People of the West

The story

People of the West is a ten-part premium documentary series that reclaims the history of California through Indigenous perspectives. Blending oral histories, tribal archives, expert insight, and cinematic recreations, the series spans from creation stories and pre-contact life through colonization, state-sponsored violence, resistance, and cultural survival. Each episode centers Native voices and lived experience, reframing well-known events—from the mission system and Gold Rush to Alcatraz and modern sovereignty movements—through those who endured them. Visually ambitious and emotionally grounded, the series pairs sweeping landscapes with intimate storytelling to reveal California as it has always been: Native land. Designed to live both on screen and in classrooms, People of the West offers a corrective to dominant narratives while highlighting the resilience, continuity, and contemporary presence of Native nations shaping the state today.

Cast

M Marcus DeAndaCaptain Cabrillo I Isaiah Samuel CrowfootWikami D David MidthunderSho-Luk T Tiffany GonzalezWikami's Mother A Apollo RicoWikami's Brother J James VallieHatow K Kusem GoodwindNim-Tie/ Cocopah Runner S Steven GarciaSpiritual Leader J Jarrod DanielAha'ya Z Zoey ReyesAtsia V Victor Herminio LopezFather Junipero Serra A Andrew Aj RoaChief Xigmacsech

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M Makela YepezNeophyte D Del ZamoraOlder Aha'ya C Carma HarveyOlder Atsia T Tyler PetersWilie J Jess OldhamBoje J Jordan Ashley DelgadoSu-Su-Met/ Susan C Cory TuckerGus C Charles AmbroseKit Carson J James Hal HardyCaptain John C. Fremont S Sam MarraWa'da J Jesse SalerMiner Phil N Nicco CarusoInfluencer N Nicole ComstockReporter J Jamie B. ClineJames Marshall J Joanna DeLaneWillie's Mother P P.K. SimoneMr. Dent D Dave SalesNisenan Chief J John FultonMr. Bott J Jim PatneaudeChairman H Hawk BerriosHenry J Jacob BurasTour Guide A Artemis RicoYounger T'tc-tsa S Shawnee PourierT'tc-tsa A Amelia RicoT'tc-tsa's Mother D Doc NativeChief Augustine J Jeff DentonCharles Stone M Micah FitzgeraldAbraham Rogers S Sofia Grace CliftonYoung Pomo Girl S Stephen O'MahoneyPeter Burnett C Charlotte FlytePomo Mother T Travis FarrisBenjamin Kelsey N Nick GeorgeCaptain Lyon N Nicole ComstockNews Host 1 B Brandon LambertyMilitia Leader G Gregory ZaragozaChief Tenaya R Ryan BegayAntonio Garra G Gregory CruzJuan Antonio A Alex PopovicJames Savage L Lonnie R. BegayeGarra's Son M Marty DewBunnell B Bryce DurfeeFred Trading Post K Kathryn YoungAhwahnee Elder Woman D Derek DuroBirdsinger 1 A Andrew DuroBirdsinger 2 F Frankie MorreoBirdsinger 3 R Robert DehoyosBirdsinger 4 L Lexsy McKowenKaiba G Georgeanne GrowingthunderWahiti C Carolina HoyosPia A Avery ClydeSister Jean R Ryder RhythmEli S Shauna BakerSonnoe'e P Paulette LamoriGrandma B Brooke McCormickMrs. Patricia M Myra VitelaSarah S Sienna TsoAlice Piper J Joseph WilliamsRobert M Monique CandelariaDeb T Tres GarciaYounger Teddy X Xander ColeOlder Teddy I Izzy MarshallThelma L Levi ZavallaKonoyo/ Choreographer A Amanda Joy EricksonCarol A Aaron GoddardAssistant Director M Marcus LaVoiKen E Eric LutzPolice Officer A Adam GrahamAttendent H Hunter Redhorse ArthurRichard Oakes