Kamiah’s Story

Kamiah Koch is a social media digital journalist for Smoke Signals, the independent tribal newspaper of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. As a tribal member herself, Kamiah approaches her work with a unique perspective, striving to ensure that the stories she shares about her community are told with accuracy and respect. Her role involves creating video stories and podcasts, managing the newspaper’s social media presence, and covering events both on and off the tribal campus. She takes pride in the responsibility of documenting tribal life, knowing that her work helps preserve the history and culture of her people for future generations.

Kamiah’s career journey began at Western Washington University, where she earned a double major in communications and public relations. Although she initially aimed for a career in public relations, her experience working at the university’s newspaper sparked a passion for journalism. After graduation, Kamiah joined Smoke Signals in 2019 and has since developed her skills in video production and storytelling. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to her community, not only as a journalist but also as a custodian of cultural heritage, ensuring that the voices and traditions of the Grand Ronde Tribe are preserved and celebrated.