After three years of working as the digital editor and a reporter for the Reconciling Journalism website, it is time for me to sign off.
When I took on this role in the summer of 2022, I had just finished my first year of J-School. I was a new journalist who was insecure about my skills and uncertain about where I fit into the industry. But, a lot has changed since then.
Today, I am an emerging freelance journalist. I have found my voice as a storyteller and I am a few weeks away from graduating from journalism school. A lot of the professional growth I have seen over the last three years was because of the work that started here.
As my time at Reconciling Journalism comes to an end, first and foremost, I would like to express how incredibly grateful I am for the opportunity to work on this website. It was here that I was given a space to learn, to make mistakes, to challenge myself and to challenge the colonial infrastructure of journalism.
I was uncertain if I was going to pursue journalism after my first year as a student in the J-School. Part of this uncertainty came from my identity and experience as a mixed Ojibwe woman. I came to journalism school with a passion for people, for stories and for the truth. I wanted to use my pen and my voice as a way to stand up for what I believe in, for my community and for justice. But, I didn’t feel like there was space for that in a traditional newsroom. I didn’t feel like there was space for me in the newsroom.
But when I began my work for this website, I was encouraged to approach journalism in a way that uplifts Indigenous communities. I was taught the impact that journalism can have when it is done in collaboration with my community, and from relationships based on trust and respect. These are values that I will carry with me throughout my work as a journalist to ensure that I continue to give back to my community by sharing their authentic stories and lived experiences.
Throughout my time at Reconciling Journalism, I was also given mentorship from individuals that I look up to as storytellers. I am grateful for the chance to have learned from journalists like Nicole Blanchett, Duncan McCue and Karyn Pugliese. They pushed me to be a better writer — to consider the power of my words and the importance of storytelling. Thanks to all of them for believing in me, for being patient with me, for teaching me and for supporting me. It was because of their faith and support that I was able to find my voice and my confidence as a journalist.
Many doors have opened up to me because of the work I have done for Reconciling Journalism and because of the people who believed in me. Over the last three years, I have built a strong foundation of professional values and journalistic experience. Although I am sad that it is time to say goodbye, I am ready for the seeds I planted here to continue to grow as I carry on my path forward.
