Dive into this streaming guide of some of the best Indigenous TV shows to stream and explore Native representation brought to life through television.
Happy National Native American Heritage Month! To go along with my blog posts Celebrating Indigenous Storytelling: A TBR List of Native Authors for NAHM and Streaming Stories: Explore 15 Films Streaming Now for NAHM, I wanted to create a list of the 10 best Indigenous TV shows to stream right now in celebration of NAHM. These series feature Native, Indigenous, and First Nations storytellers and filmmakers. I tried to include a variety of genres, styles, filmmakers, and streaming platform options, but this list is by no means comprehensive! If you're looking for even more Indigenous stories, CBC Gem and PBS have fantastic resources and great libraries to explore.
Feel free to leave your recommendations for positive representations of Native, Indigenous, and First Nations storytelling in the comments—I'd love to watch them! One of the best and easiest ways to combat stereotyping and encourage positive, effectual change is by supporting authentic storytellers and their art.
Mohawk Girls (2010-2017)
Four twenty-something Indigenous women try to find their place in the world and try to find love, but in a small community where friends have dated everyone on the rez, or the hot new guy turns out to be a cousin, it's not that simple.
Series Creator: Tracey Deer
Starring: Jennifer Pudavick, Heather White, Maika Harper, Allyson Pratt, Brittany LeBorgne, Meegwun Fairbrother, Glen Gould, Kyle Nobess & Jimmy Blais
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Mohawk Girls is a dramedy that offers an intimate and humorous glimpse into the lives of four Mohawk women as they navigate the balance between tradition and the pressures of modern life. The show breaks stereotypes by presenting Indigenous women with depth, authenticity, and relatability. Its engaging storylines and cultural reflections give viewers a unique and valuable perspective on contemporary Indigenous experiences.
Did You Know?
Tracey Deer drew inspiration from her own experiences growing up in a Mohawk community and developed the series based on her 2005 documentary Mohawk Girls.
Molly of Denali (2019-)
An action-adventure comedy that follows the adventures of feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska.
Series Creators: Dorothea Gillim & Kathy Waugh
Starring: Sovereign Bill, Sequoia Janvier, Zane Jasper, Vienna Leacock, Jules Arita Koostachin, Ronnie Dean Harris, Lorne Cardinal, Adeline Potts & Nash Weekusk
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video | PBS | YouTube
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Molly of Denali is a groundbreaking children's series that follows a 10-year-old Alaska Native girl named Molly as she embarks on adventures that highlight Indigenous traditions, community values, and a love of learning. This PBS show is celebrated for accurately representing Alaska Native culture, including language and storytelling, making it educational and entertaining. Molly of Denali offers young audiences an engaging and culturally enriching perspective that is both rare and incredibly valuable in children's programming.
Did You Know?
Molly of Denali is the first American children's television series to feature Alaskan Natives. The show was developed by collaborating with over 60 Alaska Native writers, producers, voice actors, advisors, and musicians. Advisors represent every region of Alaska where the story takes place. Additionally, every Native character in the series is voiced by a Native actor.
Basketball or Nothing (2019)
For a team and an entire community on the Navajo Nation Reservation, the sport of basketball is much more than just a game. It unites a town and is the main source of entertainment in a remote part of northeast Arizona. It acts as a medicine for an area that's plagued by high alcohol, drug, and suicide rates. Basketball provides an outlet for teenagers battling hardships at home and offers an opportunity for players to leave the "Rez" and help their families. In Chinle, Arizona, it's basketball or nothing.
Series Creators: Todd Donnelly, Joseph Witthohn & Notah Begay III
Featuring: Raul Mendoza, Josiah Tsosie & Beau Natay
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Basketball or Nothing offers an inspiring look into the lives of the Chinle High School basketball team within the Navajo Nation as they pursue victory in Arizona's state championships. This Netflix docuseries highlights the resilience, community pride, and cultural significance of basketball in the Navajo community by addressing the challenges the team faces both on and off the court. Basketball or Nothing brings audiences closer to the realities of these young Indigenous athletes' everyday triumphs and struggles, emphasizing themes of perseverance and cultural identity.
Did You Know?
Executive producer Notah Begay III is one of the few Native American golfers to have played on the PGA Tour. Begay is from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is an enrolled member of the Navajo, San Felipe, and Isleta communities.
Trickster (2020)
Described as a "darkly humorous coming-of-age story," The Trickster is a supernatural thriller that follows Jared, an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water. When he starts seeing strange things—talking ravens, doppelgängers, skin monsters—his already chaotic life is turned upside down.
Series Creators: Tony Elliott & Michelle Latimer
Starring: Joel Oulette, Crystle Lightning, Craig Lauzon & Anna Lambe
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video | AMC+ | YouTube
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Indigenous teen Jared is swept up in this supernatural thriller as he uncovers dark family secrets and confronts mystical forces rooted in Indigenous folklore. Trickster weaves gritty realism with mythological elements, offering a fresh take on Indigenous storytelling in the horror genre. Ultimately, Trickster is the perfect choice for fans of the supernatural and mysterious while also providing a compelling, culturally rich narrative that explores identity, family, and survival.
Did You Know?
Trickster is an adaptation of Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations author Eden Robinson's 2017 novel Son of a Trickster.
Rutherford Falls (2021-2022)
A small town in the Northeast is turned upside down when local legend and town namesake Nathan Rutherford fights the moving of a historical statue. A comedic exploration of two friends at odds over the legacy of their small town's history, touching on identity, community, and change.
Series Creators: Ed Helms, Michael Schur & Sierra Teller Ornelas
Starring: Ed Helms, Jana Schmieding, Michael Greyeyes, Jesse Leigh & Dustin Milligan
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video | Peacock | YouTube
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Rutherford Falls is a biting comedy that tackles issues of identity, history, and cultural heritage through the lens of two friends with differing views on their town's legacy. Co-created by Sierra Teller Ornelas, one of the first Native American showrunners in television, the series featured an inclusive Indigenous writers' room and a diverse cast, with standout performances by Jana Schmieding and Michael Greyeyes. Despite its short run, Rutherford Falls highlights a groundbreaking moment in television, where Indigenous stories and humor shine in a mainstream, nuanced portrayal of contemporary Native life.
Did You Know?
Jana Schmieding, who portrays Reagan Wells on the show, is a Cheyenne River Lakota comedian and writer advocating for Indigenous representation in Hollywood.
Reservation Dogs (2021-2023)
Following the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob, and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious, and faraway land of California. To succeed, they will have to save enough money, outmaneuver the methheads at the junkyard on the edge of town, and survive a turf war against a much tougher rival gang. This first-of-its-kind creative team tells a story that resonates with them and their lived experiences—and invites audiences into a surprisingly familiar and funny world.
Series Creators: Sterlin Harjo & Taika Waititi
Starring: Devery Jacobs, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Lane Factor & Paulina Alexis
Where to Watch: Hulu
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
"Reservation Dogs" is a revolutionary dramedy that follows four Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma as they navigate loss, friendship, and dreams of leaving their reservation for a better life. The series has been lauded for its authentic storytelling, featuring an all-Indigenous writers' room, cast, and crew, making it a first of its kind. "Reservation Dogs" offers audiences an honest and meaningful exploration of Indigenous youth culture, balancing humor and genuine insights that defy stereotypical representation in television.
Did You Know?
In the pilot, a poster for Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs can be seen on Bear's bedroom wall.
Spirit Rangers (2022-2024)
Chumash and Cowlitz sibling trio Kodiak, Summer, and Eddy Skycedar share a secret: they're Spirit Rangers! The Skycedars have the power to teleport into a magical spirit dimension in their Californian national park, and while in the spirit realm, Kodi can transform into a grizzly bear cub or stingray, Summer into a red-tailed hawk or an octopus, and Eddy into a turtle or orca. Spirit Rangers protect every crook, cranny, and critter in the national park.
Series Creator: Karissa Valencia
Starring: Wačíŋyeya Iwáš'aka Yracheta, Isis Celilo Rogers, Talon Proc Alford, Kimberly Norris Guerrero, John Timothy, Shaun Taylor-Corbett & Cree Summer
Where to Watch: Netflix
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Spirit Rangers is an animated children's series that follows three Native American siblings with the unique ability to protect their national park home by transforming into animal spirits. This show celebrates Indigenous culture, with stories rooted in Native traditions and voiced by Indigenous actors. Spirit Rangers introduces young viewers to themes of environmental stewardship, respect for nature, and cultural pride, all through fun, engaging adventures that emphasize authentic representation.
Did You Know?
This series is the first animated Netflix show created by a Native American showrunner, Karissa Valencia, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of the Chumash Nation. Production of the series featured a writer's room that was staffed entirely by Indigenous writers, and Valencia consulted with Chumash and Cowlitz tribes regarding content.
Dark Winds (2022-)
Based on the Leaphorn & Chee novel series by Tony Hillerman and set in the 1970s, Dark Winds follows the FBI investigation of a bank robbery in Gallup, N.M., and the Navajo Tribal inquiry into the local murder of two Native residents. Lt. Joe Leaphorn, his new deputy Jim Chee, and Sgt. Bernadette Manuelito does the heavy lifting around the reservation near Monument Valley. The strange behaviors of some of the residents and the newcomers intertwine with their personal stories as the two men battle the forces of evil and their own personal demons on the path to salvation.
Series Creator: Graham Roland
Starring: Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten, Deanna Allison, Rainn Wilson, Elva Guerra, Jeremiah Bitsui, Eugene Brave Rock, Noah Emmerich & Nicholas Logan
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video | Netflix | Sling | YouTube
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
Dark Winds is an engaging crime thriller that follows Navajo police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as they investigate intricate cases intertwined with Navajo beliefs and supernatural elements. The series is notable for its cast and production team, which are predominantly Navajo, offering an authentic and respectful representation of Navajo culture and spirituality. Dark Winds skillfully mixes Indigenous spirituality with crime-solving, creating a unique combination of mystery and cultural insight. With Navajo police officers at the heart of the story, the series highlights the representation of Indigenous law enforcement and is sure to resonate with fans of crime thrillers.
Did You Know?
Based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels, Dark Winds is produced by Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin.
Little Bird (2023)
In 1968, five-year-old Bezhig Little Bird was forcibly removed from Long Pine Reserve and adopted into a Jewish family in Montreal and renamed Esther Rosenblum. Eighteen years later, she embarks on a journey to unravel her history. Through this epic journey of connection and self-discovery, Bezhig Little Bird begins to find her lost family and restore the pieces of her fragmented past.
Series Creators: Catherine Bainbridge, Hannah Moscovitch & Jennifer Podemski
Starring: Darla Contois, Ellyn Jade, Osawa Muskwa, Joshua Odjick, Imajyn Cardinal, Mathew Strongeagle, Eric Schweig, Lisa Edelstein, Braeden Clarke & Michelle Thrush
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video | PBS | YouTube
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
"Little Bird" is a powerful drama that follows an Indigenous woman on her journey to reconnect with her roots after being separated from her family during the Sixties Scoop—a dark chapter in Canadian history when Indigenous children were removed from their homes. Created by Catherine Bainbridge, Hannah Moscovitch, and Jennifer Podemski, the series sensitively explores themes of identity, resilience, and family, illuminating the lasting impacts of forced assimilation. "Little Bird" provides a profoundly moving perspective on Indigenous resilience and highlights the importance of reclaiming one's heritage.
Did You Know?
The "Sixties Scoop" refers to a period in Canada during which policies were implemented that allowed child welfare authorities to forcibly remove Indigenous children from their families and communities. These children were placed into foster care, with many being adopted by white families. From the mid-1950s until the 1980s, it is estimated that around 20,000 Indigenous children were taken from their families and placed primarily with white middle-class families.
Echo (2024)
Five months after the events of Marvel's Hawkeye (2021), Maya Lopez is being pursued by Wilson Fisk's criminal empire, leading her to return to her hometown in Oklahoma, where she must come to terms with her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community.
Series Creator: Marion Dayre
Starring: Alaqua Cox, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Charlie Cox, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning, Graham Greene, Morningstar Angeline, Dannie McCallum & Vincent D'Onofrio
Where to Watch: Disney+
Why is this TV Show Worth the Watch?
"Echo" is a groundbreaking Marvel series that follows Maya Lopez, a deaf Indigenous superhero, as she confronts her past and seeks justice in her community. The show brings Indigenous representation to the superhero genre with a strong, complex lead played by Alaqua Cox, a Native actress, and member of the Menominee and Mohican nations. "Echo" celebrates Indigenous strength and resilience, making a powerful addition to on-screen representation of Indigenous heroes and stories, and is the perfect fit for action fans.
Did You Know?
Alaqua Cox is the first disabled actress to play a titular leading character in a Marvel Studios production. She was born deaf, just like the character Maya Lopez in the original comics, and has a prosthetic leg.
Thanks for taking the time to read and celebrate Native, Indigenous, and First Nations storytellers and filmmakers. I hope that one (or more!) of the series highlighted in this list piques your interest and makes it onto your watchlist soon.
I firmly believe that having diverse voices in media is important. They help us understand and include different communities, which we desperately need now more than ever. When we share diverse stories, people from various backgrounds can see themselves in the narratives. This validates their experiences and creates a sense of belonging. Supporting different voices also strengthens the industry, giving audiences a broader and more genuine view of the world. Showcasing different cultures and stories helps us work towards a fairer media landscape.
So, don't forget to share your favorite Native, Indigenous, and First Nations filmmakers and their television shows in the comment section below. Let's keep supporting and promoting diversity in cinema together.
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