Inuvik-based newspaper the Inuvik Drum has shuttered its doors. The publication cited lack of funds from ad revenue.
And it’s not alone. Just weeks ago, First Nations newspaper Indian Time closed its doors in Akwasasne after more than 40 years in operation.
Majorie Skidders was the editor of Indian Time.
“Indian Time opened up in 1983, so that was quite a long run. But the last few years it was difficult to compete with online media,” Skidders says.
“Now there’s a vacuum. There’s no media for this community, and there’s no media for any Native community that has lost their newspaper.”
Skidders noted the void in news coverage comes at a pivotal time.
Akwesasne straddles the border of Canada and the United States, and concern is growing on the nation in light of recent developments in the U.S.
Anti-immigration round ups have targeted members of the Navajo Nation.
Even larger news outlets like The Nation are experiencing issues.
“We were just starting to get advertising from Facebook and we were starting to use it in certain ways and expand on it. And all of a sudden, there’s no access,” says Will Nicholls who runs The Nation, a news magazine serving Cree Communities in Quebec.
Nicholls says the Meta news ban has hindered their readership across Instagram and Facebook. Nicholls notes The Nation also receives grants from the government, but he says these grants are very limited for Indigenous media.
“Even after 35 years, I’m only making $40,000 a year. And we really can’t afford to pay me any more than that.”
Steve Bonspiel, the editor and publisher of Kahnawake’s newspaper The Eastern Door, echoes Nicholls comments about the grant funding being limited.
“If we were only doing ad sales and only circulation, we’d be in trouble.”
The Oka Crisis, also known as the siege of Kanehsatake in the early 1990s, spawned the Eastern Door in 1992.
Bonspiel says the paper amplified Indigenous voices and perspectives in the aftermath of the crisis. At the time, Indigenous voices were all but invisible in the media.
While Bonspiel says the Eastern Door remains strong, there are always discussions about cutting costs.
“Our print bill is so high. I’m like, there’s going to come a time where we’re like, do we cut this out? Can we make it work online?” Bonspiel says.
Indigenous-run media still necessary
Bonspiel says it’s important for community members to see themselves in any media.
“That’s the only way you can understand who you’re writing about, who you’re covering, the stories you’re covering, why the trauma exists, why certain people won’t look you in the eye, and why others will talk your ear off for an hour, without asking one question,” Bonspiel says.
“So all that is, is understanding our communities.”
