PBS Wisconsin is celebrating Native American Heritage Month with new programming, partnership-driven reporting, educational resources and legacy series highlighting the voices and perspectives of Wisconsin’s First Nations and Indigenous communities nationwide.

Along with our colleagues at Wisconsin Public Radio, we acknowledge that we broadcast to the homelands of 12 Native American nations and their people. Throughout the year, Wisconsin Public Media commits to building long-term partnerships with Native nations, listening to community priorities, and creating space for Indigenous knowledge and storytelling across our services. Here are a few highlights this November!

The Ways: Off-Road Racing | PBS Wisconsin Education

Our award-winning team at PBS Wisconsin Education has launched a new story in The Ways collection of classroom resources. Meet Hunter VanZile, a member of the Forest County Potawatomi, who channels his skill and the steadfast support of his community into his professional off-road racing career. As he grows within the sport, VanZile mentors young fans and shows how connection and culture can fuel success both on and off the track. Watch the video to learn more about Hunter and use the educator resources to spark conversations and make connections. (Grades 6-12)

Indigenous reporting through a partnership with ICT

PBS Wisconsin has partnered with ICT (formerly Indian Country Today) to deepen coverage of Indigenous communities in Wisconsin. Together with ICT’s parent company, IndiJ Public Media, the collaboration is expanding access to Indigenous-centered stories across both digital and broadcast platforms. PBS Wisconsin News journalist Erica Ayisi is the dedicated Indigenous Affairs multimedia reporter, generating weekly opportunities to telegraph stories from Wisconsin’s First Nations.

Read more about our ongoing reporting partnership, and follow all of our Indigenous reporting throughout the year.

Porcupine quills connect past and present for artist Melanie Sainz | Wisconsin Life

Ho-Chunk artist Melanie Tallmadge Sainz transforms porcupine quills into vivid portraits that honor Native tradition and contemporary creativity. Through her work at the Little Eagle Arts Foundation in Wisconsin Dells, she keeps cultural knowledge alive — connecting community, heritage and the natural world through the art of making. Explore more stories airing and streaming in the new season of Wisconsin Life.

Powwow Bound | A 3D narrative adventure game from PBS Wisconsin

We can’t contain our enthusiasm these days for our new, collaboratively developed educational game, Powwow Bound: A Menominee Homecoming — so we won’t! Through a 3D narrative-driven adventure game suitable for ages 10 and up, experience the story of a Menominee family returning to the reservation for the annual contest powwow. Play as the character Deborah Jo — who goes by “DJ” — as she works to uncover her mom’s history with the powwow dance circle. Learn in more detail about the broad, collaborative development model — a partnership with Nebraska Public Media, Vision Maker Media and a team of Menominee artists, educators and cultural experts — used to create Powwow Bound.

Bring Them Home | New on PBS Nov. 24

Premiering 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 24

Bring Them Home/Aiskótáhkapiyaaya tells the evocative story of a decades-long effort by a determined group of Blackfoot people to re-establish wild buffalo on traditional lands – 100 years after near extinction. Returning the buffalo provides reconnection to a core part of Blackfoot heritage, spirituality and identity, and offers healing for the community.

Native America | PBS

Through early December, PBS has brought the first season of Native America out of PBS Passport. This stunning, four-part series directed by Native storytellers offers an unsentimental, contemporary view of Indian Country. It profiles the engineers, political leaders and artists whose work draws from Indigenous knowledge to advance opportunity and cultural vitality in the 21st century. Watch both seasons here and, above, enjoy a clip that takes you inside the making of the series.

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Be sure to follow stories of Wisconsin’s First Nations and other Indigenous stories in our PBS Wisconsin Voices collection. And if you are local to Madison, check out the impressive slate of programming from our partners at UW-Madison for “Native November 2025: Live the Teachings as We Are Meant To.”