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Variety hosted its inaugural Indigenous Storytelling in Entertainment Breakfast on June 5 in Los Angeles. The event included insightful conversations with Indigenous and Native creators, talent, and industry executives such as “Reservation Dogs” showrunner Sterlin Harjo, Bird Runningwater from “Fancy Dance,” Kali Reis from “True Detective” (who was joined by co-star Isabella Star Lablanc and showrunner Issa López) and many more. The program highlighted Indigenous storytelling and the achievements of Indigenous communities in film and TV and even included a surprise message from director James Cameron.

The event also explored how the industry is faring in creating opportunities for Indigenous talent on and off-screen. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Indigenous Native Americans becoming U.S. citizens, as President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, inspired by the high rate of American Indian enlistment during World War I.

Indigenous Storytelling Breakthroughs

The first panel of the day highlighted...

The Native American and Indigenous Writers Committee is “one of the smallest committees in the Writers Guild, but [with] one of the loudest voices ever” according to its vice chair Aiko Little — which was evidenced by the turnout of some 100 picketers who joined the Naiwc for a strike event in front of Walt Disney Studios on Wednesday.

The Naiwc’s Disney picket was the most recent of a string of WGA strike events over the past several weeks that have gathered writers from specific marginalized backgrounds — Trans Takeover Thursday, for example — to highlight how current working conditions are affecting them while celebrating storytellers from their communities.

After a land acknowledgement carried out by a SAG-AFTRA member protesting in solidarity with the WGA, the Naiwc introduced two performances: Eric Michael Hernandez, a world champion hoop dancer, as well as the Southern California Bird Singers.

“One of the reasons we’re fighting is...