Meet the strong Indigenous women now covering news in the Okanagan
New platform created by The Discourse and APTN will focus on local Indigenous news.
Okay, the world looks and feels different than it did before. And maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Yes, we are sick societies struggling to keep up with the demands of this new global reality. But with every great disruption comes profound growth and transformation.
One thing has become clear amid COVID-19: We were out of balance, and this includes the Canadian media landscape, where historically we have been saturated with limited ways of seeing, thinking and being.
Indigenous perspectives, systems of governance, cultures and voices have been largely ignored, misunderstood or misrepresented, but things are changing. As a commitment to be on the frontlines of this time of media metamorphosis in Canada, The Discourse has teamed up with APTN to increase coverage of Indigenous stories.
We have been engaged in community-led research, anti-oppressive awareness training and lengthy interview processes, to find just the right people to lead a new project in the Okanagan region. And guess who got the jobs? Three bad ass Indigenous women with fire in their hearts for change.
Kelsie Kilawna
“I have a passion for sharing stories that normalize our way of life so that future generations have a place to safely recognize self. This work matters, because when you see yourself represented, especially children and youth, it creates a sense of belonging,” says recently hired reporter Kelsie Kilawna. Kelsie is a Sqilxw (Syilx/Indigenous) woman who was born and raised in Inkumupulux (the head of Okanagan Lake). She’s a photographer and storyteller who is deeply committed to listening. Kelsie is also behind the design and most of the photos that you see on our website.
Chehala Leonard
Joining Kelsie as our second full-time reporter is Chehala Leonard. “My passion is to tell stories, but more importantly, to give space to others whose stories need to be told,” explains Leonard, who is a part of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation and is of Nehiyaw (Cree), Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and European descent. Chehala, pronounced (shah-HAY-la), recently produced a one-hour documentary with APTN that will be released later this year. She joins IndigiNews after working as a documentary film producer for more than six years.
Athena Bonneau
And the final addition to our reporting team is Athena Bonneau. Athena, who was born and raised on the unceded territory of the Penticton Indian Reserve, will be our education reporter. “I am passionate about representing Indigenous Peoples in today’s world, while respecting and acknowledging history, following traditional protocol and producing truthful work with integrity as an Indigenous woman,” says Athena.
The reporting team will be supported by myself and Lindsay Sample, as editors, as well as the broader teams at The Discourse and APTN. It has been an honour to work with this team, which is committed to doing things differently, to righting wrongs, and to increasing accurate coverage of underrepresented voices. And I have no doubt that this is just the beginning.
Keep your eyes on the new IndigiNews team, Kelsie, Chehala and Athena, because I have no doubt they are co-creating something to make their communities proud – a space for the stories that matter during these strange and transformative times. Skoden.
Our reporting in the Okanagan is made possible by The Discourse and APTN in partnership with the Local Journalism Initiative.
Author
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.
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.
As a registered charity, we are building a fire that allows our work not just to ignite but to thrive. Rather than relying on advertising or corporate acquisition, IndigiNews is sustained by people like you who believe Indigenous stories are important for the future of our communities.
Your support is making a real difference.
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.
But there is still more work to do.
As the media landscape becomes more and more uncertain, community support is as necessary and essential as it’s ever been. Every new Firekeeper helps protect the independence of our newsroom and strengthens journalism that is accountable to our many and varied communities over corporations.
That’s why we’re inviting you to become a Firekeeper.
Firekeepers tend to and protect the sacred fire. Your monthly contributions directly support IndigiNews’s Storytelling Lodge, helps sustain our independent, Indigenous-led newsroom, and ensures future generations of Indigenous storytellers have the resources they need to do the work.
As a registered Canadian charity, all eligible donations receive a charitable tax receipt.
If you believe Indigenous stories matter, if you value independent journalism, and if you want to help build a strong future for Indigenous media, we invite you to join our circle of Firekeepers today.
Together, we can keep the fire burning.
— Eden Fineday, Publisher, IndigiNews
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