We put the question to Native community members
Radio collaboration highlights importance of cooperation in a season of funding cuts for local media

Buffalo’s Fire Brian Bull (left) and Prairie Public’s Ann Alquist cover the UTTC powwow live. (Sept. 6.) (Buffalo’s Fire Photo/Brian Bull)
At 1 p.m. sharp on Sept. 6, Prairie Public Radio station director Ann Alquist and Buffalo’s Fire senior reporter Brian Bull went live, collaborating to cover the UTTC International Powwow from a tent pitched on the edge of the Lone Star Veterans Arena.
Interviews, stories and live coverage included discussions of the purpose of the flag raising, the importance of grand entry, the history of the UTTC powwow and the role of the arena director and veterans.
Among the interviewees were Buffalo’s Fire founder and executive director Jodi Rave Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa, Mniconjou Lakota), Documenter’s Program site manager Daniela Aki (Hunkpapa Lakota and Mexican American) and Justin Young (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara), chairman of the powwow committee.
Buffalo’s Fire and Prairie Public are modeling partnership as funding cuts imperil rural and tribal news coverage.
“Things continue to be shaken up and reinvented here,” Bull said.
Jolan Kruse
Report for America corps member and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples reporter at Buffalo’s Fire.
Location: Bismarck, North Dakota
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