Mathew Holding Eagle III: Finding a Voice for Radio & Covering Native Communities

Native Lights: Where Indigenous Voices Shine

On today’s episode, Leah and Cole speak with Mathew Holding Eagle III, a citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation – federally recognized as the Three Affiliated Tribes – in western North Dakota.

Mathew started his career in construction before pivoting to journalism! He now works at MPR News as a reporter. He’s covered Native communities in Minnesota for quite a bit and recently received a National Native Award from the Indigenous Journalist Association for his reporting.

He speaks with us about how he found his way to doing what he does, the philosophy behind his journalistic endeavors, and much more.

Mathew received his bachelor’s in mass communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead and he worked as a producer on the 2015 PBS documentary “Black Gold Boom,” about the oil boom in western North Dakota.