SEATTLE – Does the First Amendment apply to journalists covering stories on Indian reservations? What is “Indian country”?
What authority do Tribal governments have on- and off-reservation?
What are the proper terms for the clothing articles someone wears at a gathering?
“Indian Country Stylebook for Editors, Reporters and Writers” is newly published as an e-book (available at Amazon.com), and is designed to help its users understand Indian country and its customs, cultures and laws.
The guidebook evolved after a panel discussion, “Tribal Nations and the Media,” at the 2013 Washington Newspaper Publishers Association convention in Olympia. Questions asked at that conference made it clear that such a guidebook would be helpful.
The Indian Country Stylebook is patterned after the Associated Press Stylebook for familiarity and ease of use. The guide contains more than 100 entries, with correct spellings, word usages, and legal references; a briefing on American Indian Law; a briefing on newsgathering in Indian Country; a directory of indigenous nations in Washington state; and a directory of Indian country media in Washington state.
The following individuals participated in the creation of the stylebook: Richard Walker, Mexican/Yaqui, an editor for Sound Publishing Co. and correspondent for Indian Country Today; Jackie Jacobs, Lumbee, media relations coordinator for the Quileute Tribe and principal of JTalentgroup, a Seattle-based Public Relations and Marketing agency; and Gabriel Galanda, Round Valley Indian Tribes, and Amber Penn-Roco, Chehalis Tribe, Galanda Broadman, PLLC.
The cover, “All Rights Reserved,” was designed by the artist Louie Gong, Nooksack. Mark Trahant, Shoshone/Bannock, columnist, author and 2014 Atwood Chair of Journalism at the University of Alaska Anchorage, provided pre-publication review.
Gabriel “Gabe” Galanda is the Managing Partner at Galanda Broadman. He is a citizen of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. Amber Penn-Roco is an Associate in the firm's Seattle office. She is a Chehalis Tribal member.
