Walking Eagle News
 | |
| Type | Satirical news website |
|---|---|
| Website | https://walkingeaglenews.com/ |
Walking Eagle News is an online news satire website which parodies news coverage of Indigenous peoples, politics and Canadian media.[1] The site was founded by Anishinaabe former journalist Tim Fontaine in November 2017,[2] after leaving a nearly two-decade career in journalism.[3] Fontaine serves as the online publication's "Editor-in-Grand-Chief"[4] and primary writer.
Articles on the site cover current events, both real and fictional, satirizing the tone and format of traditional Canadian news organizations.[5] Stories include "'How are my Indians?' Queen asks Trudeau",[6] "White man injured by use of word genocide",[7] "After major Trans Mountain setback, furious Trudeau threatens First Nations with 'fiery reconciliation'",[8] and "First Nations man wakes up white after Indian Status card expires".[9]
In a December 2018 appearance on the CBC News program The Investigators, Fontaine told host Diana Swain that the articles are written using the same format as the ones he would have written as a real journalist, which is why many of them are believed by unsuspecting readers.[5]
Fontaine has said in interviews that besides himself, only one friend who chooses to remain anonymous has written articles for Walking Eagle News[10] and that the site does not accept submissions,[11] though it has received many queries from the public. According to Fontaine, the site's name means "a bird so full of crap that it can't fly", and comes from the punchline of an old joke.[12]
References
- ^ Daubs, Katie (January 10, 2020). "The man behind the satirical Walking Eagle News finally says the things he never could as a journalist". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ De Souza, Mike (November 7, 2018). "A 'recovering journalist' explains what drove him to launch the satirical Walking Eagle News". National Observer. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ Cecco, Leyland (2021-08-25). "Canada turns to satirical Indigenous website to interpret grim news". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-08-25.
- ^ "Tim Fontaine: Creative mind behind the Walking Eagle". APTN National News. December 5, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Swain, Diana (December 1, 2018). "'Am I actually helping?' founder of satirical website on Indigenous topics wonders". CBC The Investigators. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
- ^ "'How are my Indians?' Queen asks Trudeau". Walking Eagle News. April 18, 2018.
- ^ "White man injured by use of word genocide". Walking Eagle News. June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "After major Trans Mountain setback, furious Trudeau threatens First Nations with 'fiery reconciliation'". Walking Eagle News. August 30, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "First Nations man wakes up white after Indian Status card expires". Walking Eagle News. December 4, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "#HomiesChatting with Tim Fontaine founder of Walking Eagle News!". Facebook. May 22, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "Walking Eagle News, About". Walking Eagle News. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ "Walking Eagle News: Satirical news with an Indigenous twist". CBC Unreserved. December 7, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2020.