ABOUT
An Alaska Native Tlingit tribal member, Kate Nelson is an award-winning independent journalist based in Minneapolis who focuses on amplifying important Indigenous change makers and issues. Her writing has appeared in top publications including The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, the BBC, The Guardian, Vanity Fair, ELLE, Esquire, Teen Vogue, HuffPost, W Magazine, AFAR, Architectural Digest, Condé Nast Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, the Cut, The Daily Beast, Bustle, Saveur, Andscape, Atmos, Civil Eats, and more. She is the coauthor of the 2025 book Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, alongside celebrated Owamni chef Sean Sherman, as well as the editor of the 2026 book Rock Art: An American Story, alongside renowned photographer Stephen Alvarez of the Ancient Art Archive. Kate is also the cofounder of Parallel, a purpose-driven film production company dedicated to uplifting underrepresented voices with an aim to create cross-cultural empathy among audiences.
A proven leader and visionary in consumer publishing with 18+ years of experience, Kate is the former editor-in-chief of Artful Living, a quarterly boutique lifestyle magazine known for its compelling original content and beautiful design. During her tenure there, she was one of few Native American chief magazine editors across the country and one of the youngest female chief editors in the Twin Cities market. In 2024, she stepped down from that role to fully dedicate herself to covering Indigenous topics, which she believes is her life’s work.
Kate has interviewed such luminaries as Padma Lakshmi, Sean Sherman, Quannah ChasingHorse, Sterlin Harjo, Mo Brings Plenty, and more. She is a two-time James Beard Foundation Media Award nominee, a member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, and a founding partner of the Indigenous International Fashion Council. A lifelong storyteller, Kate is also an avid equestrian and a pop culture aficionado.
AWARDS + ACCOLADES
