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Become a Member

We invite Indigenous people who work with stories to become a member of the Indigenous Editors Association! Benefits include access to our Jobs Newsletter and the right to vote in Association business, free access to IEA webinars, as well as the ability to take part in future programming (for example, a forthcoming Members’ Directory).

Becoming a member is a three-step process. Please read all of the information on this page before applying. We will try to review your application as soon as possible, but please allow our volunteers up to 2 to 4 weeks to respond. If you require assistance or clarification with any of these steps, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Step 1: Application

To apply, scroll down to the Application Form and choose whether you’d like to fill out the application form online or download it. At this stage, we ask you for minimal information. If your initial application is approved, you’ll move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Application Review

Once we receive your application, we will review the information you’ve provided. Please allow our our volunteers between two to four weeks to evaluate and respond to your application. 

Step 3: Fee Payment

If your application is successful, you will receive an email letting you know that your application has been approved pending payment of the membership fee. The email will contain a link to the fee payment form on our website. The annual fee is $10 (Canadian) plus applicable taxes and fees. If this fee is a barrier, please contact us.

Application Form

If you would rather print this form and mail it to us, click the button below to download the application as a Microsoft Word document.

Download application

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES
At the 2015 Indigenous Editors Circle, participants developed draft guiding principles for working with Indigenous authors and editors in Canada.

1. Respectful representation of Indigenous Peoples in published books is a right protected by Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1982, and by Article 31 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

2. Literatures by Indigenous authors and about Indigenous Peoples ought to be edited by Indigenous editors.

3. Ethical principles about Indigenous cultural heritage ownership ought to supersede copyright laws.

4. Indigenous communities have collective ownership over their Traditional Knowledge.

5. The publication of a book is all about clearly defined, transparent, respectful relationships.

6. Indigenous authors are not necessarily bound by the conventions of established literary genres.

7. It is the responsibility of the editor and therefore the publisher to mentor emerging Indigenous writers where possible.

8. Ceremony is a potential resource for building collaborative relationships built on sacred trust.

9. Vetting, reviewing, and consultation regarding Indigenous content needs to be by an Indigenous person.

10. Publishing houses need to take an interest in, and safeguard and support, the cultural integrity of Indigenous editors.

11. [As of Spring 2020, we plan to revise the following principle to reflect our capacity:] Any textbook containing Indigenous content currently used in a Canadian school must be approved by the Indigenous Editors Association.

12. Teams of reviewers and vetters must include culturally competent members.

The Indigenous Editors Circle recommends setting aside a specific portion of public funding for writers to support Indigenous writers.

The Indigenous Editors Circle envisions Canadian publishers that will:

1. respond responsibly to feedback about publications that are offensive to Indigenous readers;
2. undergo Indigenous cultural sensitivity training;
3. recruit and retain Indigenous editors to publish and develop Indigenous authors;
4. provide career guidance to new Indigenous authors, mindful of the potential responsibilities of authors to provide public readings in home communities that might be far away; and
5. respect the localities and diversities of place, language, sexual orientation, and multiple genders.

Personal Information

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Note: emails collected will be subscribed to our newsletter and used to contact you with membership-related information.
Please check all that apply.
Please add a short biography (max 750 words). This will be used to help us assess your application. While we will try not to ask you for the same information twice, you may be asked to provide a bio or other information again in future when we complete our Members Directory - stay tuned.

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