MINNEAPOLIS – The Native American Journalists Association, NAJA, is hosting its 2019 National Native Media Conference at the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel and Conference Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The conference is joined by the Fourth Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition.
The National Native Media Conference is the largest Native American Media Conference in the country, empowering Native journalists nationwide. NAJA 2019 aims to equip attendees with the latest strategies and technologies to cover Indian Country. The event also offers Indigenous journalists a chance to network and support one another while tackling issues relevant in American Indian society.
(Video by Arielle Farve)
This year’s joint conference not only educates attendees on Indigenous foods, nutrition and health, but also provides Native journalists with topics relevant to their communities. NAJA breakout sessions merge Native American issues, new technologies and innovative journalistic techniques.
Conference features both nutrition and journalism workshops through Wednesday. Sunday’s activities included a pre-conference workshop and an Opening Night Reception to kick off the rest of this week’s sessions.
NAJA fellows from around the country will cover events throughout the conference and can be identified by a bright green “student” name tag. Visit the 2019 Native Voice website to check out their content and learn more about the fellowship.
Monday began with breakfast, an opening ceremony and a full day of workshops. Workshop sessions included “Finding Audiences for Indigenous Food Podcasts” and “Are Urban Education Systems Serving Native Students?”
Tuesday, OsiyoTV will lead a workshop called “Creating Award-Winning Video Content for the Cherokee Nation” followed by two film screenings in the evening titled “Gather” and “Growing Native.” After the screenings, Two Shoes Pool Tournament will take place at Shooter’s Billiards. This pool tournament serves to commemorate the memory of Minnie Two Shoes. All event proceeds fund NAJA student projects.
NAJA board elections are on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The candidates include Tripp Crouse, Avis Little Eagle and Christine Trudeau. The conference will wrap up with President’s Reception and the National Native Media Awards Banquet.