By Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, January 29, 2015
Attorney, actress, and veteran television host and co-producer of PBS’ “Native Report” Stacey Thunder produces and hosts a new online series, “Indigenous with Stacey Thunder,” which recently premiered on YouTube.
“Indigenous with Stacey Thunder” is an entertainment and educational series that shares contemporary stories about Native peoples in order to educate and entertain viewers, empower Indigenous peoples, and bridge culture gaps. The series seeks to shatter stereotypes and misconceptions, promote positivity, and simply show the world who Indigenous peoples really are.
The series opens in time for Super Bowl weekend with the Washington football team name and mascot issue and protest that occurred in Minneapolis, MN last fall. Following episodes include Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills, who just celebrated his 50th anniversary of winning his gold medal, the N7 Fund and Sport Summit at Nike World Headquarters, singer/songwriter and producer Crystal Shawanda, and professional pole vaulter Merritt Van Meter.
The series is hosted and produced by Stacey Thunder (Red Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe). Thunder is an attorney, producer, actress, and television host serving Indian Country for over 17 years. She is the host and co-producer of the on-going PBS weekly news magazine series, Native Report, hosting 145 episodes since the show’s inception in 2004. She serves as the legislative counsel for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, and is a board member of the N7 Fund at Nike World Headquarters that provides grant money to Native communities that support sports and physical activity programs for the youth. As an actress, Thunder has appeared in several films and television shows, including the lead role of “Elsie” in the independent feature-length film, The Jingle Dress, of which she received a Best Actress nomination from the American Indian Film Festival, The Promised Land by Poltergeist screenwriter Michael Grais, Crash on Starz, Cold Feet, and Magic Wands.
“I’ve been on television for over a decade sharing positive stories from Native Country, and I’d like to continue to do that for a long time,” said Thunder. “I’m deeply committed to sharing our stories in a positive and entertaining way, and to make sure we continue to have a voice. For too long our people have been treated unfairly and negatively portrayed, and I’d love to help change that.”
The series is a project Thunder has been developing for several years, and last October, due to the support of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, production finally commenced.
“The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community believed in my project and has graciously funded the first phase of the series,” said Thunder. “They are the ones who have made this dream of mine a reality, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.”
Click here to view the pilot episode on YouTube.
Future episodes will appear on Thunder’s YouTube Channel.
For more information and updates on upcoming segments, follow Stacey Thunder on Facebook and Twitter.