Perspectives from Indigenous Communities Around the Globe


Thursday, January 11, 7–8 pm ET
Watch the program now (1 hour)

A growing number of Indigenous peoples around the world today serve as public relations professionals, taking on increasingly critical positions at corporations, government, universities, and agencies. In this year’s program, we expand our lens—for the first time—to include Indigenous PR professionals based in Australia and New Zealand, in addition to those living in Canada and the U.S.

Communications challenges facing the Aboriginal peoples of Australia, the Māori of New Zealand, the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation of Canada, and the Diné (Navajo) nation of the U.S. may appear on the surface to be very different. But, as you'll discover during this program, there are far more similarities than differences facing these PR professionals: 

  • protecting native identities and ancient traditions

  • advocating for equal human rights and protections

  • eliminating demeaning stereotypes portrayed in movies, sports, commercials and textbooks. 

  • promoting economic and educational opportunities for Indigenous populations.

A keynote address from Chief Jim Gray of the Osage Nation offers additional insights into the struggle against societies’ misperceptions and mythologies facing Indigenous populations around the world. And Dennis Zotigh entertains us with storytelling—an ancient Indigenous tradition common throughout the world.

HOST April Hale, President, A. Hale PR, Navajo Nation

KEYNOTE, Jim Gray, Gray Consultants, former Chief of the Osage Nation

OPENING Dennis Zotigh, Cultural Specialist and Writer, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Kiowa/Santee Dakota/Ohkay Owingeh

Fiona Cassidy, Director, FR Consulting, Māori

Keira Cappo, Strategist, Enbridge, Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation

Treena Clark, Chancellor's Postdoctoral Indigenous Research Fellow, University of Technology, Sydney, Aboriginal Kokatha and Wirangu

 

Thanks to our Sponsors

The Critical Role of indigenous Communicators 2024 was sponsored in part by Founding Member Edelman; underwritten by BCW and APCO Worldwide; and sponsored by The Wallace Foundation; Page; Google; Enbridge; the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at University of Georgia; and CommPRO.