Representing Indigenous Characters in Kids Shows on PBS

Module 2 – Entry 3 – Tyler Ohashi

Lia Fabre-Dimsdale, a Liidlii Kue Frist Nation member, earned an opportunity that she was very proud to be part of when she landed an internship from Mitacs that had her working on the design team for “Molly and Denali”. “The series features Indigenous lead characters, with Indigenous actors voicing the six main characters, and Indigenous elders consulting behind the scenes (Ryan, 2021).” Having Indigenous media created by Indigenous people gives the series more relatability for Indigenous viewers. I think this is important because it will engage young Indigenous viewers in an authentic way. The way the characters look, their voices, how they interact with each other are all accurately portrayed. Furthermore, seeing a representation of Indigenous people on TV will promote a sense of pride because they see themselves in a positive light.

Here is a link to the Global News story.

https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/eb2f7714-ca51-11eb-901d-0242ac110006/?jwsource=cl

I thought to myself how this is story reflects what we have been learning in this course because it is an example of Indigenous people using technology to promote their ways of life. The fact that “Molly and Denali” is targeted at a younger audience is very powerful because young people are the foundations for change. We must break down the stereotype that Indigenous people have faced for generations. We can start this process by instilling a sense of pride and a sense of belonging by providing young people a quality media production such as “Molly and Denali” where they see Indigenous values being shown in a public space and being received with praise.

References

Indigenous student animator obtains valuable internship with animated TV production: Watch News Videos Online. Global News. (2021, June 10). https://globalnews.ca/video/7940520/indigenous-student-animator-obtains-valuable-internship-with-animated-tv-production.