Growing up, these Indigenous creators didn’t see themselves on kids’ TV. So they made their own [Video]

Yatibaey Evans, an Ahtna Athabascan from Mentasta, Alaska, grew up watching Sesame Street on TV at her grandparents’ house. 

One of its catchy jingles still plays in her mind.  

“Even to this day when I hear some numbers, I’ll sing to myself — ‘One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12,'” Evans told Unreserved’s Rosanna Deerchild. 

For over five decades, Sesame Street has entertained and educated millions of children through its loveable characters like Elmo and Big Bird, teaching valuable lessons on everything from counting to empathy. 

But with Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent decision not to renew its deal for new episodes, its future remains uncertain.

While Evans, like many children, has fond memories of programs like Sesame Street, she rarely, if ever, saw her own culture be reflected in them. 

This realization led her to a career focused on bringing Indigenous stories to children. 

She is the creative producer of the series Molly of Denali…