If you would like to read what guides our journalists as they cover a story you can read about that here.

Author

ᐋᐧᐸᓇᒐᐦᑯᐢᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ Chehala Leonard

We live in a media ecosystem that thrives on misinformation. Big Tech and AI companies are consuming the work of real human beings and Canadian news has been banned on Facebook and Instagram.

Eden Fineday

And yet, I have hope for journalism because of the work we’re doing at IndigiNews.

At IndigiNews, we embody tâpwêwin — the Cree value of integrity and responsibility in truth-telling. We are committed to our independent, Indigenous-led newsroom rooted in community, accountability, and relationality. We believe storytelling is a sacred fire that connects our pasts, presents, and futures through the storytellers in our Storytelling Lodge. IndigiNews creates space for Indigenous journalists, storytellers, Knowledge Keepers, and communities to gather, learn, and share stories that matter.

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Our community of supporters, our Firekeepers, make it possible to grow our newsroom, publish award-winning journalism, train emerging Indigenous journalists through initiatives like the ReFocus Photojournalism Fellowship, and publish trustworthy stories that serve our communities across the country. Every story we publish helps fill in gaps left by mainstream media and ensures Indigenous perspectives are represented with care, accuracy and respect.

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