IJA will host a member Q&A to review amended bylaws on June 30 followed by a candidate forum on July 6.
Board of directors elections will be held online July 8-22 and in person July 22-23 at the Indigenous Media Conference in Portland, Ore. Members will also vote to approve the amended IJA Bylaws (2026) and Amended Certificate of Incorporation (2026).
IJA Elections Committee Chair Angel Ellis said, “One of the most important ways members can contribute to IJA is by exercising their right to vote for their leaders. This year voters will be deciding on more than just the board of directors. We have a ballot question to adopt new bylaws for the organization. Members can attend Q&A webinars to learn more about the candidates and bylaws.”
The IJA Governance and Elections Committee retained Nonprofit Solutions Law to review the Amended Certificate of Incorporation (2026) and amended IJA Bylaws (2026) to ensure compliance with Oklahoma (IJA headquarters) and federal law.
IJA Executive Director Rebecca Landsberry-Baker said the new bylaws reflect more than a decade of work and tremendous progress toward the 2026-2029 strategic goals. “Members voted to change the name in 2023 and now our governance documents can finally reflect our identity as a global association. The board and staff have worked incredibly hard and I’m thrilled to finally bring this to a vote with the understanding that our policies can and should be ever-evolving according to the needs of the organization.”
