Indigenous House, a streaming service led by Native creators, opens its doors

Indigenous artists looking for popular recognition have long faced an uphill battle, but Indigenous House is looking to level out the playing field. The new content hub is led by Native creators and full of fresh videos across categories like music, cooking, culture, and comedy.

The new hub evolved out of IllumiNative, an organization that increased visibility for Native people while looking to change pervasive narratives that define them. As IllumiNative sunsets, Indigenous House is kicking off on YouTube. A launch slate of nine original programs will put Native voices front and center.

“Indigenous House was created for and by Native people to celebrate and share our cultures, not only with each other, but the world,” said IllumiNative Founder Crystal Echo Hawk in a statement. “Through our creators and original content, we’re able to share the beauty of community to a wider audience and continue to amplify Native perspectives from across the country.”

The perspectives featured on Indigenous House represent numerous walks of life. Organizer Jade Begay

will helm an interview series, Dr. Claudia Serrato will pass down traditional recipes, and Jessica Metcalfe of Beyond Buckspin will explore the world of fashion through a Native lens.

Those programs will add to the growing library of Indigenous stories, which can be seen both on social platforms like TikTok and in film and TV productions like Killers of the Flower Moon and Reservation Dogs. (One of the stars of Indigenous House, Thosh Collins, has a recurring role on Reservation Dogs.)

The social media industry’s impact on Native visibility was on display at an Indigenous Peoples’ Day House Party that doubled as the kickoff event for Indigenous House. Tlingit storyteller Alyssa London hosted, hip-hop artist Supaman provided entertainment, and artisans representing brands like Copper Canoe Woman, Jennifer Younger Designs, and Urban Native Era sold their goods at an open marketplace. It was the sort of broad cultural experience viewers can expect from Indigenous House uploads — subscribe on YouTube if you want to know more.