Reporting in Indigenous Communities is a unique offering at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication that provides j-students with opportunities for experiential learning in Indigenous communities in Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley. Student response has been enthusiastic, with 19 students enrolled (2 students are Indigenous, 17 are non-Indigenous). Details
To improve how the jour
nalists of tomorrow approach Indigenous issues, it is essential to introduce journalism students to the Indigenous territory they inhabit while studying in Ottawa and guide them in building productive journalistic relationships with Indigenous communities. Students are assigned in teams of 3-4 to cover three First Nations in the Ottawa Valley and urban Indigenous communities in the city of Ottawa (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit). health, Elders) and are responsible for researching and producing an enterprise news story with multimedia elements. Students gain valuable skills in planning and carrying out reporting field trips by managing their own budgets and off-campus travel arrangements. Community Partnerships
Community partnerships are key to the RIIC course. Three First Nations closest to Carleton University Professor have provided Letters of Support for the RIIC course – Kitigan Zibi (2 hr 10 min drive), P*kwàkanagàn (1 hr 40 min drive) and Akwesasne (1hr 15 min drive). Students will also report on the city of Ottawa’s growing urban Indigenous population (nearly 50,000 people), including First Nations, Metis, and Inuit. Classroom learning is enhanced by inviting Indigenous community members and scholars to lecture on Indigenous worldviews and histories. Students also participate in a site visit of an Indigenous organization in Ottawa, giving them access to behind-the-scenes perspectives on urban Indigenous governance. Dissemination of Knowledge
The RIIC website is a public-facing showcase of both exclusive journalism material reported by students and student newsgathering experiences while working in Indigenous communities in the Ottawa region. The site is run in coordination with the School of Journalism and Communication’s Capital Current website. Professor McCue also seeks a mainstream media partner to publish the student material (the 2024 partner is the Globe and Mail). Reciprocity
Students will graduate from RIIC understanding that the principle of reciprocity is fundamental to the practice of ethical journalism within an Indigenous context and will be encouraged to have ongoing relationships with partner Indigenous communities by “giving back.” Examples include sharing their stories with story subjects, sharing research where appropriate, and volunteering in community-based programs.
