John Ahni Schertow, Intercontinental Cry
At long last, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) has launched its training program in northern Ontario aiming to increase the presence of Indigenous voices in Canadian media.
“Our hope is to train stringers who can report from their northern Ontario communities where currently mainstream media doesn’t have local correspondents,” said Rachel Pulfer, executive director of JHR. “They will be able to add the context that a reporter who is just flying in for a couple of days won’t have … ultimately it’s about giving ownership on their stories to the communities that live there.”
As reported by the Canadian Journalism Project, JHR will send two trainers to a total of six remote communities over the course of nine months to train anyone interested in relaying local news to a wider Canadian audience. Fort Severn, Weagomow, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Attawapiskat, Moose Cree and Constance Lake have agreed to take part in the project.
Ultimately, JHR is hoping to see a 20 per cent increase in the number of news stories in mainstream media, such as CBC, Shaw Thunder Bay and Magic FM; who agreed to take content — as long as it meets their standards — from the stringers.
A field coordinator in Thunder Bay will also train local journalists in mainstream media on how to approach indigenous communities on the protocol before and while on reserve.