Tribal Media Allies Advocate for Tribal Media Funding Communities

Mashantucket, CT—June 11, 2025—With the news that the Presidential Administration has made a formal Rescission Request to reclaim two years' worth of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), Native Public Media (NPM), Vision Makers Media (VMM), and Koahnic Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) traveled to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Mid-Year Conference to seek support from NCAI. The CPB funds public media and over 1,500 public radio and television stations; of these, 36 Tribally-licensed radio stations would be affected. 

Without funding from the CPB, the effects could be as drastic as stations going off the air, and unable to provide lifesaving emergency information to their communities or unique local programming. Public media amplifies stories often overlooked by mainstream outlets. It champions diverse voices, reflects local cultures, and showcases independent creators, artists, and musicians. Regional storytelling and community engagement build bridges of understanding and foster a shared sense of identity.

According to a National Congress of American Indian official, “You never want to regret not speaking up for your people. Now is not the time to be silent.” These words echoed through the General Assembly, where hundreds of Tribal leaders and officials gathered on the last day of the conference, emphasizing the importance of advocacy work and the protection of our Tribal resources.

NPM, VMM, and KBC are three of the many public media organizations that would be directly and indirectly affected by the defunding of the CPB. NPM may see stations in its network of Tribally-licensed stations go dark, leaving over 1 million people without an outlet to receive lifesaving emergency information. VMM, a place for authentic Native stories and with an audience base of 3 million people, would see a halt to CPB funded Indigenous media projects. KBC, a media organization that produces and distributes Indigenous content, would lose its ability to distribute its content and produce its premier show, Native America Calling.

With the Congressional Hearings on the Rescission Request occurring in real-time during the NCAI Conference, NCAI President Larry Wright Jr., wrote to Congress urging them to reject any proposal to terminate the funding for the CPB, stating:

Tribal voices in broadcast media, Tribally owned and operated media outlets and sources, and Tribally produced content are essential to the national awareness and understanding to the Tribal perspective, histories, cultures, and heritages. CPB funding benefits Tribal communities across the country by providing accessible news, emergency information, weather alerts, public health messaging, local public affairs programming, and culturally relevant content.

The rapid processing of the letter underscores the urgency and importance of funding for public media in Indian Country, amplifying the significance that public media outlets hold in Tribal communities. Additionally, the alliance between NPM, VMM, and KBC highlights the importance that Indigenous people are powerful when they work together. Whether it is broadcasting language revitalization programming, issuing emergency information, or sharing stories and culture, the impact of public media is far-reaching and crucial to the preservation and protection of Tribal communities. 

To learn more about how to protect public media, click https://protectmypublicmedia.org.