b'IMACneed to acknowledge it and embracewomen, Two-Spirit, trans and non-binaryWe are tired of working in systems and work towards reclaiming it. storytellers can all work in safety, joythat werent built for us, concludes Although not deliberately structuredand sovereignty. Fineday. We wanted to build as a female-led movement, IMAC wasIMACs formation isnt just a profes- our own. founded by five Indigenous womensional developmentits a cultural andIn a time when journalism in Canada from Anishinaabe, Cree, Mikmaq,spiritual renewal. We have all foughtis facing unprecedented challenges, Saulteaux and Mtis backgrounds. Thatbattles on our own to get stories toldIMAC represents more than just reality, both founders say, feels not onlyour way, and that shouldnt happen,another organization. Its allowing appropriate but necessary.Benjoe asserts. We need an organiza- Indigenous storytellers are to hold the Isnt it always the khkoms (grand- tion like IMAC to push for change andpen, shape the narrative and reclaim mothers) who looked out for theto advocate on behalf of other journaliststheir rightful place at the heart of and storytellers so their experiences willthe media landscape on Turtle Island whole community? Fineday reflects.be easier.and beyond. We lead with care and fire, and IMAC reflects that. Benjoe adds, The Cree word for woman is iskww, which is derived from the root word iskt, meaning fire. Women are the keepers of the home fire. This is why we are creating a matriarch council as part of ourWe believe strong women build organization structure. One of IMACs most ambitious goalsstrong teams.is the creation of an Indigenous Media Foundation, a fund specific-ally designed to support Indigenous journalists, podcasters, broadcasters and media creators. Fineday envisions it as a culturally safe and familiar space that removes the need for Indigenous people to constantly justifyvalard.comor translate their work to fit colonial funding frameworks.Working for Valard, youll have the opportunity to grow, learn, I can tell you that its difficult andand be part of projects that bring power to communities.lonely work to always be the only IndianJoin our team and make a difference today!in the room, having to explain who you are and needing to translate your worldview into something funders can understand, she says. When youre the only native person in the room, theres going to be some tokenization and some feeling like you need to defend your people from misconceptions about our competence and intelligence.For both Fineday and Benjoe, the work of storytelling is inherently political. Its about sovereigntynot just over land, but over narrative. I have spent much of my career righting wrongs by dispel-ling myths perpetuated by the media for decades simply by how Indigenous people were portrayed, says Benjoe. Over time, I realized I couldnt do what I wanted to do as a reporter and that I needed to be the decision maker, which is why I decided to take over the operation of Eagle Feather News. Fineday sees this sovereignty as key to broader cultural healing. We hope IMAC helps create a journalism landscape where Indigenous men, Ontario Native Womens Association31'