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IndigiNews has won our first National Newspaper Award, sharing the honour with our friends at the Narwhal for a story we collaborated on in 2023.
Not only was it a first-time win in this venue for both of our outlets (the Narwhal also won a second award later that night!) but IndigiNews became the first Indigenous media outlet to receive an NNA since the awards began in 1949.
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Cara McKenna, left, and Matt Simmons at the NNA gala on April 26. Photo by Emma McIntosh
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The story was a long feature that was co-reported by myself (Cara McKenna) and Narwhal journalist Matt
Simmons, with photos by Marty Clemens. Together, we reported on the rematriation of a Nisga’a totem pole from a Scottish museum and its journey back to its home territories.
The piece, and accompanying first person story, won in the Arts and Entertainment category. I was so happy that both Matt and I were there to accept the award during the gala in “Toronto” — working on this story together has been such a special experience from start to finish.
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The collaboration on this story was born because, last summer, I was on my way to Scotland to attend a wedding. A few weeks before I was set to leave, I got a press release to my email from the Nisga’a Lisims Government indicating that a delegation from the nation was set to visit the
National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh that August. The family would carry out a closed ceremony to prepare the Wilps Ni’isjoohl memorial pole for its journey back to Nisga’a.
The fact that I would also be in Edinburgh around this same time felt like a beautiful coincidence, since I had been following the story about the totem pole’s rematriation since 2020, when I first heard Sigidimnaḵ’ Nox̱s Ts’aawit (Amy Parent) and her family were working towards its return.
So I reached out to Narwhal “B.C.” bureau lead Lindsay Sample — who formerly worked with us at IndigiNews — and Matt Simmons (who lives up north near Nisga’a homelands) to see if they would be open to collaborating with us on a sprawling feature story about the rematriation, and everything gelled into place beautifully for us to work together.
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The Wilps Ni’isjoohl memorial pole was welcomed home with a ceremony at Nisga’a in September of 2023. Photo by Marty Clemens
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I can’t say enough good things about working with this team, and in particular Matt who inspired me with his deeply respectful, gentle and kind approach to storytelling.
While Matt and Marty were up in Nisga’a territories, there was an accident that resulted in a breach of protocol, which was a serious matter and resulted in the story’s publication being delayed while we sorted things out. After discussing things with Nox̱s Ts’aawit, she suggested that we talk about what happened in a transparent way so it could become a learning experience for others.
I’m so grateful for her guidance on this matter, and also cultural guidance more generally in reporting of this story. I think as journalists we often expect others to be accountable, but aren’t necessarily always accountable for our own mistakes, and it was exactly the right call to share what occurred and issue a public apology.
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Narwhal Ontario bureau chief Denise Balkissoon, IndigiNews editor Cara McKenna, Narwhal northwest B.C. reporter Matt Simmons and Narwhal Ontario reporter Emma McIntosh. The team at the Narwhal won a second award for their sustained coverage of the Greenbelt. Photo by Darryl Dyck
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Seeing independent outlets like ours recognized on this prestigious stage amid industry giants like the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and Canadian Press is huge and speaks to how powerful we can be when we work together. Both IndigiNews and the Narwhal do journalism from a unique lens and we don’t have a large amount of resources — relying on support from our readers like you in order to keep going.
As Narwhal editor in chief Emma Gilchrist said, this night marked “a sea change in the Canadian news industry, with several upstart, trailblazing news organizations winning awards this year.”
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The earrings I wore to the gala, by Gitxsan and Nisga’a artist Jaimie Davis. I wanted to represent some contemporary Nisga’a artwork and I chose her gibuu (wolf) design because it reminded me of the importance of collaboration and teamwork. The wolf (or mahihkan as he’s known in Cree) is strong on his own but even more capable as part of a pack.
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To everyone who supports IndigiNews, the Narwhal and other independent media — thank you. This award is just as much a win for all of you as it is for us.
Cara McKenna
Editor, IndigiNews
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IndigiNews, 213 – 1130 Sun Peaks Road, Sun Peaks, BC V0E5N0, Canada
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