by Kaitlin Boysel, University of Central Oklahoma Student, Cherokee Nation Citizen
My time with NAJA has been a wonderful one. I have learned so much about media, but even more importantly about myself. Being a girl who doesn’t “typically look Native American,” I never accepted stereotypes. For example, I went to a high school called Union Redskins. I had no idea what “redskin” even meant until I went on my fellowship and NAJA addressed mascots with the NFL Network. It was truly inspiring and a wonderful experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to go into media. I think the biggest obstacle we face as Native journalists is reinforcing that there are many Indigenous communities to be covered.
The Native American Journalists Association strives to empower journalists and voices in Indian Country. Contact us to learn more about our members, access to our expert directory, and/or how to support student fellows like Kaitlin. If you have interest in applying to be a student fellow or a student fellow mentor, updated information is included on NAJA.com.