Online resources for reporters

We’ve gathered existing Canadian resources, style guides and websites here to help those involved in reporting on Indigenous peoples and issues. These guides offer direction on cultural accuracy and language as well as training, case studies, forums and more. If you know of another useful resource for reporters, send it to and we will add it to our list.

Reporting in Indigenous Communities (RIIC) platform

A living resource for journalists, designed to be built upon collaboratively. Includes an in-depth reporting guide and corresponding reporters’ checklist categorized into three sections: At the Desk, In the Field and On the Air. There’s also a blog and links to many helpful resources. Created by CBC reporter and UBC journalism instructor Duncan McCue.

Reporting in Indigenous Communities: 5 tips to get it right

CBC reporter Angela Sterritt’s condensed guide to reporting in Indigenous communities offers personal reflection and examples. It includes advice on fostering source relationships, a guide for how to refer to Indigenous people’s geographical and tribal origins as well as examples of successful reporting.

Strategic Alliance of Broadcasters for Aboriginal Reflection: Reference and style guide

A comprehensive guide for journalists. Includes terminology with helpful examples. Also provides context around Indigenous concepts of identity and citizenship, patterns of culture and tradition, terms related to governance, and backgrounders on rights, policy and politics.

Aboriginal Style Guide by Greg Young-Ing (Theytus Books)

An Aboriginal style guide which incorporates a “Historical Overview of the Portrayal of Aboriginal Peoples Through Literature.”

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada: Terminology

An updated version of the 2004 ministry reference guide and glossary “Words First: An Evolving Terminology Relating to Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.”

Journalists for Human Rights’ Indigenous Reporters Program

An immersive journalism education program which has a broader mandate to address all three of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s media-related calls to action. Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) also offers training supported by Dibaajimo, an online training resource for reporting Indigenous stories. The JHR Indigenous Reporters Program aims to train Indigenous journalists in remote communities.

Dibaajimo: Indigenous Reporters Portal

Dibaajimo is JHR’s partner website. It is “an online space where Indigenous journalists and media outlets across Canada can collaborate to improve the quality and quantity of news stories focused on Indigenous people, culture and issues in Canadian media.” It offers resources for early-career/citizen journalists including an online journalism course, case studies and examples of successful storytelling, a pitching platform, a reporter profile page, and a community forum where journalists can post and discuss questions about reporting.