[1] The site was founded by Anishinaabe former journalist Tim Fontaine in November 2017,[2] after leaving a nearly two-decade career in journalism.

Articles on the site cover current events, both real and fictional, satirizing the tone and format of traditional Canadian news organizations.

Queen asks Trudeau",[6] "White man injured by use of word genocide",[7] "After major Trans Mountain setback, furious Trudeau threatens First Nations with 'fiery reconciliation'",[8] and "First Nations man wakes up white after Indian Status card expires".

[5] Fontaine has said in interviews that besides himself, only one friend who chooses to remain anonymous has written articles for Walking Eagle News[10] and that the site does not accept submissions,[11] though it has received many queries from the public.

According to Fontaine, the site's name means "a bird so full of crap that it can't fly", and comes from the punchline of an old joke.