King’s will be hosting the inaugural ReFocus Photojournalism Fellowship: Mi’kma’ki in May. The fellowship is designed for five to seven emerging Indigenous photojournalists and led and taught by Indigenous experts and instructors, including King’s Assistant Professor of journalism Trina Roache.
Photojournalism offers a way to tell compelling and powerful stories. If a Mi’kmaw or Indigenous person reading this is creative, has a good eye, knows the basics of handling a camera, they should apply for this fellowship. No journalism background required. It’s just an amazing opportunity to learn, network, and open the door to future possibilities.
Trina Roache
Find out more from this article originally published Feb. 4, 2026 in IndigiNews. It is republished here with permission.
This week, we are announcing the launch of an exciting new annual program—the IndigiNews Refocus Photojournalism Fellowship.
This fellowship will take place between May 17 to 23 at the University of King’s College in Mi’kma’ki (Halifax, NS), as a weeklong, bootcamp-style intensive for five to seven emerging Indigenous photojournalists.
The program was created as a way to support the training and education of new First Nations, Inuit and Métis photojournalists. The fellowship will be offered at no cost to the chosen participants, and entirely led and taught by Indigenous experts, including an all-star panel of instructors.
“Indigenous-led and taught programs are vital to amplifying our voices in the media landscape and advancing Indigenous journalism in Canada,” said Eden Fineday, the publisher of IndigiNews and CEO of tâpwêwin media.
“It is with immense excitement that we’re launching the IndigiNews Refocus Photojournalism Fellowship: Mi’kma’ki, bridging the gap in funded opportunities in education and providing community-led mentorship for the next generation of Indigenous photojournalists.”
Applications are now open to all Indigenous applicants from across “Canada,” with priority given to applicants from the Mi’kmaw and other Wabanaki Nations. Future iterations of the fellowship will be held in other Indigenous territories in the years ahead.
The application period will close on Feb. 28.
Ideal candidates
- Emerging Indigenous photojournalists seeking to deepen their skills and creative voice, with priority given to applicants based in and around Mi’kma’ki.
- Early-career Indigenous photographers who are self-taught, community-based, or working outside of traditional academic or commercial pathways.
- Applicants should be curious, committed to learning, and motivated to explore photography as a tool for journalistic storytelling and community connection.
- A basic working knowledge of a camera is required.
- Prior experience as a journalist or photojournalist is not required—only a genuine interest, curiosity, and motivation to explore that path.
More about the fellowship
- This is an in-person, week-long fellowship at University of King’s College in “Halifax,” followed by six months of online post-fellowship mentoring.
- Fellows will receive a $1,500 stipend, and the program will additionally cover travel, accommodation, and meals for the in-person portion of the fellowship.
- Each fellow will be gifted professional photography equipment tailored to their individual needs.
More information about the fellowship and application process can be found here. We’re excited to see you in May!
