NCAI adopts support for independent Native media and freedom of information

The free press initiative was adopted Thursday by the general assembly that included more than 100 tribal delegates and their representatives on the final day of the weeklong conference in Palm Springs, California. The free press initiative was passed by a voice vote as part of a package of resolutions approved by NCAI’s Jurisdiction and Tribal Governance committee.

The resolution was sponsored by Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, founder of Native Media Freedom Alliance and editor-in-chief of Buffalo’s Fire.

It is only the second of its kind in NCAI’s history. This resolution builds upon the first such initiative, passed by the NCAI General Assembly during the 2003 annual conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The resolution offers guidance to any tribe that wants to institute their own independent press and public records measures. It does not require or legislate any tribe to do anything to expand press initiatives in their communities. The resolutions outline clear journalist standards and practices offered by the Native Media Freedom Alliance and the Indigenous Journalists Association.

Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish Tribe and vice president of NCAI’s Northwest tribes delegation, said the press initiative is vital to good tribal governance.

“I think that's a very important issue that we are transparent and tell people exactly what the news is, so that we govern in a way that includes the public so they can know their elected officials, their agencies and the people who work for the federal government,” Forsman said.