{"id":4449,"date":"2019-07-16T22:06:18","date_gmt":"2019-07-17T06:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/athabascanwoman.com\/?p=4449"},"modified":"2021-01-18T19:29:01","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T04:29:01","slug":"molly-of-denali-has-arrived","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/athabascanwoman.com\/?p=4449","title":{"rendered":"Molly of Denali Has Arrived"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Angela Gonzalez at a Molly of Denali premiere party. Photo by Lena Jacobs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s finally here! A groundbreaking PBS Kids cartoon, Molly of Denali, premiered across the country on July 15. I have been looking forward to the show since I heard about it a couple years ago. Producers, animators, storytellers and funders teamed up with Alaska Native writers and cultural advisors to make Molly come to life.<\/p>\n

With the support of her family and friends, Vera Starbard hosted a Molly of Denali Premiere Party in Anchorage. It was great to hear some insights on episodes she and others wrote.\u00a0From what I\u2019ve heard from friends and colleagues who have worked on the show, much thought has gone into every single detail of the show. It was great to hear kids and adults singing along to the catchy theme song! Vera asked trivia questions for adults and children. It was a fun way to celebrate the huge accomplishment of the show\u2019s debut.<\/p>\n

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Vera Starbard shares trivia about Molly of Denali at a premiere party she hosted. Photo by Angela Gonzalez<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At a time when representation matters more than ever, it was great to hear words in the three cultures represented by Molly (Dena\u2019ina Athabascan\/Gwich\u2019in\/Koyukon Athabascan) in languages of Dena\u2019ina, Dinjii Zhuh K\u2019yaa and Denaakk\u2019e. With repetition, kids across the nation will learn words in these Alaska Native languages. I also love listening to Molly\u2019s voice, because I kept thinking she sounds like my relatives. I also loved seeing the mannerisms and sayings by the characters in the show, like when Aunt Midge said \u2018real good\u2019 just like our Elders.<\/p>\n

It is awesome people of color are represented. One of the reasons I do the Athabascan Woman Blog is to change the narrative by sharing stories and perspectives of Athabascan and Alaska Native people. The writers, creators and producers of Molly of Denali are truly changing the narrative at the very beginning by reaching kids. If my friends and relatives are any indication, the show is reaching kids, adults and Elders. I love all of the details, like multiple family pictures on the walls and the beadwork on the characters’ clothing.<\/p>\n

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Keenan watches Molly of Denali. Photo by Rona Vent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cMy kids just watched the blueberry episode. My son Skyler said, \u2018It’s cool they made a show about Natives.\u2019 My daughter Skarlett and her friend Ava were singing along with the theme song. All three of them went to pick blueberries down the road from my house. They went 3X today. Also my son, Keenan, who\u2019s 3 years old said he likes Molly and asked to watch Molly again. Thank goodness I recorded the series, so he can re-watch it.\u201d<\/em> – Rona Vent (Koyukon Athabascan) of Huslia and Fairbanks<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cMy son is so excited and has been counting the days down daily. He\u2019s so excited that it’s about Alaska.\u201d<\/em> – Dena Sam (I\u00f1upiaq\/Koyukon Athabascan) of Alatna and Fairbanks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Episodes are packed with educational lessons reaching the hearts and minds of people. I watched a couple short episodes and it touched me to the core. I could probably go on all day about the things I love about every aspect of the show, but I want to share perspectives from my friends and relatives. Molly also vlogs during her show \u2013 super cute!<\/p>\n

\u201cMolly of Denali aired today on PBS!!!! A huge shout of thanks and appreciation to those of you who made this possible. Princess, you rock!!! Thanks for bringing this to AK and assembling the team you did.\u201d<\/em> – Sonta Hamilton Roach (Deg Hit\u2019an Athabascan) of Shageluk<\/strong><\/p>\n

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April Henry of Fairbanks shared:
\n<\/strong>\u201cA few months ago, we saw that Peter Pan had been brought out of the Disney vault. We popped some popcorn and bought it and sat down with our kids, eager to share with them a cartoon from our childhood. The movie had barely begun when John Darling reminded the other children, \u2018Indians are cunning, but not intelligent.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Our three-year-old Kai sat between us, eyes glued to the screen. My heart sank. My husband and I looked at each other and steadied ourselves for the tears we knew would erupt when we shut it off. But we knew that much bigger than the tears shed over a cartoon promised and taken away is the pain Indigenous children grow up with and carry into adulthood when they internalize the racism so prominent in depictions of Indigenous people in media. Kai saw children who fly, and a land where kids stay young forever, and fairy dust, and a very clear message – you are not intelligent. You are less than.<\/em><\/p>\n

So when Kai first saw the preview for Molly of Denali, he said, \u2018Hey! I think I know her. I think I\u2019m in there!\u2019 And he was really very excited. But I was moved to tears with gratitude. As an activist in these trying times, the victories are few and far between. But progress of this kind means so much.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the opening scenes\u2026they were going to a tribal hall, and told us that the grandpa had a necklace \u2018like dad\u2019s\u2019. But shortly after that, he simply fell into this quintessential American experience that has been a staple to the majority and fully inaccessible to indigenous children until now – he watched a cartoon he could relate to.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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An episode called, Grandpa\u2019s Drum, tackles our boarding school story. I watched it three times already and cried each time. It\u2019s a story of triumph, speaks to honoring our cultures and traditions, and a healing song is shared. When little is taught about boarding school history in the US, I\u2019m glad it touches on the story in a positive way. I loved the song! When you watch the episodes, they also weave in real people and stories sharing singing, dancing, life in Alaska and making aqutaq, and more. Check out a part of the episode below.<\/p>\n