It is an incredible time for Native Representation and it’s only getting better. In December of 2021, Karissa Valencia and executive producer Chris Nee announced the creation of “Spirit Rangers,” an animated series for children that would stream on Netflix. It’s been a long wait, but on September 7, 2022, Netflix announced the premiere and cast of the much-anticipated animated show. As an added bonus, they also released new photos to give us a sneak peek of what’s in store when the show premieres. Here’s everything you need to know about Netflix’s Spirit Rangers.
Spirit Rangers is a historic first for NDN Country. It is the first kid’s show in U.S. to be created by a Native American woman and featuring an all-Native writer’s room with Native talent working in every department of the production. It is only fitting that Netflix announced that Spirit Rangers, a show bursting with Indigenous excellence, will be premiering on October 10, 2022, which also marks the 2022 Indigenous People’s Day!
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Spirit Rangers will air on Indigenous People’s Day. The holiday has been dedicated the traumatic past of Columbus, but Spirit Rangers is a reminder that the future for Indigenous people is bright. This is a show that celebrates modern Native families, our youth, stories and land!” – Karissa Valencia, Spirit Rangers Creator / Showrunner / Santa Ynez Chumash
Spirit Rangers, inspired by Native American folklore and the picturesque vistas of American national parks, follows Kodi, Summer, and Eddy Skycedar, Chumash/Cowlitz siblings who share a secret. The Skycedar children are Spirit Rangers who help safeguard the land and spirits of the national park in California where they live.
From helping the lost thunderbird to rousing the sleeping sun, every dilemma is approached by the Skycedar youngsters as grizzly bears, red-tailed hawks, and spunky turtles with courage and compassion.
This fantasy-adventure preschool series, created by Karissa Valencia, a California Native American creator and the first Native American showrunner, celebrates community, nature, and Native American history.