Guidance for Journalists and Media Inquiries

​The Association on American Indian Affairs works to protect Native sovereignty, preserve culture, educate youth, and build capacity. We welcome responsible journalism and offer this guidance to support accurate and respectful reporting about Native Nations, Native Peoples and the issues that affect us. Too often, Native Peoples’ experiences with the media have included misrepresentation and erasure, so responsible reporting requires extra care to listen with respect and avoid assumptions.
 
Key Facts You Must Know

• There are 574 federally recognized Native Nations, and more than 400 other Tribes, Bands and Communities that have not been acknowledged by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), though may be recognized by other Native Nations, local and state governments, or certain federal agencies outside of the DOI.
• Native Nations are sovereign, separate, independent governments, not racial or DEI groups, communities, or interest organizations, which is recognized by the United States through treaty making, the Constitution, and much federal law.
• Native Peoples are citizens of their Native Nations and are the first peoples of what is now known as the United States.
• Native Peoples and their Nations are not a monolith. Each Nation has its own diverse government, culture, language, and traditions.

 
What the Association Does Not Do

• We do not comment on the culture, traditions, teachings, or internal matters of any specific Nation. That Nation should speak for itself on these matters and no one else should speak for them without the Nation’s consent.
• We cannot speak about “Native culture” as a single, unified concept — such a thing does not exist.
• We cannot connect you with representatives of individual Nations.

 
What Journalists Should Do

1. Identify the Nation by the name they use for themselves. Avoid generalizing; be specific.
2. Contact the Nation directly. Most Nations have official websites, government offices, and communications staff.
3. Research before you call. Review a Nation’s website, history, or governmental structure before contacting officials. This preparation builds trust and helps avoid harmful generalizations.
4. Verify your sources. If you are interviewing someone about a specific Nation, ask if they are a citizen of that Nation and/or an official representative of that Nation. It makes a difference because only official representatives of a Nation can speak with authority about their Nation’s government. In addition, the Nation may have spokespersons that speak to certain issues, such as cultural concerns. That Nation’s citizens may also speak to their lived experience. Non-Native academics or experts and citizens of other Native Nations cannot represent those perspectives unless they have consent from that Nation to do so.
5. Prioritize Native voices. Not all “experts” are equal. Prioritize officials of the Nation you are covering, then that Nation’s citizens, over outside academics or non-Native commentators.
6. Use accurate language. Reporters should always confirm terminology directly with the individuals or Nation they are covering, as each Nation may have its own preferences. The Association recommends:
   • Say citizen, not member.
   • Say Native Nations or Native Peoples, not tribes, communities, or Native American.
   • Always capitalize the following terms: Native, Native Nation, Indigenous, Indigenous Peoples, Ancestral, Ancestor (as in Ancestral remains).
   • Refer to sovereignty and self-determination, not assimilation or acculturation.

 
Note: Some of this guidance may differ from the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook. For example, we recommend “citizen” instead of “member” and always capitalizing “Native” and “Indigenous.” Where differences exist, we encourage reporters to follow our guidance to ensure accuracy and respect when covering Native Nations.
 
When to Contact the Association
The Association may provide comment on:

• Legal and policy issues, national or local (federal, Native Nation, state, and international laws affecting Native Nations).
• Our programs including our Cultural Sovereignty, Next Generations, and Become an Ally Programs include the following initiatives:
  • Protecting sacred places and ecosystems
  • International and domestic repatriation of Ancestors and cultural heritage
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)
  • Ending illegal trafficking and misappropriation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage
  • Incorporation of culture, Indigenous languages, and traditional practices in everything
  • Boarding school repatriations
  • Native identities and federal acknowledgment
  • Protection of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
  • Investigating adoption practices to support cultural adoption and compliance with ICWA
  • Native youth justice (juvenile justice issues)
  • Scholarships and summer camp grants for Native students
  • Intergenerational healing
  • Addressing violence against Native Peoples
  • Ending the use of Native mascots
  • Promoting Tribal museums and cultural centers

 
If any of these topics are the focus of your story, please reach out to us at [email protected] or by submitting the media interview request form.
 
Additional Resources
We encourage journalists to participate in webinars or trainings that provide deeper education on Native Nations, sovereignty, and respectful reporting practices, and to explore the Indigenous Journalist Association, which offers training, style guidance, and best practices for reporting on Native Nations, Native Peoples, and our diverse governance, cultures and lifeways.