(Facebook/ Jamin MIke)

By Nigel Maxwell

Local Success stories

Beardy’s man named finalist for national journalism award

Apr 15, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Jamin Mike is the first to admit journalism was not his first choice for a career, but in recent months his attitude changed when he discovered his new passion.

The 22-year-old, who grew up at Beardy’s Okemasis Cree Nation, was recently named a finalist for the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Emerging Indigenous Journalist Award. Mike, who spent three months last fall interning for the Tyee online newspaper in British Columbia, told paNOW he was shocked when he heard about the award.

“I found a love for journalism, and I love meeting new people,” he said.

During his short time at the Tyee, Mike was tossed into the pool and covered some tough subjects including the federal election and the water crisis on First Nation communities. The story he wrote about the special advisors hired to work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, was what earned him the award nomination.

“Basically those youth advisors were used as a face to say ‘Yes we are getting this consultation process happening’ but that wasn’t really the case there,” he explained.

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Mike also has experience volunteering at a community radio station at Beardy’s. His freelance work includes Eagle Feather News and the Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation. Mike said current events have a huge impact on Indigenous people, and he hopes his passion can help inspire other Indigenous students.

“I think it’s very important for Indigenous people to pay close attention to the news, and to act as reporters themselves,” he said.

Robyn Smith was Mike’s editor at the Tyee and described Mike as a born storyteller, who often regaled the newsroom with stories of his own life.

“We loved listening to him. He approached his reporting with a strong sense of responsibility, craft and care. It was important to him that his work uplift his community,” she said.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAJ’s scheduled conference next month was cancelled, so instead the plan is to publicly announce the award winners through some other online means on May 30. As for Mike’s future plans, he has two semesters remaining at the University of Regina, then plans to find a job in journalism.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell