TULSA, Okla. — In honor of Native American History Month, Cherokee Film is encouraging the public to experience “The American Revolution,” premiering on Sunday, Nov. 16, on PBS stations nationwide and airing for six consecutive nights.
The six-part, 12-hour documentary series explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence.
Directed by industry icon Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, and written by Geoffrey Ward, the film offers a comprehensive exploration of the war and the birth of the United States through various perspectives.
The much-anticipated series has been in production for nine years with the premiere set for 2025 to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the start of the war, which began in the spring of 1775, more than a year before the Declaration of Independence.
“American Indian history is central to the story of the American Revolution,” said Burns. “We have been working with Native people and nations, including the Cherokee Film Office, since the start of editing to make sure we get that story right.”
The American Revolution was a time of profound change and displacement for Indigenous nations across the continent.
“The American Revolution was a war for the future of North America,” Schmidt said. “The choices Native people and nations made during the war reflect careful consideration of how they could best protect their own sovereignty and independence.”
Cherokee Film Senior Director Jen Loren served as an advisor on the film to help ensure Indigenous voices and histories were authentically represented on screen.
“This film sheds light on pivotal moments in our nation’s history and thoughtfully includes the stories of many Indigenous people and nations,” said Loren. “At Cherokee Film, we commend this production’s commitment to inclusive and accurate storytelling and look forward to audiences experiencing it.”
Indigenous nations — including the Anishinaabe, Chickasaws, Cherokee, Creek Confederacy (Muscogee), Delaware (Lenapes), Mohawk, Seneca, and Shawnee — play crucial roles throughout the film. Their stories offer unique insights into the complex societal and political dynamics of the Revolution.
Among the historic Native figures who appear in the film are Tsiyu Gansini (Dragging Canoe), Thayendanegea (Joseph Brant), Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut, Canassatego, Tecumseh, and more.
“The story of the American Revolution belongs to everyone,” said Botstein. “And we owe it to the people who lived through it to tell that story faithfully.”
The full series will be available to stream beginning Sunday, Nov. 16, at PBS.org and on the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
