The authors believe Indigenous Studies journals should have two particular criteria. First, they should not just occasionally publish an article on an Indigenous topic, but rather should consistently publish articles on Indigenous issues and promote the academic discipline of Indigenous Studies. Second, the governance structure of the journals, including but not limited to, the Editors, Editorial Boards and advisory Boards, should have significant involvement from Indigenous peoples, organisations and communities. In this paper, the authors discuss the importance of Indigenous Studies journals within the discipline of Indigenous Studies. First, they look at an example of an Indigenous Studies journal, the Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues, and review the development of this journal over its eleven year history. Both authors have substantial connections with this journal. Andrew Gunstone is the creator and Foundation Editor of the journal and has edited the journal since its inception in 1998. Dennis Foley has been on the journal's Indigenous Editorial Board since 2004 and has contributed several articles to the journal over many years. Second, the authors discuss the broader issue of the important and substantive role that Indigenous Studies journals can play in the development and facilitation of the discipline of Indigenous Studies. In particular, they examine some of the issues confronting Indigenous Studies and how the journals can address these issues, through facilitating the development and publication of scholarship concerning Indigenous Studies from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars, developing and negotiating collaborative teaching and research partnerships between university academics and Indigenous peoples, communities and organisations, encouraging Indigenous scholarship and contributing to Indigenous Knowledge.