New ‘Molly of Denali’ Mini-Series Explores Indigenous Cultures Across the U.S.

Children and families will have a chance to experience the diverse and vital array of Indigenous peoples living all across the United States in Molly’s Epic Adventures, a new five-episode mini-series from the creators of the Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning Molly of Denali. Building on the PBS KIDS’ series legacy as the first nationally distributed U.S. children’s show to feature an Alaskan Native lead character, these episodes will take viewers on fascinating journeys across the country to meet and learn about different tribes starting November 3.

In Molly’s Epic Adventures, produced by GBH, Molly and her beloved Grandpa Nat leave Alaska to visit the Lenape Tribe in New Jersey, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes in Idaho, the Klamath Tribe in Oregon, the Diné Tribe in New Mexico and the Native Hawaiian People in their traditional homelands. Each story introduces new characters and features a retelling of a traditional story from the respective Indigenous tribe, along with an interstitial highlighting that tribe. The miniseries begins and ends with half-hour specials: “Big Gust to a River Rush” and “There Is Pele.”

Molly’s Epic Adventures Episodes

“Big Gust to River Rush”
Traditional Homelands of the Lenape Tribes

Grandpa Nat, Molly and friends are whisked across Rutan Hill, New Jersey in a hot air balloon! With Grandpa Nat due to give an important talk, the fastest way to get back in time is by using a traditional Lenape dugout canoe! But will they make it?

“Molly of Idaho / Cinder Cones and Broken Drones”
Traditional Homelands of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

While visiting the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Grandpa Nat leaves behind a microphone that he needs to do an interview for his documentary. Using lessons from the Indian Relay Race — and a maze of lava tubes — can Molly and Stormee get Grandpa his mic?

After hearing the Shoshone-Bannock story about Doe’gwo’ah, the Big Snake responsible for creating the Craters of the Moon lava fields, Molly and her new friend Stormee encounter a real rattlesnake when retrieving Grandpa Nat’s wayward drone!

“Newt in My Boot / Old Man of the Lake”
Traditional Homelands of the Klamath Tribe

Molly finds a newt in her boot while exploring Wizard Island! Her friends from the Klamath Tribe teach her the importance of returning the newt to its natural habitat, but can Molly keep track of Cutie Newtie until she gets back to Crater Lake?

Molly takes a rock from Crater Lake, but learns that it’s against Klamath traditions to do so after hearing an old, spooky tale about the “Old Man of the Lake.” Guilt-stricken, Molly tries to do right by returning the rock to its rightful place.

“Feeling Sheepish / Chasing the Wind”
Traditional Homelands of the Diné Tribes

When Molly arrives in Shiprock, New Mexico, home of the Diné people, she’s excited to gift beaver mittens to her new friend, Kevin. But, when she is hit with the desert heat, she worries they may not be a good gift. Can she salvage this gift-giving snafu?

Grandpa Nat’s new drone gets swept away by a dust devil when showing Molly an ancient Diné volcano in Shiprock, New Mexico. Determined to recover the lost drone, Molly and Grandpa Nat must use clues within the pictures it snapped before it crashed.

“There Is Pele”
Traditional Homelands of Native Hawaiian Peoples

When Grandpa Nat and Molly travel to Hawaii to learn about the volcano Mauna Loa, Molly makes a wish to see it erupt. But, when her wish comes true, she looks to the story of Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani’s offering to help find a way to stop it.