Tim Giago
Encyclopedia
Tim Giago, also known as Nanwica Kciji (born 1934), is an American Oglala Lakota
journalist and publisher. In 1981, he founded the Lakota Times at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
, where he was born and grew up. It was the first independently owned Native American
newspaper in the United States. In 1991 Giago was selected as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
. In 1992 he changed his paper's name to Indian Country Today
, to reflect its national coverage of Indian news and issues.
Giago sold the paper in 1998. Two years later he founded The Lakota Journal, which he sold in 2004 while thinking of retirement. In 2009, he returned to papers and founded the Native Sun News, based in Rapid City, South Dakota
. He is also a columnist for the Huffington Post. He founded the Native American Journalists Association
(NAJA) and served as its first president. When hired in 1979 to write a column for the Rapid City Journal
, Giago was the first Native American writer for a South Dakota newspaper.
in South Dakota
. He attended the Holy Rosary Indian Mission school. He later wrote poetry and articles about the anger he felt at having his Lakota identity and culture suppressed. He attended San Jose Junior College
in California and the University of Nevada, Reno
.
, where he started writing because his commander noticed "he typed well" and assigned him to produce the base newspaper. Giago also wrote personal articles and poems about his mission school
experience, first published in the monthly journal Wassaja, run by Jeannette and Rubert Costo of San Francisco during the 1970s.
Jim Carrier, then an editor of the Rapid City Journal
, saw his work and offered Giago a column for $10 a week. In 1979, his "Notes from Indian Country" became the first American Indian voice in a South Dakota newspaper. Giago's hiring had followed Wounded Knee incident
in 1973 at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
, which received international attention, and near civil war on the reservation during the next few years, but, as Carrier wrote later, "none of the state's 11 daily newspapers or 145 weeklies covered the mayhem in any depth, relying instead on the Associated Press
or printing nothing at all." A year later the paper offered Giago a full-time position and he began to learn the newspaper business. As a young reporter, he was sometimes told that he could not cover events at the Pine Ridge Reservation because he could not be "objective", an opinion which he questioned.
In 1981, Giago moved back to the reservation to begin the Lakota Times as a weekly community newspaper to represent his neighbors' lives. It was the first independently owned Native American newspaper; most papers published on reservations have been owned by tribal governments. In the beginning, he earned revenue by publishing the most complete list of pow-wows nationally and selling related advertising. This gave him needed independence on the reservation. He wrote editorials criticizing US and state policy related to Native Americans, and his columns were soon syndicated by Knight-Ridder. After his criticism of AIM
's violence on the reservation, his offices were fire-bombed. Despite his criticism of programs, he gradually earned the respect of tribal governments, and gained their support for his independence during difficult years.
Through the years, Giago hired and trained numerous Native Americans, some of whom later moved on to other papers and media to become successful in journalism. He also founded the Native American Journalists Association
and served as its first president. To encourage American Indian participation in the media, the NAJA Foundation provides scholarships and summer internships to journalism students who are Indian. The foundation also holds three major seminars a year for working Indian journalists, publishers and the business side.
Gradually Giago expanded his paper's coverage to all the Indian reservations in South Dakota, then to American Indian issues nationwide. To reflect its national coverage, in 1992 he changed the name of the paper to Indian Country Today
. In 1998, Giago sold the paper to the Oneida Nation, based in New York. At the time it was grossing $1.9 million annually in ad sales. As of 2005, it was the largest Native American paper, reaching 50 states and 17 countries.
In 2000, Giago founded The Lakota Times and sold it in 2004 to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
, thinking he would retire. After the Times stopped publishing, Giago founded the Native Sun News in 2009 in Rapid City, South Dakota
, committing to his style of investigative journalism as well as broad coverage of Indian news. It is published on paper only. He also is a columnist for the Huffington Post, an online news source.
.
Oglala Lakota
The Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux are one of the seven subtribes of the Lakota people; along with the Nakota and Dakota, they make up the Great Sioux Nation. A majority of the Oglala live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the eighth-largest Native American reservation in the...
journalist and publisher. In 1981, he founded the Lakota Times at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
, where he was born and grew up. It was the first independently owned Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
newspaper in the United States. In 1991 Giago was selected as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1992 he changed his paper's name to Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today Media Network is a weekly U.S. newsmagazine that is the primary national news source for Natives, American Indians, and Tribes in the U.S. and Alaska. The ICT Media Network revealed their new online multi-media news platform in January 2011; it is a daily, hourly, or "as news...
, to reflect its national coverage of Indian news and issues.
Giago sold the paper in 1998. Two years later he founded The Lakota Journal, which he sold in 2004 while thinking of retirement. In 2009, he returned to papers and founded the Native Sun News, based in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. He is also a columnist for the Huffington Post. He founded the Native American Journalists Association
Native American Journalists Association
The Native American Journalists Association, based in Norman, Oklahoma on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, is dedicated to supporting Native Americans in journalism, and focuses on improving communications among Native peoples, and between Native Americans and the general public...
(NAJA) and served as its first president. When hired in 1979 to write a column for the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
The Rapid City Journal is the daily newspaper of Rapid City, South Dakota.See also List of newspapers in South Dakota-External links:*...
, Giago was the first Native American writer for a South Dakota newspaper.
Early life and education
Giago, whose Lakota name is Nanwica Kciji, was born in 1934 and grew up at the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Indian ReservationPine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
in South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. He attended the Holy Rosary Indian Mission school. He later wrote poetry and articles about the anger he felt at having his Lakota identity and culture suppressed. He attended San Jose Junior College
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
in California and the University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
.
Career
Giago served with the US Navy at the San Francisco Naval ShipyardSan Francisco Naval Shipyard
The San Francisco Naval Shipyard was a United States Navy shipyard in San Francisco, California, located on of waterfront at Hunters Point in the southeast corner of the city...
, where he started writing because his commander noticed "he typed well" and assigned him to produce the base newspaper. Giago also wrote personal articles and poems about his mission school
Mission School
The Mission School is an art movement of the 1990s and 2000s, centered in the Mission District of San Francisco, California.-History and characteristics:...
experience, first published in the monthly journal Wassaja, run by Jeannette and Rubert Costo of San Francisco during the 1970s.
Jim Carrier, then an editor of the Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
The Rapid City Journal is the daily newspaper of Rapid City, South Dakota.See also List of newspapers in South Dakota-External links:*...
, saw his work and offered Giago a column for $10 a week. In 1979, his "Notes from Indian Country" became the first American Indian voice in a South Dakota newspaper. Giago's hiring had followed Wounded Knee incident
Wounded Knee Incident
The Wounded Knee incident began February 27, 1973 when about 200 Oglala Lakota and followers of the American Indian Movement seized and occupied the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation...
in 1973 at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Sioux Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Originally included within the territory of the Great Sioux Reservation, Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota on the Nebraska border...
, which received international attention, and near civil war on the reservation during the next few years, but, as Carrier wrote later, "none of the state's 11 daily newspapers or 145 weeklies covered the mayhem in any depth, relying instead on the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
or printing nothing at all." A year later the paper offered Giago a full-time position and he began to learn the newspaper business. As a young reporter, he was sometimes told that he could not cover events at the Pine Ridge Reservation because he could not be "objective", an opinion which he questioned.
In 1981, Giago moved back to the reservation to begin the Lakota Times as a weekly community newspaper to represent his neighbors' lives. It was the first independently owned Native American newspaper; most papers published on reservations have been owned by tribal governments. In the beginning, he earned revenue by publishing the most complete list of pow-wows nationally and selling related advertising. This gave him needed independence on the reservation. He wrote editorials criticizing US and state policy related to Native Americans, and his columns were soon syndicated by Knight-Ridder. After his criticism of AIM
American Indian Movement
The American Indian Movement is a Native American activist organization in the United States, founded in 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by urban Native Americans. The national AIM agenda focuses on spirituality, leadership, and sovereignty...
's violence on the reservation, his offices were fire-bombed. Despite his criticism of programs, he gradually earned the respect of tribal governments, and gained their support for his independence during difficult years.
Through the years, Giago hired and trained numerous Native Americans, some of whom later moved on to other papers and media to become successful in journalism. He also founded the Native American Journalists Association
Native American Journalists Association
The Native American Journalists Association, based in Norman, Oklahoma on the campus of the University of Oklahoma, is dedicated to supporting Native Americans in journalism, and focuses on improving communications among Native peoples, and between Native Americans and the general public...
and served as its first president. To encourage American Indian participation in the media, the NAJA Foundation provides scholarships and summer internships to journalism students who are Indian. The foundation also holds three major seminars a year for working Indian journalists, publishers and the business side.
Gradually Giago expanded his paper's coverage to all the Indian reservations in South Dakota, then to American Indian issues nationwide. To reflect its national coverage, in 1992 he changed the name of the paper to Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today Media Network is a weekly U.S. newsmagazine that is the primary national news source for Natives, American Indians, and Tribes in the U.S. and Alaska. The ICT Media Network revealed their new online multi-media news platform in January 2011; it is a daily, hourly, or "as news...
. In 1998, Giago sold the paper to the Oneida Nation, based in New York. At the time it was grossing $1.9 million annually in ad sales. As of 2005, it was the largest Native American paper, reaching 50 states and 17 countries.
In 2000, Giago founded The Lakota Times and sold it in 2004 to the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe consists of descendents of the “Mdewakantonwan” people, one of the sub-tribes of the Isanti Dakota originally from central Minnesota....
, thinking he would retire. After the Times stopped publishing, Giago founded the Native Sun News in 2009 in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
, committing to his style of investigative journalism as well as broad coverage of Indian news. It is published on paper only. He also is a columnist for the Huffington Post, an online news source.
Marriage and family
His wife was Doris Giago, who learned with him to publish the Lakota Times. They later divorced. She became the first Indian journalism instructor at South Dakota State UniversitySouth Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
.
Books
- The Aboriginal Sin: Reflections on the Holy Rosary Indian Mission School (Red Cloud Indian School), poetry, San Francisco: Indian Historian Press, 1978. ISBN: 0913436251
- Notes from Indian Country, K. Cochran, 1984. Non-fiction.
- The American Indian and the Media, Minneapolis, MN: National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1991. ISBN: 0963192604
Honors
- The Lakota Times/Indian Country Today won more than 50 awards from the South Dakota Newspaper Association while Giago was publisher;
- 1985, H. L. MenckenH. L. MenckenHenry Louis "H. L." Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture, and a scholar of American English. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the...
Award for journalism ; - 1991, Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Nieman FellowshipNieman FellowshipThe Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
; - University of MissouriUniversity of MissouriThe University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
Distinguished Journalism Award; - 2007, the first American Indian inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame
External links
- "About 'Wassaja' (San Francisco), 1971-1979", Chronicling America, Library of Congress