GIJN/NAJA Guide for Indigenous Investigative Journalists

At the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference, we held a panel on indigenous investigations. According to the UN, over 476 million indigenous people are living in 90 countries. Many are on the front lines defending their lands and cultures, and they have become minorities in their own homes. Here are Indigenous journalists from Canada, Taiwan, and the United States who are using investigative skills to expose issues ranging from land theft to cultural repression. You can watch the video below:

This guide is created to encourage Indigenous investigative journalists and to provide empowering tips and tools. Developed collaboratively by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), the guide explores eight key topics.

The entries include background information, examples of investigative work, suggestions for stories, and resources for information. The chapters include:

• Data Journalism on Indigenous Communities
• Land Ownership: Community Rights Under Threat
• Investigating Criminal Justice
• Exposing Exploitation and Corruption
• Covering the Climate Crisis
• Investigating Murdered or Missing Persons
• Indigenous Data Sovereignty
• Getting Documents, Dealing with Whistleblowers, and Staying Safe

This guide was written by GIJN Resource Center Director Toby McIntosh. NAJA editors were Sterling Cosper and Rebecca Landsberry. GIJN editing by Gaelle Faure, David Kaplan, Anne Koch, and Tanya Pampalone.

Thanks to many others for suggestions, including: Tristan Ahtone, Stephanie Russo Carroll, Christopher Cunneen, Mary Hudetz, Ted Gest, and Tahu Kukutai.

We welcome suggestions for expanding and updating this resource. Please write to us here.

The Global Investigative Journalism Network is an international association of journalism organizations that support the training and sharing of information among investigative and data journalists—even in repressive regimes and marginalized communities. GIJN’s membership comprises 182 nonprofits in 77 countries, and its mission includes sponsoring global and regional conferences, training, providing resources and advice, and promoting best practices in investigative and data journalism. The GIJN Help Desk has provided assistance to over 7,000 journalists in 100 countries, while GIJN’s regional editors spread the latest news in eight languages a day.

The Native American Journalists Association serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech, and expression. NAJA is committed to increasing the representation of Native journalists in mainstream media. NAJA encourages both mainstream and tribal media to attain the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and responsibility.