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National Congress of American Indians Passes Press Freedom Resolution
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed a new resolution affirming its support for freedom of the press and Native media.
The Press Freedom Resolution (PSC-26-058 was introduced by the Native Media Freedom Alliance (NMFA) at the NCAI 83rd annual Convention and Marketplace that took place last week in Palm Springs, Calif.
The Freedom of Information resolution was approved by a unanimous voice vote in the Jurisdiction and Tribal Governance Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 20, during the NCAI conference and went on to pass during the General Assembly on Thursday, October 22.
The resolution is the second of its kind in NCAI’s 82-year history. This resolution builds on Resolution ABQ-03-042, which the NCAI General Assembly passed at the 2003 NCAI annual conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The adapted version of the 2003 declaration includes language addressing the right of Native journalists, independent Native-led newsrooms and Native communities to be informed about the activities of tribal leadership and governance and emphasizes the importance of “culturally-informed practices for the employment of these principles.”
Founder and executive director of the NMFA, Jodi Rave Spotted Bear, said in a press release that the resolution is a key piece of democracy rooted in traditional models of governance.
“Freedom of Information is more than a legal principle—it’s a pathway to public trust, visibility, government accountability, community power, and an informed citizenry,” Spotted Bear said. “These are all key components of modern democracy, which has deep roots in the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s historical representative governance model. At the Native Media Freedom Alliance, we work to protect and expand this tradition.”
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