2025 CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellow

by Joy SpearChief-Morris

Having come from a print media background, the CJF-CBC Indigenous Fellowship allowed me to enter the world of broadcast media. The four months I spent with CBC Indigenous in Ottawa allowed me to build on my prior experiences reporting on Parliament Hill and expand my journalism skills across multiple platforms. During my time, I reported on the launch of the Indigenous Advisory Council, designed to advise the Major Projects Office on Indigenous stakeholder rights, and the controversies around its funding and representation. I covered Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first federal budget and its Indigenous priorities – or as some argued, the lack of. I also had the opportunity to do my first live hits on CBC National News, reporting on the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly and the fallout after the memorandum of understanding between Alberta and the federal government.

The team at CBC Indigenous gave me the training and encouragement to learn and grow. They provided me with the support to produce news over video and radio, and step into current affairs reporting. Working closely with my producers, particularly Ka’nhehsí:io Deer, I was able to put all these skills together and produce a series of articles, videos and broadcast coverage on the Non-Insured Health Benefits program’s falling standards for status First Nations and Inuit.

While I came into this fellowship with little experience on broadcast platforms, I can now say I have the skills and confidence to cover the news on all platforms, and can call myself a more well-rounded journalist.

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