IndigiNews is hiring a full-time Indigenous law reporter
From court cases to treaties to hereditary systems — we’re looking for a journalist to tackle the biggest stories around rights and governance
Indigenous law beat, national
Indigenous law is a subject that encompasses a wide range of subject matter beyond just the courtroom — including treaties, UNDRIP, hereditary governance and even the land itself.
IndigiNews is looking for a storyteller to join our team until March 31, 2024, to report on these topics. We’re looking for someone who can make this beat their own, reporting national-scope stories from somewhere in “Canada” — ideally in “British Columbia” or on the prairies but we are open to all locations. This position starts immediately and with the possibility of renewal.
Funded by LJI, we require two to three stories per week related to this beat — which can include features, short news hits or investigations. Our ideal candidate is someone who can interpret the subject of law beyond colonial definitions and be creative, groundbreaking and bold with their reporting.
About IndigiNews
IndigiNews is a culturally-respectful online journalism publication where Indigenous people and their accomplices report on — and primarily for — Indigenous Peoples. We are one of the few Indigenous-women-led journalism outlets in the world, and we endeavour to prioritize health and well-being, cultural safety and a decolonized mindset in everything that we do.
IndigiNews represents a partnership between Discourse Community Publishing and APTN National News. IndigiNews is primarily based in “B.C.” with reporters on “Vancouver Island” and the Okanagan. IndigiNews aims to provide digital journalism driven by local Indigenous communities’ needs, while developing a business model that contributes to the long-term sustainability of independent Indigenous-centred media.
Our team is made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people committed to trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practices.
About the job
This is an LJI position that starts ASAP.
The compensation will be $60,000 annually. This is a full-time position, however it may also be shared by two part-time reporters depending on applicants’ availabilities.
3-5 years newsroom experience preferred, but we are open to diverse experience levels.
This is a remote position that can be done from anywhere in Canada.
Who we’re looking for:
- You are from an Indigenous community, understand the nuance of Indigenous protocols, and prioritize engaging respectfully with Indigenous people.
- You have an understanding of Canada’s colonial history, institutions and ongoing practices and the impacts of systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples and communities.
- You’re familiar with Indigenous governance systems in the areas we serve and/or your own Nation.
- You understand the TRC’s call to actions for the media and you have experience producing stories that centre Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives and the issues impacting them.
- You are passionate about storytelling and truth-seeking and have a creative eye for detail, clarity and fact-checking.
- You work well under deadlines and are comfortable filing multiple stories per week.
- You have basic photography skills.
Company culture
IndigiNews is an Indigenous-women-led storytelling lodge where we prioritize the wellness of Indigenous people — both the communities we serve and the people we hire. Your wellbeing is more important to us than your rate of productivity. Please take good care of yourself and let your manager know if you require support of any kind, including but not limited to time off or reduced hours.
Representation matters
We care about upholding a space where Indigenous employees feel safe, valued and heard.
We recognize that the media has not been a welcoming space for many First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, as well as other marginalized people including people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ and non-binary or genderqueer people, people from working class backgrounds and women.
At IndigiNews we are passionate about decolonizing journalism and we are committed to building a more equitable industry.
Because we believe these communities must be centered in the work we do, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.
Questions?
Please send all inquiries to eden@indiginews.com.
Apply
Please complete this application, including your resume along with three examples of your work. Please also include two story pitches with your application so we can get an idea of the types of stories you’d like to cover. We will be accepting applications until July 30, 2023.
We encourage you to speak about your identity and experience with Indigenous people and communities, as well as your reporting experience around Indigenous communities.
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
Support us nowLatest Stories
-
‘Newfoundland’ claims Europeans arrived before the Innu. ‘People don’t disappear,’ counters archeologist
Smithsonian archeologist Stephen Loring’s research is being disputed by the province’s own Archeology Office. He fears the government’s censorship of Innu history is being used ‘to promote a political agenda like land claims’
-
Winnipeg cops unveil ‘reconciliation’ cruiser — but critics are unimpressed
Force says the police car emblazoned with Indigenous art not for enforcement but education. Advocates say the gesture is ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘unsettling’ — especially amidst a drug-use crackdown they say targets Indigenous people
