Indigenous Journalism and Communication

Share stories, shape conversations, and strengthen community through the Certificate in Indigenous Journalism and Communications. Offered through Indigenous Communications and Fine Arts (INCA) at the First Nations University of Canada, this program is designed for individuals who are working or interested in community-based communications, including community radio and community relations. Through your courses, you’ll build confidence and develop skills in journalism and strategic communication, all grounded in Indigenous history, languages, and worldviews.

With most courses offered online during the Fall and Winter terms, this program offers a flexible learning option. In addition to your online classes, in the spring you will take part in a seven-week Summer Institute in Regina, followed by a supervised internship in your home community or another setting that aligns with your interests.

In this program you will learn about journalism and strategic communication for Indigenous organizations. You will gain hands-on experience in communication planning and using radio as a tool for community connection. You will develop practical skills, expand your network, and be prepared for further study or new opportunities in the field.

What is Indigenous Journalism and Communication?

At First Nations University of Canada, the Certificate in Indigenous Journalism and Communications offers education rooted in Indigenous Knowledge. You’ll gain practical experience in writing, media production, and storytelling while exploring journalism and communications from Indigenous perspectives. This program teaches you how to tell powerful stories, build connections, and support community dialogue across multiple platforms.

Courses integrate Indigenous culture, history, and ethics, and provide hands-on training to prepare you for meaningful work in media and communications. You’ll take classes in Indigenous media ethics and history, business communications, and Indigenous media business development. You’ll also create podcasts and broadcasts for CFNU The Stream, FNUniv’s radio station, and gain real-world experience working in communications offices and news outlets.

Courses you can take as part of this program include:

INCA 100 - Introduction to Indigenous Communication Arts

An introduction to multimedia storytelling for Indigenous media. Students will sharpen their media literacy in a digital universe, learn protocols for respectful inquiry, and develop skills in interviewing, research, narrative structures and multi-platform technical production for Indigenous media organizations and audiences.

INCA 200 - INCA Summer Institute in Journalism

The INCA Summer Institute is an intensive 7-week course that provides instruction and practical experience to prepare students for entry-level positions in print, online, radio and television media organizations. Students complete daily and weekly assignments and are trained by professional Indigenous journalists from Indigenous and mainstream media.

INCA 283 - Indigenous Media in Canada

Students review Indigenous media in Canada, the legislative and policy developments that have impacted communication, and the role in Indigenous media in constituting alternative public spheres of discourse. Topics include early newspaper publishing, Indigenous language radio and developments in television broadcasting that culminated with the creation of APTN.

INCA 284 - Managing Indigenous Media Businesses

Students consider a variety of Indigenous media organizations with the goal of understanding how various forms of business—private for profit, non-profit, cooperatives and quasi-public organizations—are financed and managed. Students will come to appreciate the challenges and opportunities of managing media businesses.

INCA 290 - INCA Internship

The INCA internships follow the INCA Summer Institute and allow students to continue their training and gain practical experience in a supervised work experience in mainstream or Indigenous media and communication organizations. Students must complete a minimum of 200 hours of work experience.

INCA 291 AB - Indigenous Multimedia Storytelling

Students will develop their skills for telling news and current affairs stories, using audio, video and other digital formats, as well as social media platforms.

INCA 291 AC - Community Radio I

Students will develop entry-level skills, competencies and attitudes necessary for the successful management of a not-for-profit, community-based radio station. Students will apply their skills in hands-on exercises at the First Nations University of Canada's radio station, CFNU.

The above are just some of the courses available as part of the Certificate in Indigenous Journalism and Communication. For official program requirements, please refer to the Undergraduate Calendar.