TULSA, Okla. — Cherokee Nation’s popular docuseries “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People” is now available nationwide to public media stations through The National Educational Telecommunications Association.
“The power of storytelling is ingrained in Cherokee culture, and there’s something truly remarkable and powerful in having the opportunity to tell our own story in a way that connects people to their very core,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “It is wonderful that now people across the United States can join us in experiencing that same overwhelming sense of belonging the show offers while celebrating our history, language, culture and values.”
Since premiering in 2015, the show has vibrantly featured hundreds of Cherokees from both past and present while bringing the language, rich traditions and compelling modern stories of the Cherokee people to viewers everywhere. The first-of-its-kind series, hosted and executive produced by Cherokee Nation citizen, filmmaker and Emmy-winning journalist Jennifer Loren, is breaking barriers and helping change how Native Americans are represented.
The tribe’s cultural television series, and the short documentaries within it, continues to be honored with numerous regional, national and international accolades for its innovative approach to sharing the real-life stories of the Cherokee people. The show, which is often referred to as OsiyoTV, ranks among the most awarded Indigenous-run series in the industry, including 22 Heartland Regional Emmy Awards.
“It is really incredible to see our series become nationally syndicated. OsiyoTV will now be available to hundreds of public TV stations across the U.S., bringing our authentic Cherokee stories into the living rooms of millions of people, many of whom have likely only known inaccurate accounts of Cherokee history and still believe stereotypes passed on by generations of non-Native media and pop culture references,” said Jennifer Loren, senior director of Cherokee Film. “Being on the air regionally for eight seasons, garnering 22 Emmys and now receiving national syndication prove that there is a hunger for new and accurate portrayals of our people and our rich culture and history.”
The television series is now available nationwide to more than 250 PBS member stations and regionally within Tulsa on RSU-TV, as well as on FNX, an all-Native programming network in 25 national markets. The show, which is funded and produced by Cherokee Nation Businesses, is formatted for multiple platforms, including osiyo.tv, YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Twitter and more.
OsiyoTV is a part of Cherokee Film Productions, which tells authentic Cherokee stories on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, its people and its businesses by developing, producing, promoting and distributing a variety of original content in film, television and other media.
The National Educational Telecommunications Association is one of the nation's leading service organizations strengthening and amplifying public media's education mission. It is a 501(c)(3) membership organization providing leadership, support and services to individual public media licensees, their affinity groups and the public media system as a whole.