fbpx
facebook app symbol  twitter  linkedin  instagram 1
 

For the second year, Native writers will receive grants and professional opportunities through the Native American Writers Accelerator Grant as part of the effort to increase Native representation in media. Each of the writers chosen will receive $10,000 and professional support to help the writers develop their skills, and pitch their projects. 

Each of these grantees also participated in the 7th Annual Native American TV Writers Lab, an eight-week TV script writers workshop that is sponsored by Netflix, Amazon Studios, Kung Fu Monkey Productions, Cherokee Nation Film Office and Snowpants Productions.

“This initiative is an incredible opportunity that gives Native American writers the ability to develop their work, strategize their careers and, most importantly, to write new material,” Ian Skorodin, Director of Strategy for the Native American Media Alliance, said in a statement. “Our first cohort of grantees found staffing positions, produced films and took the necessary next steps in their writing journey.”

Never miss Indian Country’s biggest stories and breaking news. Sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. 

The Native American Accelerator Grant is part of a larger collaboration with Netflix. This grant is part of the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity which is an initiative to address representation disparities–Natives represent the largest disparity in all spheres of entertainment. Through this, Netflix is investing $100 million over the next four years in organizations whose goal is to close this representation gap and set up underrepresented communities for success in the entertainment industry. 

Recipients of the Native American Writer Accelerator Grant:

Jamie Brunton (Colville/Spokane)

Kristen Calderon (Acjachemen/Kumeyaay)

Jena Carter (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)

Benjamin Flores (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa)

Charine Pilar Gonzales (San Ildefonso Pueblo)

Kelli Jones (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma)

Cole Randall (Muscogee Creek)

Justin Reed (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation)

Sabrina Saleha (Navajo)

Eagle Smith (Tsimshian)

Kaili Y Turner (Nipmuc)

Meilani Wenska (Native Hawaiian)

More Stories Like This

Sundance 2025 Short Film Lineup Unveiled: Indigenous Stories Shine Among 57 Global Selections
SWAIA Announces Dates for 2025 Native Fashion Week
Sundance 2025 Lineup Highlights Powerful Indigenous Stories, Including ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ and ‘El Norte'
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Appears on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show"
National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition Receives $150,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?

Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.

Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.

Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today. 

Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.

No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.

About The Author
Neely Bardwell
Author: Neely BardwellEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indian) is a staff reporter for Native News Online. Bardwell is also a student at Michigan State University where she is majoring in policy and minoring in Native American studies.