Indigenous People’s Representation in Media

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Indigenous people’s representation in the media is a topic of great importance for both indigenous and non-indigenous audiences. While the former are impacted and involved in the events, issues, and opportunities revealed in these mainstream sources, the letter might gain more cultural awareness and be more supportive and proactive after receiving more information. In this paper, Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild’s podcast on CBC Radio, InFocus TV show on APTN, and Windspeaker news provider are reviewed regarding their role in presenting the voices of Indigenous people.

The first indigenous source under analysis is the “Tech that Protects, projects and Preserves” podcast episode from Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild. The episode covers the ways in which indigenous communities of Canada and around the globe interact with technological advancements and employ them to promote their culture. For example, it is described in the podcast that oral culture preservation in a piece of art is similar to NFT technology in a manner of conserving value (Deerchild, 2022). NFTs allow for funding of indigenous education (such as the One Hundred Drums project), make culture-keeping efforts affordable, and decolonize education. Hence, NFTs are seen as a privilege to support indigenous creators and youth by the community.

Moreover, the episode discusses how Web3 provides opportunities to bring culture into the digital space. Web3 allows the indigenous people to be the owners of their data, to monetize it, and not be a victim of digital stealing (Deerchild, 2022). Furthermore, a space for intergenerational communication emerged with decentralized story-telling of the modern world, similar to indigenous conversations about their experiences. However, it has been argued that open-source projects might be used against the values of their creations, which is a problem for the community and why creators apply indigenous ethics to the development of technology. Finally, the Purity and Decay (now Hill Agency) video game is examined as an example of developers’ aim to present Indigenous stories (Deerchild, 2022). The play concerns PTSD experiences of Indigenous women reflected in an interactive form.

It can be argued that the described episode of Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild is an excellent illustration of the influential role of the digital world in preserving and promoting Indigenous culture. The podcast interviewees highlight the opportunities the newest innovations open to their community. Moreover, such an episode is a suitable medium for spreading the news about the achievements of indigenous people in this sphere. Hence, the results of their interaction with NFTs, Web3, and game design can be known to both indigenous and non-indigenous audiences and reach a significant impact.

The following source under analysis is a TV show episode on APTN by InFocus, titled “Stats can say two-thirds of Indigenous women experience violence or sexual assault.” As the name suggests, the episode discusses the issue of violence against Indigenous women and their underrepresentation in justice procedures and media coverage. As such, according to a recent Statistics Canada report, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women continue to face more significant rates of sexual assaults and violence than non-Indigenous women across the country (Ridgen, 2022). The episode provides insights into the recent cases of sexual assaults on Indigenous women by officials, including the interviews of the victims and concerned people of the community. An indigenous person comments that sexual violence and misconduct could be viewed sexual as signs that the relationship with Mother Earth and the sacredness of women are forgotten (Ridgen, 2022). In turn, this phenomenon implies a lack of spiritual connectedness.

A victim of sexual assault provides the other perspective on the issue. They argue that the history of mistrust of police causes Indigenous women not to report sexual crimes. Inappropriate behavior of the officers during questioning and silencing the indigenous voices is the frequent reason for such behavior (Ridgen, 2022). Furthermore, the interviewee highlights that the foster care institutions for Indigenous people are corrupt, and their workers often engage in assaulting girls. The victim argues that these establishments must be dismantled and reassembled to be indigenously led in the future. Finally, the #Metoo campaign turned those voices into shouts, emboldening everyone to look more closely at the problems in their homes and communities.

Hence, one can underline the vital mission of the show, which is to bring light to the unheard problems of the indigenous communities. The episode effectively highlights the most traumatic experiences of Indigenous women and the structural discrimination cases that lead to underrepresentation and lack of justice. Moreover, the show provides an opportunity for the indigenous people to present their perspectives on the issue and call to action others. Compared to the previous source under analysis, this episode deals with a more troubling part of Indigenous people’s lives. Moreover, it has a greater reach to the audience and brings to life convincing and emphatic narratives that not only inform but also embolden people to act.

Next, the printed sources deserve attention concerning their contribution to bringing awareness about the Indigenous community. As such, “Law professor says Alberta court’s new Indigenous Justice Strategy provides good first step” news article by Narine (2022b) from Windspealer provides immediate insight into judicial changes. Namely, the paper reports that the Provincial Court of Alberta has revealed a new Indigenous Justice Strategy that seeks to ensure that the People’s court is for all persons. The initiative aims to address Indigenous people’s overall lack of access to the court system, their widespread lack of trust in the judicial system, overrepresentation in trial detention, as well as children in foster care. Progress on execution will be documented in the court’s biannual report. However, it has yet to be established how progress on the strategy’s effect on Indigenous life would be quantified. While Alberta First Nations do not have a centralized justice court, they may work with the Métis Nation of Alberta to create one, which would be highly effective (Narine, 2022b). Thus, the proposal asks the court and Indigenous leaders to communicate more openly.

Hence, the described news article highlights the positive changes in Alberta’s indigenous community. However, the paper does not seem to include the voices of indigenous people and their perspectives on the proposed initiative. It contrasts with the previous two sources, where opinions and suggestions of the people immediately involved in the issues are emphasized. Therefore, it is unclear whether the local indigenous population is aware of and approves of the change, which signifies a lack of representation in the source.

The final source for an investigation comes from the same news, namely, Windspeaker. The article “Personal Passion of Alberta Chief Judge Leads to creation of Indigenous Justice Strategy” concerns the same story as the previous one discussed in the paper. According to the plan, the court’s purpose is to create a culturally appropriate, rehabilitative, and comprehensive justice system for Indigenous persons (Narine, 2022a). It is highlighted that the policy comes seven years after the final report on the consequences of the Indian residential school system and after the initial trial in the brutal death of Indigenous woman Cindy Gladue, in which she was treated disrespectfully in court. The judges who push for these reforms frequently face tremendous barriers and impediments. However, the policy’s main contributor, Redman, collaborated with a committee of five judges, including Indigenous judges Karen Crowshoe, Danielle Dalton, and Ivan Ladouceur, to develop the three-year approach. He also visited First Nation and Métis settlements to speak with leaders (Narine, 2022a). Thus, the article demonstrates the collaboration between the local community and indigenous people.

It is evident that the current article emphasizes the lives and involvement of Indigenous people more than the previous one. Namely, it mentions the visits to the communities of Métis and First Nation, as well as Indigenous judges, which points to the existence of consideration of these people’s perspectives on the initiatives. However, the article still does not cover the reactions, opinions, and aspirations of the indigenous judges and communities involved. Hence, it does not represent the voices of the people who are impacted by the news the most.

To conclude, the mainstream sources about Indigenous people’s lives and news highlight the issues and opportunities of the community. As such, Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild’s podcast provides valuable insights into the achievements of Indigenous creators in the technology area while promoting the most successful projects, which helps to fund the initiatives. InFocus on APTN discusses the sensitive topic of sexual violence while interviewing Indigenous individuals, which is an essential move for representation. Finally, Winspeaker’s articles concern the Indigenous news but lack the actual perspective of the Indigenous community.