b'IMACRECLAIMING THE NARRATIVEOF INDIGENOUS REALITIES By Andrew St. GermainThe launch of the Indigenous Media Association of CanadaI n a media landscape whereIMAC was launched to support andEden Fineday, interim secretary at IMAC.I learned last year that there is no Indigenous voices have historicallyrepresent First Nations, Inuit and Mtisnational body to represent Indigenous been pushed to the margins andstorytellers across Canada. It arises notjournalists and broadcasters in Indigenous stories have been merelyin opposition to existing institutions likeCanada. We werent at the table 15 footnoted throughout national messa- the Canadian Association of Journalistsyears ago when the Community Radio ging, the newly formed Indigenous(CAJ) or the U.S.-based IndigenousFund of Canada was created, simply Media Association of Canada (IMAC) isJournalists Association (IJA), but asbecause there was no organization to determined to refocus the narrative. a direct response to their limitations.invite to the table, Fineday explains. For Kerry Benjoe, editor-in-chief ofNeither, according to Benjoe, reflectsIndigenous people do journalism Eagle Feather News and interim presidentthe full realities of Indigenous story- and broadcasting differently, and we of IMAC, the association representstellers across Turtle Island. operate with vastly fewer resources a long-overdue reclamation ofthan other media. As hard off as the Indigenous storytelling power. ThoseThis need for a uniquely Canadianindustry is as a whole, we are even Indigenous voice is echoed by Edenworse off.who lead Indigenous content creation and those who decide what storiesFineday, publisher at IndigiNewsIMACs mission, then, is as much need to be told and how to be toldand IMACs interim secretary. Herabout restoration as innovation. It is are predominantly non-Indigenous,experience fundraising for Indigenousa return to how our communication she says. Often Indigenous journalistsjournalism has shown her how deeplysystem worked prior to contact, says become the newsroom educators withstructural inequities are embedded inBenjoe. We had very strong networks no compensation. the system.of communication prior to contact. We ndland Aboriginal Womens u Newfo twNe orkThe Newfoundland Aboriginal Womens NetworkSupporting & Empowering Indigenous Women& their Families since 2005.90 Main St, Stephenville, NL A2N 1J3Phone: 709-643-4563 | Email: nawn@nf.aibn.com 30 Spring/Summer 2025'