If someone were to ask me why I have a Facebook account, I would likely reply that keeping in contact with family is the number one reason. My aunties, cousins, sisters, and second cousins all use Facebook as a way to keep in touch, share photographs and maintain a level of connection that would not be possible.
Many Indigenous rights issues are finding a platform on social media channels. Garnering support by self-publishing and sharing via social networks is one way that awareness of Indigenous rights is being fostered.
Duncan McCue and Candis Callison, both faculty members with the UBC School of Journalism, describe how social media is transforming Aboriginal politics and activism: Twitter and Facebook allow for Aboriginal people and groups to “subvert mainstream media” (Mccue) and provide a platform and potential for “media democracy” (Callison) (quotes from CBC podcast Spark). Both McCue and Callison provide examples of political discussions and activism on Facebook and Twitter: Aboriginal community discussions and decisions brought in the open so band members living off-reserve can participate and larger organizations like the Union of BC Indian Chiefs organizing themselves to take action.