November is National Indigenous People’s Heritage Month. There are countless Native Americans and Indigenous peoples working in the world of public relations- many of whom serve to campaign for environmental rights, as advocates for Native peoples, and much more. Here are three names in particular who are at the forefront of the world of public relations.
- Candace Hamana
Candace Hamana, founder of The Indigenous Peoples Public Relations Association, dedicates her work to positively impacting the Indigenous community through ethical PR and communications. Hamana explains that IPPRA “will provide workshops and add that cultural context that’s missing from the larger conversation of PR communication professionals.”Hamana is also the owner and CEO of Badger PR, an indigenous and woman-owned business that is operated on ancestral land. Founded in 2018, Badger PR works to create strong relationships and authentic messaging toward Native American and Urban Indigenous communities.
2. Kathy Baird
As a 2017 ColorComm Circle Award recipient and 2018 Washington Women in PR nominee, Kathy Baird, Chief Communications Officer at The Washington Post, has influenced the public relations field with awareness and creativity. After earning her master’s in business administration at Georgetown University, Baird worked her way into the position of Senior Director of Global Purpose Communications at Nike, as well as Co-Chair of Nike’s Native American Network. Brand awareness and representation during Native American Heritage Month remain in place from Baird’s time at Nike. Baird also serves on the Advisory Board of IllumiNative, a Native women-led organization that works to increase awareness and accurate portrayal of Native American communities. As a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Baird is a positive figure in the public relations field as she has shown success and expertise, and brings her roots and passion into her work – where stories and communities can be heard.
3. Ricki McCaroll
Ricki McCaroll, the founder and CEO of NUNA Consulting Group, LLC, has made a profound impact on public relations within the Indigenous community. NUNA Consulting is a dynamic, woman-owned small business with its roots in Los Angeles, California. Led by a dedicated team of women, the company underscores its commitment to fostering female leadership. Their extensive range of expertise encompasses media relations and pitching, crafting important messages, coalition building, and much more. NUNA’s core mission is to excel in public affairs and communications strategy, prioritizing serving Indigenous communities. To achieve this goal, they actively recruit American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous communicators to provide strategic aid to these communities. McCaroll, who previously served as the Director of Member Services & External Affairs and Chief of Staff at the Native American Contractors Association (NACA), brings a wealth of experience to the table. Her career spans years of creating effective communication strategies for clients at local, national, and global levels.
As we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month, it is important to acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous professionals in the field of public relations. Along with many others, these three professionals are at the forefront of Indigenous public relations, contributing their viewpoints and passion for supporting Indigenous voices and concerns in the field. Let’s continue to honor and support the work of Indigenous people as we commemorate National Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month.