Buffalo’s Fire adds two Report for America journalists to cover tribal issues

“We’ve listened to our community and we know that the Missouri River and our missing or murdered loved ones are critical issues that we must focus on as a newsroom,” said Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, executive director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, the publisher of Buffalo’s Fire digital news site.

Two RFA corps members will be joining our team in July to report on key Indigenous issues in the Northern Plains.

Gabrielle Nelson will cover the Missouri River Basin, focusing on environmental, cultural and community issues affecting the tribal nations along the river. The Missouri River is a lifeline for many tribes, making this coverage important for local and regional Indigenous communities.

Jolan Kruse will take on the urgent beat of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP). This ongoing crisis continues to deeply impact Native families and communities, and dedicated reporting remains important to raise awareness and push for accountability.

The inclusion of Nelson and Kruse at Buffalo’s Fire strengthens our capacity to deliver impactful reporting.

“We had an excellent slate of candidates and after thoughtful consideration, we hired RFA reporters Nelson and Kruse, who best met the needs of our newsroom,” said Spotted Bear.

Kim Kleman, executive director of Report for America, said the program’s goal is to fill gaps in local newsrooms by placing reporters who bring diverse perspectives and expertise to underserved communities. This year’s national RFA cohort was selected from over 1,300 applicants.