Smoke signals., August 01, 2008, Page 7, Image 7

Smoke Signals 7
AUGUST 1,2008
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At left, Tribal Elders Anna Hyde and Jack Lash
were crowned queen and king at Elder Honor Day
held in the Tribal gymnasium on Friday, July 1 8.
Below, Tribal Elder Violet Folden holds a container
as Tribal Elder Russ Leno picks a ticket for a prize
drawing during Elder Honor Day.
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Photos by Michelle Aliamo
UKIDTY
Smoke Signals wins first place in feature writing
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
Every four years, the Native American Journalists Association joins with
Hispanic, Asian and African-American journalists as an association called
Unity, and this year in Chicago some 6,000 minority journalists talked about
the changing face of journalism.
With digital media from smart phones to the Internet all taking advertis
ing revenue from the traditional news sources newspapers, radio and televi
sion media owners and journalists are scrambling to find the right formula
to stay competitive in one case and to keep a job in the business in another.
Themed as "A New Journalism for a Changing World," the event drew In
dian and environmental activist Winona La Duke (Anishinaabekwe Ojibwe,
the Mississippi Band Anishinaabeg), Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial Page
Editor Mark Trahant (Shoshone-Bannock Tribe of Fort Hall, Idaho), Public
Broadcasting System Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez and presumptive
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Discussion included La Duke's comment: "Look into social movements of
communities. Those are the stories that need to be told."
In a session about the diabetes epidemic overtaking minority communities,
Dr. Ann Sumner emphasized "the importance of minority participation in clini
cal testing. Many learn important things about their health by participating."
"We no longer have shared understandings," said Trahant in a session
called "How Race Has Changed America." "We're using isolated facts to draw
conclusions that are not true."
He described a story he had seen in the mainstream press about Indian
casinos and "it did not quote one Native American source."
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley welcomed the group and then castigated it
for reporting negative news "21 hours a day, seven days a week."
"Our perceptions," Daley said, "come through the media."
Obama capped off the convention on Sunday morning speaking about his
recent trip to Afghanistan, Iraq and Europe, and generally supporting minor
ity issues, such as affirmative action and sovereignty.
In a paper called, "Principles for Stronger Tribal Communities," Obama
said that he supports self-determination for Tribes and consultation with
and inclusion for Native Americans with a promise to appoint "an American
Indian policy adviser on his senior White House staff."
Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain declined an invitation
to speak at the convention, but on ABC "This Week" news magazine an hour
before Obamn spoke in Chicngo, McCain opposed affirmative action efforts to
level the playing field for minorities.
Fewer awards were given out to NAJA journalists this year, with only one
winner in each category. Smoke Signals took first in its class for the best
Feature story for staff writer Ron Karten's "An Ick-Quired Taste?" published
Aug. 15, 2007.
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Ptxrto by MkMk Alaimo
Tribal member Dakotah Norwttt, 9, reacts as he hits a bump while
sliding down the water slip n' slide during the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde employee picnic held on the Tribal campus on
Saturday, July 26. Norwest Is the grandson of Tribal member and
Tribal employee Pearl Mekemson.