Indigenous Media Relations: Reconfiguring the Mainstream

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Indigenous Media Relations: Reconfiguring the Mainstream Indigenous media relations: reconfiguring the mainstream by Tia Hiltz BA, Saint Mary’s University, 2011 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Anthropology Tia Hiltz, 2014 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Supervisory Committee Indigenous media relations: reconfiguring the mainstream by Tia Hiltz BA, Saint Mary’s University, 2011 Supervisory Committee Dr. Brian Thom (Department of Anthropology) Supervisor Dr. Ann Stahl (Department of Anthropology) Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Brian Thom (Anthropology) Supervisor Dr. Ann Stahl (Anthropology) Departmental Member Much of the scholarly literature on Indigenous media relations frames Indigenous peoples as passive players in the mainstream media, and focuses on negative elements such as stereotypes. This thesis challenges this view, finding that Indigenous peoples in Canada actively and strategically engage with mainstream and social media as they forward their social and political agendas. This thesis provides an analysis of the counter-colonial narrative in Canada by offering a new perspective on Indigenous media relations, focusing as a case on the Idle No More movement. Emphasizing three dimensions of communication--the mainstream print media, social media, and individuals involved in Indigenous media relations--I examine the ways in which Indigenous agency and empowerment have the potential to change discourses in the media. As sources of insight I draw on a discourse analysis of mainstream news media, a qualitative analysis of social media and on interviews with those who have significant experience in Indigenous media relations. Interviews with prominent media personalities and individuals involved in media relations (including CBC’s Duncan McCue and Janet Rogers; Four Host Nations CEO Tewanee Joseph, and others) illustrate the novel and impactful ways indigenous peoples in Canada are actively and strategically shaping the mainstream media. These representations create a more complex picture of Indigenous peoples as they counter the stereotyped or victimized media narratives within which Indigenous peoples have historically been placed. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee..................................................................................................................iii Abstract ..........................................................................................................................................iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................v List of Tables.................................................................................................................................vii Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................viii Dedication ......................................................................................................................................ix Chapter 1- Indigenous media relations: a new perspective.............................................................1 The Idle No More Movement......................................................................................................1 A new perspective on Indigenous media relations in Canada.....................................................1 A brief history of Indigenous/government relationships in British Columbia............................6 Chapter 2- Highlighting Indigenous agency in the mainstream news media................................12 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................12 Methodology .............................................................................................................................14 Framing Theory.........................................................................................................................18 Analysis.....................................................................................................................................19 Indigenous-authored articles .................................................................................................21 Interviews with Indigenous peoples......................................................................................26 A media focus on Idle No More events.................................................................................30 Chief Theresa Spence in the media spotlight........................................................................32 Anti-Harper sentiments in the news......................................................................................34 Coast Salish Case Study............................................................................................................35 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................35 Methodology .........................................................................................................................36 Case Study Conclusion..........................................................................................................42 Media Analysis Chapter Conclusion.........................................................................................44 Chapter 3- Social Media: Tracing the connections from a hashtag to on-the- ground collective action .............................................................................................................................................47 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................47 Literature Review: Actor Network Theory and Social Media Studies .....................................50 Case Study: #Oct7Proclaim ......................................................................................................56 v Conclusion.................................................................................................................................66 Chapter 4- Reporters, strategists, community leaders and activists: exercising agency to re-frame the dominant discourse..................................................................................................................73 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................73 Methodology .............................................................................................................................73 Analysis.....................................................................................................................................74 Mainstream reporters: working from the “inside” to re-frame mainstream Indigenous media representations.......................................................................................................................75 “Behind-the-Scenes” Media Strategists ................................................................................82 Community Leaders ..............................................................................................................88 Strategic Activists .................................................................................................................95 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................100 Chapter 5- Conclusion.................................................................................................................103 Bibliography................................................................................................................................111 Table of Cases .........................................................................................................................124 vi List of Tables Table 1. Total sample of newspaper articles used in analysis..................................................................16 Table 2. Indigenous-authored articles in sample. .........................................................................................22 Table 3. Articles with a focus on Idle No More events..............................................................................31 Table 4. Articles with a focus on Chief Theresa Spence. ..........................................................................33 Table 5. Articles with anti-Harper sentiments...............................................................................................35 vii Acknowledgments I would like to first acknowledge gratitude for the lands on which I have resided. This research was conducted on the unceded traditional territories of the Straight Salish and Coast Salish peoples. My journey began on the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq peoples, of whom my late grandfather Arthur Frederick Nicholson is a descendant. May we all work hard to respect the history, culture and traditions of these strong communities. I would like to thank Dr. Brian Thom for his patience, enthusiasm and direction from the beginning of my MA program. He has been an invaluable source of inspiration and knowledge
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