The Inuvik Drum, a newspaper based in Inuvik, Canada, has closed due to financial difficulties, citing a decline in advertising revenue.

The closure follows the recent shutdown of Indian Time, a First Nations newspaper in Akwesasne, Canada, which had been in operation for more than 40 years.

Indian Time editor and a Bear Clan member of the Mohawk of Akwesasne, Majorie Skidders said the publication, which launched in 1983, struggled to compete with online media in recent years.

"Now there's a vacuum," she said.

"There's no media for this community, and there's no media for any Native community that has lost their newspaper."

Ms Skidders said the loss of Indigenous news outlets comes at a critical time, particularly in Akwesasne, which straddles the Canada-U.S. border.

Concerns are growing over developments in the United States, including recent anti-immigration roundups targeting members of the Navajo Nation.

Other Indigenous media outlets are also facing challenges.

Will Nicholls, who runs The Nation, a news magazine serving Cree communities in Quebec, said the Meta news ban has significantly impacted readership on Facebook and Instagram.

"We were just starting to get advertising from Facebook and we were starting to use it in certain ways and expand on it," Mr Nicholls said.

"And all of a sudden, there's no access."

While The Nation receives some government grant funding, Mr Nicholls said support for Indigenous media remains limited.

"Even after 35 years, I'm only making $40,000 a year and we really can't afford to pay me any more than that," he said.

Editor and publisher of The Eastern Door in Kahnawake, Steve Bonspiel, echoed concerns about the financial sustainability of Indigenous publications.

"If we were only doing ad sales and only circulation, we'd be in trouble," Mr Bonspiel said.

Founded in 1992 in the aftermath of the Oka Crisis, The Eastern Door was created to amplify Indigenous voices, which were largely absent in mainstream media at the time.

Mr Bonspiel said while the publication remains stable, rising costs are a concern.

"Our print bill is so high. I'm like, 'there's going to come a time where we're like, do we cut this out? Can we make it work online?'" he said.

Despite financial difficulties, Mr Bonspiel stressed the importance of Indigenous-run media in providing accurate representation of their communities.

"That's the only way you can understand who you're writing about, who you're covering, the stories you're covering, why the trauma exists, why certain people won't look you in the eye, and why others will talk your ear off for an hour without asking one question," he said.

"So all that is, is understanding our communities."