Indigenous Author, Journalist | Survivor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis
Book this speaker: Brandi Morin
About This Speaker: Brandi Morin
Brandi Morinis an acclaimed Cree/Iroquois/French journalist from Treaty 6 territory in Alberta, Canada, who has dedicated over a decade to amplifying Indigenous voices and shedding light on crucial stories that have catalyzed change and reconciliation in Canada. Known for her clear-eyed and empathetic reporting on Indigenous oppression in North America, Brandi brings a unique perspective to her work. As a survivor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis, she uses her personal experience to tell the stories of those who did not survive the rampant violence.
Her impactful journalism has graced the pages and screens of prestigious media outlets, including National Geographic, The BBC, Al Jazeera English, the Guardian, VICE, Rolling Stone Magazine, the Toronto Star, the New York Times, and CBC Indigenous, among others. Brandi’s exceptional reporting has earned her numerous accolades throughout her career.
In April 2019, Brandi won a Human Rights Reporting award from the Canadian Association of Journalists for her work on CBC’s Beyond 94 project. Her achievements continued into July 2022, when she claimed first place in the Print/Online Best Feature Story category at the National Native American Journalism Awards for her Al Jazeera English piece ‘Canada’s crying shame’: The fields full of children’s bones’. The same year, she also won Best Column for her work with the Toronto Star.
Brandi’s series on the genocide of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls for Al Jazeera English won a top prize in the Feature Reporting category at the 2022 Edward Murrow Awards, competing against media giants like The New York Times and CNN International. This prestigious recognition further cemented her status as a leading voice in Indigenous journalism.
September 2023 brought two significant honors: PEN Canada awarded Brandi the annual Ken Filkow Prize for advancing freedom of expression in Canada, while Amnesty International Canada presented her with the 2022/23 Media Award in the Local News/Alternative category. The latter recognized her story on the Wet’suwet’en People’s fight against pipeline construction, highlighting her commitment to covering critical environmental and Indigenous rights issues.
Brandi’s impact extends beyond print journalism. In April 2024, she and co-director Geordie Day were honored with a Sidney Hillman award for their documentary “Killer Water,” which exposed the toxic effects of Alberta’s oil sands industry on Indigenous communities. Her dedication to environmental reporting was further recognized in June 2024 when she won the Canadian Association of Journalists Environmental and Climate Change award for her feature ‘On the ground with Indigenous communities covering a climate inferno.’
The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) selected Brandi as the 2024 Tim Giago Free Press Award recipient, acknowledging her unwavering commitment to upholding press freedom within Indigenous communities. This award underscores her role not just as a journalist, but as a defender of free speech and transparency.
Brandi’s debut memoir, “Our Voice of Fire: A Memoir of a Warrior Rising,” became a national bestseller shortly after its August 2022 release. The book’s impact was recognized at the 2023 Alberta Literary Awards, where it received both the Memoir of the Year and the Wilfrid Eggleston prizes.
Her commitment to truth-telling has not been without challenges. In January 2024, Brandi was arrested and charged with obstruction while reporting on an Edmonton City Police raid of an Indigenous homeless encampment. The incident sparked outcry from national and international press organizations, leading to the charges being dropped a month later. This experience only reinforced Brandi’s determination to shed light on issues affecting Indigenous communities.
Throughout her career, Brandi Morin’s fearless reporting and unwavering advocacy for human rights have solidified her reputation as a formidable force in journalism. Her powerful storytelling continues to amplify Indigenous voices, expose systemic inequalities, and compel audiences to confront the urgent realities facing Indigenous communities across North America.
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