- Details
- By Neely Bardwell
On this week's Native Bidaské (Spotlight) on Friday, Native News Online chatted with Native News Online’s own, Jenna Kunze. The discussion was centered around Jenna’s work covering the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held in New York.
Jenna is Native News Online’s senior reporter and has been covering the largest annual gathering of Indigenous People from around the world for two weeks.
As she is sitting outside the main conference room surrounded by delegates from all over the world, she describes what the last two weeks have been like.
“There has been so much content on the floor,” she says. “One of the most interesting things for me has been to see the throughline that all of these Indigenous Peoples’ organizations have come to the UN from all over the world saying a lot of the same things. They’re saying that their country, despite what the members on the other side of the room will tell you, that they're not doing a thorough enough job of implementing the United Nations Declaration of Right of Indigenous Peoples.”
Pacific Islanders, Indigenous Siberians, Taino, Crimean Tatars, Indigenous North Americans, and even more are all agreed on each of their countries' lack of upholding their rights as Indigenous peoples. Specifically, they are all in consensus about their countries’ lack of upholding their right as Indigenous peoples to say “no” when the government asks for their land.
Watch the whole interview below:
Native Bidaské, Native News Online’s weekly spotlight on the people making news and leading change in Indian Country is live streamed every Friday at 12 noon - EDT. Check Native News Online's social media channels for upcoming guests.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Seattle Seahawks Tackle Preservation Projects at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center for Annual Day of Service
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
