Third-year Journalism and Native Studies STUdent Anna-Leah Simon is pursuing her goal of sharing Indigenous stories through her internship with NB Media Co-op.

 

“My goal as a journalist is to share Indigenous stories from an Indigenous lens,” said Simon, who is from Elsipogtog First Nation.

 

“Growing up, it seemed like all the news about Elsipogtog was negative, which created distrust of the media in the community that persists today. I want to help change that by telling stories that reflect our communities more accurately.”

 

In her role, Simon pitches story ideas to her supervisors, conducts interviews, and writes reports—experiences that have helped her better understand the realities of professional journalism.

 

“Stepping into the role of a reporter has made me appreciate journalism more and better understand the work that goes into the news,” she said.

 

Simon credits her STU education for helping her discover her path.

 

“Through the Bachelor of Arts program, I got to try many different subjects before deciding what feels best,” she said.

 

“Aotiitj changed my life”

 

One of the most impactful stories Simon worked on focused on —an experience that shaped her own path to university.

 

“Working on it meant a lot to me because Aotiitj changed my life,” she said.

 

The Aotiitj program allows Indigenous students in Elsipogtog to begin their university studies in their community. Simon entered STU through the Aotiitj program before continuing her studies on campus.

 

“I always wanted to go to university, but I wasn’t sure how to make it happen. Aotiitj opened the door to university and helped me gain confidence in myself as a learner."

 

“I wanted to share students' experiences to help people understand why it's important.”

 

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Simon's internship was made possible through the Future Wabanaki program and STU’s Office of Experiential Learning and Career Development.