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Ray Cook: A bit of censorship in Tim Giago's rewrite of NAJA history
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Filed Under: Opinion


It now appears Tim Giago is dappling in a bit of censorship himself with his rewriting of the Native American Journalist Association history.

As every decent journalist knows, with the possible exception of Giago, the story begins with a thought and a discussion. Those thoughts and discussions took place in 1983 on the campus of Pennsylvania State University.

On NAJA's web site, one will witness the 30 co-founders of the Native American Press Association (later known as NAJA) in a photograph. A picture taken by Giago's own camera. Even NAJA acknowledges the founding to be at that instant - around those thoughts and around those very discussions.

NAJA states on its History page: "In 1983, a group of 30 Native American journalists met at Pennsylvania State University to assess the state of the Native media and to discuss ways to nurture and develop Native communications. The conferees agreed that a national organization was needed to reinvigorate the Native media, address the widespread barriers and challenges facing Native journalists, and build on the strengths of Native communications."

Now, if that is not a founding or the beginning of a story, what is?

Giago should be assured with the knowledge that everyone knows he was instrumental in that 1983 gathering. Lord knows, Giago will never let us forget it.

Raymond Wahnihtiio Cook is a Mohawk Nation citizen, Marine Corps vet 75-77. He is a co-founder of the Native American Journalist Association, former typesetter and layout producer for Akwesasne Notes, co-founder of the Indian Time newspaper, founder of Akwesasne Freedom Radio, co-founder of the Associated Indigenous Communications. He serves as an audio producer for Indigenous People’s Network, associate editor of the Northeast Indian Quarterly, and op-ed editor for Indian Country Today Media Network.

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