CHUMASH COMMUNITY MEMBER’S NETFLIX SHOW SET TO PREMIERE OCT. 10
SANTA YNEZ, CA – September 28, 2022 – Chumash Community Member Karissa Valencia’s animated fantasy-adventure preschool series, “Spirit Rangers,” premieres on Netflix on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Oct. 10.
Valencia’s show follows Native American siblings and junior park rangers Kodi, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, and they have a secret — they’re spirit rangers! They can transform into their own super-powered spirit; a grizzly bear cub, red-tailed hawk and a spunky turtle, to help protect the national park they call home. The Skycedar kids take on every challenge — from helping a lost thunderbird to waking a sleepy sun — with courage and compassion.
“When I was home on the reservation going to bear ceremonies, powwows, or working as a camp counselor for Camp Kalawashaq’, I was constantly inspired by my culture,” said Karissa Valencia, creator of Netflix’s “Spirit Rangers.”
Valencia, who split her time growing up on the Santa Ynez Reservation and in San Diego, has spent more than a decade honing her craft. She earned a double major in English and communication studies from the University of San Diego, with the dream of ultimately becoming a screenwriter. She then earned her master’s degree in television, radio and film from Syracuse University in New York. From there she headed back out west for an internship with Nickelodeon as a “nick-tern,” which catapulted her into several big-name projects, including “Dora and Friends,” “Vampirina,” “Doc Stuffins” and “The Chicken Squad.” Now the creator of her own show, she’s on the brink of her Netflix premiere.
“Spirit Rangers is all about modern-day Native kids who celebrate their culture as magic but also use technology while working as park rangers,” Valencia said.
Valencia spent a year writing the pilot script for the show and even collaborated with the tribe’s Culture Department for inspiration and accuracy. Valencia and her team then found an animation partner to bring the show to life. With both a script and an animation studio in hand, they pitched the show to Netflix in January 2020, and the streaming service ordered 40 episodes. From there, it was go-time – the show was made during the pandemic through Zoom calls.
“A dream come true!” Valencia said. “This show is a giant love letter to Indigenous youth, the environment, and as a thank you to my tribe for generously supporting my education and career.”
Valencia is particularly proud of making a show with the approval of the Chumash Elders.
“With the Elders’ support, and in partnership with the Culture Department, we’ve created an authentic modern show that I wish I had growing up,” Valencia said. “You’ll see clapper sticks, hear the beautiful voices of our community Samala singers in the underscore and meet characters inspired by our California wildlife.”
The Santa Ynez Indian Reservation is located in Santa Barbara County and was established and officially recognized by the federal government on December 27, 1901. Today, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians remains the only federally recognized Chumash tribe in the nation. The tribe is a self-governing sovereign nation and follows the laws set forth in its tribal constitution.
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