Back in 2020, the NAJA Board started digging into its membership rules, realizing they were mostly focused on the U.S. and Canada, which felt a bit limiting. They wanted to open things up to Indigenous journalists worldwide, in line with stuff like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights for Indigenous Peoples. The goal? Make NAJA’s membership policies more inclusive and reflective of the diverse world of Indigenous journalism.
NAJA’s all about amplifying Indigenous voices, and they’re open to anyone—Indigenous journalists and allies alike—who wants to join the mission. That said, they expect everyone to be upfront and honest about who they are, no matter the setting. Indigenous identity is tricky and layered, so it should be represented with care and authenticity.
Just a heads-up: being an NAJA member doesn’t “prove” someone’s Indigenous identity, and it shouldn’t be used as a stand-in for official tribal enrollment, a federal certificate of Indian blood, genealogical records, or community verification. Also, NAJA doesn’t hand out press credentials or let members say they’re directly repping the organization.
Who can join NAJA?
NAJA’s a vibrant hub for Indigenous voices and a free press. Members work in all kinds of media, from big-name newsrooms to independent outlets. While it was built for Indigenous journalism pros, it’s also for anyone in the broader journalism and communications world—Indigenous or not—who supports the cause.
If someone claims to be an Indigenous NAJA member, they should be ready to back it up with stuff like tribal enrollment, a certificate of Indian blood, family history records, or verification from tribal leaders or community members if a news outlet asks.
Membership Types
Individual Memberships:
- Professional
- Indigenous Journalist: Someone Indigenous who’s in the trenches—gathering, writing, editing, photographing, or sharing news through newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, or digital platforms.
- Associate: Non-Indigenous folks or those not directly in journalism but working in related fields or for groups that partly focus on Indigenous issues.
- Student: High school or college students, Indigenous or not, can join as student members (Indigenous or Associate).
You can renew individual memberships yearly or go for a lifetime option.
Institutional Memberships:
- Indigenous Media: Outlets that are at least 51% Indigenous-owned. Comes with membership for up to two people in the organization.
- Academic: Colleges or universities. Also includes membership for up to two people.
- Nonprofit (not including non-Indigenous government agencies or non-academic groups): Think tax-exempt groups like Indigenous government programs or nonprofits. Covers two people.
- Corporate: For-profit companies. Also gets two membership spots.
Nonprofit and academic members can renew yearly or opt for a “sustaining” membership, which throws in extras like two additional staff/faculty memberships, a year-long listing on the NAJA Job Board, and a 25% discount on exhibitor booths at the National Native Media Conference.
All members need to update their status every year but can tweak their profiles anytime they want.