Ntawnis Piapot

Career Evolution: From Local Reporting to National Impact

Ntawnis Piapot’s journalism career began at Eagle Feather News, where she honed her skills covering hyperlocal Indigenous community stories. Her 2016 investigation into RCMP treatment of Indigenous families after police shootings marked a turning point, leading to her role as National Correspondent for The Globe and Mail. During this period, she developed her signature approach: combining hard data with intimate first-person narratives.

“If you are like me and find yourself in newsroom after newsroom being the only Indigenous person there – own it. Speak your truth and stand up for your stories. Be visible, be humble, be generous, be unafraid, or be afraid, light your smudge.”

Defining Works

• How Reporting on Colten Boushie’s Death Changed Me (VICE, 2018) This visceral first-person account dissects the emotional labor of covering Indigenous trauma while navigating newsroom dynamics. Piapot documents her process of securing interviews with Boushie family members through ceremonial protocols, contrasting Western journalistic practices with Cree relationship-building. The piece’s impact led to revised trauma reporting guidelines at three major Canadian outlets.
• Indigenizing Universities: A Prairie Perspective (CBC Indigenous, 2018) Through 47 interviews across six campuses, Piapot exposed the gap between institutional DEI statements and student realities. Her innovative photo portraits of Indigenous scholars became a touring exhibition, influencing post-secondary funding allocations. The work remains required reading in seven Canadian journalism programs.
• 2 Sask. Indigenous Women on Living with HIV/AIDS (Global News, 2023) By centering her late mother’s experience, Piapot reframed public health reporting on HIV/AIDS in Indigenous communities. The article’s “Nothing About Us Without Us” framework has been adopted by Saskatchewan Health Authority for community consultations.

Pitch Guidance: Aligning with Piapot’s Practice

Center Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Piapot prioritizes stories demonstrating Indigenous communities’ existing solutions to systemic issues. Successful pitches highlight traditional governance models or land-based healing programs, like her 2021 coverage of Cree water protectors reviving ancient flood mitigation techniques. Avoid superficial “reconciliation” narratives without concrete action plans.

Data Sovereignty Matters

When pitching statistics-heavy stories, ensure data collection methods respect OCAP® principles. Her award-winning series on Indigenous foster care rates collaborated with First Nations researchers using trauma-informed analytics.

Intergenerational Lens Required

Piapot’s work consistently traces issues through multiple generations. A successful 2022 pitch about urban Indigenous housing connected current shortages to the 60s Scoop’s displacement effects, featuring architectural plans incorporating traditional Cree family structures.

Elevate Lived Experience as Expertise

Her HIV/AIDS reporting paradigm treats personal stories as primary sources equal to clinical research. Pitches should identify community knowledge-keepers with equal prominence to institutional spokespeople.

Land as Character

Notice how Piapot’s Treaty 4 Territory maps contextualize stories within specific Indigenous geographies. Pitches about environmental issues must identify the traditional territory involved and existing stewardship agreements.

Awards and Recognition

• RTDNA Award for Continuing Coverage (2022): Honored for her 18-month investigation into unmarked residential school graves, which combined ground-penetrating radar data with oral histories from Survivors.
• YWCA Woman of Distinction (2020): Recognized for developing the kiskinohamatôtân mentorship program pairing Indigenous youth with media professionals.
• CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowship (2018): Produced the landmark series on post-secondary Indigenization that influenced $14M in federal education funding.