Indian Country Today

Indian Country Today
Name	Indian Country Today
Type	News media
Founded	1981
Founder	National Congress of American Indians
Headquarters	New Mexico
Language	English

Indian Country Today Indian Country Today is a news organization focused on reporting about Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians issues across the United States and parts of Canada. Founded to provide independent coverage of tribal affairs, cultural reporting, legal developments, and arts, it has published investigations, features, opinion, and multimedia content that intersect with topics such as tribal sovereignty, federal law, environmental disputes, and indigenous cultural preservation. The outlet maintains relationships with tribal nations, indigenous leaders, legal advocates, cultural institutions, and academic researchers.

Overview

Indian Country Today covers tribal nations including the Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation (1794–present), Ojibwe, Lakota, Diné, and Haudenosaunee Confederacy among others, reporting on issues like tribal elections, land claims, and resource disputes involving parties such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service, and federal courts including the United States Supreme Court. The publication highlights legal cases such as McGirt v. Oklahoma and Carcieri v. Salazar, legislative actions like provisions in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act era debates, and treaties such as the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), placing contemporary events in historical and legal context. Coverage extends to culture and arts figures like N. Scott Momaday, Joy Harjo, Louise Erdrich, and organizations such as the National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian Institution. It also reports on environmental and energy issues involving entities such as Keystone XL pipeline, Dakota Access Pipeline, ExxonMobil, and tribal-led renewable initiatives.

History

Indian Country Today traces roots to a publication initiated by the National Congress of American Indians in 1981 to serve as a communications vehicle for tribal leaders and communities. Over the decades its operations intersected with institutions such as the Native American Journalists Association and academic centers like the Harvard University Native American Program through collaborative projects. Key historical moments for the outlet include its editorial independence movement in the 1990s, shifts following digital media expansion influenced by platforms such as The New York Times and ProPublica, and reporting milestones involving investigations into issues tied to the Coal industry and tribal land rights adjudicated by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The publication underwent closures and relaunches reflective of funding and organizational changes seen across nonprofit journalism, drawing attention from philanthropic actors like the Ford Foundation and foundations tied to tribal enterprises.

Ownership and Management

Ownership and management have changed multiple times, involving entities such as the National Congress of American Indians, nonprofit boards, and tribal-owned enterprises. Executives and editors have included leaders with ties to institutions such as Arizona State University journalism programs, the University of New Mexico, and tribal governments. Management decisions often navigate relationships with tribal councils of nations like the Tulalip Tribes, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and partnerships with media organizations including PBS affiliates and public radio entities like NPR. Funding sources have included philanthropic grants, advertising partnerships with tribal enterprises, and collaborations with cultural institutions such as the Autry Museum of the American West.

Editorial Content and Coverage

Editorial content ranges from reporting on federal policy debates involving the Department of the Interior and congressional committees to investigative pieces about resource extraction company practices and legal disputes at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The site features cultural reporting on Native artists like Sterling Ruby collaborations, literary reviews involving writers published by Greywolf Press and Penguin Random House, and coverage of festivals such as the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Native American Music Awards. Opinion contributors have included tribal leaders, scholars from institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, advocates from organizations like Native American Rights Fund, and commentators active in movements such as Idle No More. Multimedia offerings include documentary projects akin to collaborations with filmmakers affiliated with Tribeca Film Festival and photo essays referencing archives from the Library of Congress.

Distribution and Platforms

Indian Country Today distributes via a digital platform complemented by email newsletters, social media channels including official presences on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and podcast series distributed through services such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. It has partnered with broadcast outlets including PBS stations and public radio networks for radio segments and video features, and has provided syndicated content to regional newspapers in states with significant indigenous populations, including Alaska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. The organization has engaged with academic networks for content sharing with programs at Stanford University, Yale University, and tribal colleges such as Sinte Gleska University.

Impact and Reception

Indian Country Today has been cited in coverage by national outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Reuters for expertise on Native affairs and has influenced public understanding of landmark legal rulings like McGirt v. Oklahoma. Reporting has contributed to policy discussions in forums from congressional hearings to tribal council deliberations and has been recognized by journalism awards from entities such as the Native American Journalists Association and regional press associations. Scholars at institutions including University of Arizona and University of Minnesota have referenced its reporting in research on indigenous governance and media representation. Reception within tribal communities has highlighted the publication’s role in amplifying voices from nations such as the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Pueblo of Zuni, and Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, while critics have sometimes debated editorial stances in relation to tribal sovereignty disputes and corporate partnerships.

Category:Native American media