Indigenous Editors Association

The Indigenous Editors Association is a membership association formed as a mutual support network by Indigenous people who work with stories in lands claimed by Canada. Our members include Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who support and have an interest in furthering our mandate and our mission, vision, and values. We are committed to upholding our Guiding Principles. The purposes of the IEA are to:

• strengthen relationships among Indigenous editors, storytellers, and publishing professionals;
• create opportunities for training and professional development for Indigenous editors;
• promote Indigenous editors in the publishing industry; and
• create educational opportunities for the mainstream publishing industry to learn about working with Indigenous stories.

Our mission is to promote recognition of, and employment access and equity for, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples who work with stories, including editors, writers, Knowledge Keepers, Elders, language experts, and those with other specialized skills. We help ensure that publishing projects by, for, and about Indigenous people are Indigenous-led, follow appropriate protocols, and respect Indigenous knowledge systems and Intellectual Property rights.

Our vision is of a world where Indigenous knowledge is fully valued. Indigenous stories and knowledge systems must be approached with Indigenous community-focused editing practices, employed with care by Indigenous editors.

Indigenous Peoples and cultures are diverse, and we as individuals bring diverse experiences and values to our work. Our communities remain at the centre of the work we do, and our shared values include respect and responsibility; transparency and accountability; representation and inclusion; and accessibility for our Elders, youth, and all our relations.