Spotted Bear Moderates UNESCO Panel on Amplifying Indigenous Voices in Media

The panel, “Amplifying Indigenous Voices through Free, Independent and Viable Media,” brought together media leaders to explore strategies for empowering Indigenous communities in media. Spotted Bear led the discussion with panelists from the U.S., Norway, Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Colombia, focusing on themes such as free press, representation, and sustainability in Indigenous-led media.

“Indigenous peoples have long been underrepresented in mainstream media, and this session was an important step toward addressing that imbalance,” Spotted Bear said. “By sharing knowledge and strategies, we amplified the stories and voices of Indigenous communities worldwide.”

The Paris forum aimed to enhance Indigenous participation in media industries and addressed challenges of fair representation. Discussions over the two-day event included topics such as improving Indigenous representation, promoting collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous media organizations, and advancing press freedom for Indigenous communities.

Panelists included:

• Bryan Pollard (Cherokee Nation), Grant Operations and News Partnerships Manager, Associated Press (USA)
• Johan Ailo Kalstad, Director of NRK Sámi, Sámi Division, Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (Norway)
• Jorge Guachamín, Executive Secretary, Coordinator of Popular and Educational Community Media (Ecuador)
• Satej Chakma, Executive Editor, Indigenous Peoples’ News (Bangladesh)
• Gustavo Ulcué Campo, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator, National Commission of Indigenous Territories (Colombia)

Spotted Bear’s participation underscored IMFA’s ongoing commitment to global Indigenous media initiatives and advancing press freedom.