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ᑖᓂᓯ  ᓂᐚᐦᑰᒫᑲᓇᐠ  ᐁᑿ  ᓂᑑᑌᒼᑎᐠ᙮ 

tânisi niwâhkômâkanak êkwa nitôtêmtik,

Hello my friends and relatives,

Amy Romer is a talented writer and photographer who’s been working with IndigiNews for the last couple of years, first as a freelancer and now as a reporter on the team. She’s been a wonderful addition to IndigiNews, in part because she takes such great care to engage respectfully with Indigenous communities. 

As a photojournalist, Romer is used to doing everything herself – conducting the interviews, photographing the subject(s), recording audio and writing the stories. So travelling to Gitanyow territory with Brandi Morin recently to document the resistance to the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline was a rare and enjoyable opportunity for her. 

“Usually I’m the writer and the photographer. I’m not used to working with a writer,” Romer told me when I asked her about her experience working on this story. 

Once on the ground, Romer was able to focus more on photographing the people Morin spoke with. She was able to listen to the conversations without worrying about doing anything other than observing people and planning her shots.

Hereditary Chief Dimdiigibuu Ardythe Wilson (centre), child Jordann Wilson (left), and sister Barb Huson (right). Photo by Amy Romer

When asked if there was a particular image from the shoot that resonated with her, Romer told me that the photo of Hereditary Chief Dimdiigibuu Ardythe Wilson with her child Jordann Wilson and sister Barb Huson stood out to her. 

“The three of them together were just this unit of strength,” Romer said. “For me, just to be able to sit and watch them and listen to them, and then at the end of Brandi's interview, to know exactly what I needed to do to bring that out in a photograph was really helpful.” 

Romer went on to say how operating in Indigenous communities requires great care. Her journalistic practice includes reaching out to a community beforehand, asking what protocols she needs to follow and offering photographs to the community are a few things she makes sure to do. 

“And,” she adds, “Just trying to be as gentle as possible and as upfront as possible.”

Hereditary chief George Muldoe. Photo by Amy Romer

“IndigiNews allows us to tell stories in the right way, and I believe you can feel that when you read our stories and see the photographs,” Romer explains. She shared that working at IndigiNews enables her to approach stories with greater care, as we prioritize building kinship with the community over meeting tight deadlines.

“You can't tell those stories or take those photos with a deadline at 4 p.m. It’s just not possible. So, I'm very grateful to be here with you guys.”

We’re grateful for you too, Amy. 

Read the story here.

ᑭᓇᓈᐢᑯᒥᑎᓈᐚᐤ

kinanâskomitinâwâw

I am grateful for you all,

Aunty Eden

Eden Fineday is a nêhiyaw iskwew and the publisher of IndigiNews. She is from the Sweetgrass First Nation in what is now known as Saskatchewan, Canada and is a grateful guest on the lands of the Tsawwassen First Nation.

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