5 independent Indigenous media sources to check out online

In recent years, media coverage of Indigenous people and communities has been getting more and more prominent. In newspapers, on the airways, or increasingly on the web, Indigenous stories have become mainstream.

While CBC Aboriginal and the network's national radio program Unreserved are part of this trend, we're not alone in sharing Indigenous stories with a national audience.

Here's a look at five independent media outlets from across the country, created and staffed by Indigenous journalists.

Kukukwes.com

This online Indigenous news magazine is dedicated to telling stories about First Nations in Atlantic Canada. Founded by journalist Maureen Googoo, Kukukwes.com covers everything from the Indigenous economy to local First Nation politics. Completely crowd-funded, Googoo works alongside photographer Stephen Brake.

• Maureen Googoo launches news site to tell Aboriginal stories

Muskrat Magazine

Indigenous literature, arts and events are the main focus of this publication. However, Muskrat Magazine also publishes some pretty strong critical commentary — like a recent article that calls historical political Duncan Campbell Scott a "d***head."

Based in Toronto, artist and documentary filmmaker Rebeka Tabobondung is the publisher and editor-in-chief.

The Eastern Door

Founded in 1992, The Eastern Door is a community-based paper serving Kahnawake, Que. Covering everything from lacrosse to education, the publication also isn't afraid to tackle tough issues like the community's contentious membership law.

• Mohawk journalist kicked out of Kahnawake meeting

Steve Bonspiel, Mohawk from Kanesatake, is the editor/publisher of this Kahnawake Mohawk Territory's award-winning weekly newspaper.

Wawatay News

First published in 1974, Wawatay News covers communities in northwestern Ontario. Also available in Anishinaabe, Cree and Oji-Cree languages, this publication has won more than 16 national and provincial newspaper awards for their work — and that's just in the past five years!

Though funding woes almost forced Wawatay News to be shuttered, it's recently been restructured and is now publishing regularly again.

• Wawatay Native Communications Society restructures, saves radio network

Windspeaker

Headquartered in Edmonton, Windspeaker is another of the most enduring Indigenous newspapers in Canada. Founded in 1983, it's a national outlet that also publishes several regional newspapers — including Saskatchewan Sage, Ontario Birchbark, BC Raven's Eye and Alberta Sweetgrass.