About
Loochoo Media — Standards for Ethical, Indigenous-Led Journalism
This policy sets out the editorial standards, ethical principles, and accountability mechanisms that govern all content published on Loochoo Media. It applies to all editors, contributors, researchers, and collaborators.
Loochoo Media is an Indigenous-led platform sharing news, research, and perspectives on Indigenous peoples, economies, and knowledge systems across the world. Our editorial mission is to produce accurate, ethical, and community-grounded content that centers Indigenous voices, expertise, and self-determination.
We exist to fill a critical gap in global media coverage of Indigenous issues. Too often, Indigenous peoples are either absent from mainstream media or represented through stereotypical, extractive, or paternalistic narratives. Loochoo Media is committed to changing that — by reporting with, not about, Indigenous communities.
All content published on Loochoo Media must meet the following standards before publication:
Accuracy
All factual claims must be grounded in verifiable, credible sources — including peer-reviewed research, official UN and government documents, or direct community testimony. Claims that cannot be verified will not be published.
Source Credibility
Primary sources are preferred over secondary sources. Where secondary sources are used, the original source must be traceable. Anonymous sources may only be used when community safety requires it, and must be approved by the Editorial Director.
Balance and Fairness
Stories involving disputes, policy debates, or contested claims must represent multiple perspectives. Where a subject of a story is identifiable, they must be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication.
Independence
Editorial decisions are made independently of funders, advertisers, or partner organizations. No external party may influence the content, framing, or publication of any article.
Corrections Policy
Errors are corrected promptly and transparently. Corrections are published at the top of the affected article with a clear explanation of what was changed and why. Errors are never silently deleted.
Loochoo Media operates according to a set of core principles that reflect our commitment to Indigenous-led journalism and ethical practice.
Self-Identification
Indigenous peoples are always referred to using the specific name they use for themselves. Generic, colonial-era, or externally imposed terms are avoided unless they appear in a direct quotation or official document.
Community-Centered Reporting
Stories about Indigenous communities are told with, not about, those communities. Where possible, community review of relevant content is sought prior to publication. Community members retain the right to withdraw consent for their testimony at any time before publication.
No Stereotyping
No content will reproduce stereotypes, romanticize poverty or hardship, present Indigenous cultures as static or historical, or frame Indigenous peoples primarily as victims. Indigenous agency, leadership, and innovation are centered in all coverage.
Cultural Protocols
Certain knowledge, ceremonies, and cultural materials are sacred or restricted within Indigenous communities. Loochoo Media will not publish restricted cultural knowledge without explicit community authorization. When in doubt, we do not publish.
Language Respect
Indigenous language terms and place names are used with care and accuracy. Where Indigenous language terms are used, their meaning and context are explained respectfully. Anglicized or colonial place names are used alongside Indigenous names where appropriate.
All data collection, analysis, and publication on Loochoo Media adheres to the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance, developed by the Global Indigenous Data Alliance (GIDA), and the FAIR Principles where applicable.
Data ecosystems must be designed and function in ways that enable Indigenous peoples to derive benefit from the data.
Indigenous peoples' rights and interests in Indigenous data must be recognised and their authority to control such data be empowered.
Those working with Indigenous data have a responsibility to share how those data are used to support Indigenous peoples' self-determination and collective benefit.
Indigenous peoples' rights and wellbeing should be the primary concern at all stages of the data life cycle and across the data ecosystem.
No data about Indigenous communities will be published without appropriate community consent. Data will not be aggregated or disaggregated in ways that could harm or misrepresent Indigenous communities. Community members retain the right to request removal of their data at any time.
Loochoo Media publishes research-based content across its News, Policy Watch, Research, and Data sections. The following sourcing hierarchy applies to all content:
Primary Sources
Peer-reviewed academic publications, official UN documents (UNDRIP, UNPFII reports), government legislation and policy documents, direct community testimony and interviews, and original data collected with community consent.
Secondary Sources
Reports from credible NGOs and research institutes (IWGIA, Cultural Survival, Rights and Resources Initiative), reputable international media with established editorial standards, and academic books and edited volumes.
Supporting Sources
Statements from Indigenous organizations and community bodies, social media posts from verified Indigenous leaders and organizations (used with attribution), and historical records and archives.
All published articles include a references or sources section. Hyperlinks to primary sources are provided wherever possible. Where sources are paywalled or restricted, sufficient citation information is provided for readers to locate the original material.
AI Transparency Statement
Loochoo Media may use AI tools to assist with research, data analysis, translation support, and editorial workflow. All content published on this platform is reviewed, edited, and approved by human editors before publication. AI-generated text is never published without substantial human review and editorial judgment. We do not use AI to generate quotes, fabricate sources, or produce content that misrepresents Indigenous communities or individuals.
Where AI tools are used in the production of a specific article or report, this will be disclosed in the article's methodology note or author byline. We are committed to transparency about our use of technology and will update this policy as our practices evolve.
AI tools are never used to make editorial decisions about what stories to cover, which communities to represent, or how to frame Indigenous issues. These decisions remain the sole responsibility of the human editorial team, guided by community relationships and Indigenous-led principles.
Loochoo Media takes editorial complaints seriously. If you believe a published article contains factual errors, misrepresents your community, or violates this Editorial Policy, you may submit a formal complaint to our editorial team.
Submit your complaint in writing to [email protected], including the article URL, the specific concern, and any supporting evidence.
The Editorial Director will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days and provide an estimated response timeline.
A formal response will be provided within 10 business days. Where a correction or clarification is warranted, it will be published promptly.
If you are not satisfied with the response, you may request an independent review by a member of our Community Advisory Board.
For Indigenous community members and organizations, we offer a dedicated community liaison process. Please contact us at [email protected] to initiate this process.
This Editorial Policy is reviewed annually by the Editorial Director in consultation with the Community Advisory Board. Significant changes will be announced on the platform and communicated to our newsletter subscribers. The current version of this policy was last updated in March 2026. Questions about this policy may be directed to [email protected].
Last updated: March 2026
Questions? Contact [email protected]