U.S. broadcaster First Nations Experience (FNX) has acquired Tansi! Nehiyawetan – Let’s Speak Cree, an educational series from Vancouver-based Aboriginal filmmaker Loretta Todd.

FNX is a non-profit partnership between the San Manual Band of Mission Indians and PBS/KVCR in San Bernardino, California. The channel, which works with local and Canadian producers to create and broadcast Native American and indigenous programming, is currently available on VerizonFios, DirecTV and locally in the greater L.A. area.

Tansi! Nehiyawaten is an interactive educational series that lets children learn Cree and about Cree culture through games, stories and animation with the series’ main characters.

The series, which airs on APTN in Canada, is slated to start in August on FNX.

Todd is the series creator, director and executive producer. Guiliana Bertuzzi is also exec producer, with Edi Oshgian producing. Jason Krowe is director, Kamala Todd is writer and James Fortier is DOP, with Aboriginal animators Chris Auchter and Stephen Gladue providing animation for the series.

The series is produced with backing from APTN, the CMF, Shaw Rocket Fund and tax credits.

Todd also recently launched My Cree, a Cree language app for youth. The app features vocabulary quizzes, speaking practice and a pronunciation guide with images and music videos to reinforce learning. The examples are spoken by Barbara McLeod, an educator and fluent speaker of Plains Cree.

The free app, available through iTunes, was developed with Andrei Iancu and the team at Dynamic-Leap Labs, and Peter Strutt at Strutt Roar Media, will illustrations by Chris Aucher. It is also backed by B.C. provincial funding.