10 NATIVE AMERICAN TIKTOK CREATORS TO FOLLOW NOW
November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States. Native Americans use this commemorative month to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways of life.
And thanks to social media, especially TikTok, you can now partake in the celebrations yourself. Whether you want to learn about Native American culture, ceremonies, struggles, or belief systems, TikTok has countless creators you can follow right now.
In the spirit of this special heritage month, we’ve lined up some of our favorite indigenous creators who show brilliance, resilience, and cultural and language diversity. Keep reading to learn all about them.
Shina Nova (@shinanova)
To start this list, let’s talk about Shina Nova, one of the biggest Native American creators on TikTok. She’s successful by any standards, but Shina Nova provides her 4.1 million followers with content they won’t find anywhere else.
Her page focuses on topics relating to her Inuit heritage—like her skills as an Inuk throat singer. She uses those skills to create skits and songs and share Native American history and cultural facts. There’s also a big focus on family, with her mom appearing in many of her TikTok videos.
If you want a well-rounded and fun approach to indigenous culture, Shina Nova is one of the best creators on the platform.
Sage A-he-bah Addington (@sagekilledit)
Sage is a Navajo graphic designer and multimedia artist who focuses on exhibitions, solo shows, and commission work. At only 22 years old, he’s taking the online art world by storm with a whopping 28.8k followers on TikTok.
So if you’re looking for a carefree take on Native culture, art, and LGBTQ perspectives, then Sage’s account is a good one to follow. You’ll get a glimpse into delicious food, colorful paintings and drawings, all-important protests, and what it’s like to be Navajo in New York.
Naiomi Glasses (@naiomiglasses)
Naiomi Glasses provides a personal look into the life of a modern Native American woman. Much of her content documents her work as a Diné textile artist and her skateboarding hobby.
This content is great on its own, but it’s enlightening when presented through the lens of a resident of the Navajo Nation. Naiomi also raises awareness about her bilateral palate and cleft lip, inspiring those with the condition and insight to those who’d like to learn more.
Overall, Naiomi’s account stands as a testament to what people can overcome in the face of adversity.
Shannon Baker (@realshannonbaker)
Not everyone on this list has found their fame through TikTok. For example, Shannon Baker is best known for her acting career. She’s had roles in CSI, Blue Mountain State, and Smallville, to name a few.
But Shannon is more than a familiar face to most, as she educates her audience about Native American traditions and culture. That’s not to say she doesn’t use her acting chops to entertain followers, though. If you visit her page, you’ll find plenty of skits and pranks mixed in with topics regarding indigenous people.
Whether or not you know Shannon Baker from her many acting roles, you’ll surely find plenty of great content on her TikTok feed.
Ashley Callingbull (@ashleycallingbull)
Looking for someone who does it all? If so, Ashley Callingbull’s TikTok page should be right up your alley. Ashley is a true Jack-of-all-trades, from acting to motivational speaking, writing to modeling.
Her TikTok page reflects that as well. Check it out if you’d like to get some insights from someone who’s accomplished so much—tinged with the lived experience of an indigenous person.
And if she looks familiar, that might be because you saw her in Sports Illustrated as the first indigenous First Nations model featured in the publication.
Niłtooli Wilkins (@walkinbeautypoetry)
Navajo author of Indigenous, I Am, Niłtooli is a powerful voice for both the LGBTQ community and Native TikTok. Using poetry and colorful imagery, she conveys the journey of her people's journey and the realities of daily life.
Her account is a breath of fresh air, with nature walks, reflective quotes, and inspirational writing. And yet, it’s balanced with plenty of powwows, workouts, humor, and beauty routines.
It’s the perfect account to follow if you’re looking for a real human experience full of tough questions, raw emotions, laughter, and memories.
James Jones (@notoriouscree)
Indigenous culture is rich in art of many forms, and James Jones has dedicated himself to educating his audience about one of them. James is a massively popular TikTok creator specializing in hoop dancing, a traditional indigenous art form.
His performances have graced the stages of many venues, like the Vancouver Olympics and Coachella Music Festival. But don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to those events. You can get a closer look at James’ art from the comfort of your phone.
If you are interested in Native American art and culture, James has one of the best accounts on TikTok.
Tia Wood (@tiamiscihk)
Native American culture is rich, and so is indigenous history. But where do you start if you want to learn more? Well, your best option is to hear it straight from the source—or as close to the source as possible.
That’s where Tia Wood excels. As a Plains Cree and Salish TikTok creator, Tia has cultivated a loyal following based on her “Aunty T’s History” segments. In these videos, Tia explains history in a palatable and relatable way.
She’s also gained a reputation for her voice, so if you enjoy history or singing, give Tia a follow.
Braden (@kadlun)
Finally, we’ll end this list on a serious note. Mental health is important for everybody, and nobody knows that better than Braden. He’s had struggles with mental health and addiction, which he talks about from an indigenous person's perspective.
Braden’s TikTok page serves as a journal for him to document his journey, but it’s also a place for him to encourage and inspire others. This is especially true for people who have similar experiences.
But anyone can benefit from Braden’s honesty and compassion, even if they come from different backgrounds.
Willow Allen (@willow.allen)
Willow Allen is a trailblazer of sorts, being the first Inuvialuit (or Inuit) person signed to a New York modeling agency. From humble beginnings in Edmonton, Canada, to an international modeling career, Willow provides a unique perspective you won’t find anywhere else.
Her TikTok page looks into her life and career, but it also contains content related to her heritage. If you give her a follow, you can expect to learn a bit of everything—from traditional Native American medicine and clothing to games and indigenous history.
You can expect to see a lot more from Willow as her career progresses, so there’s no better time than now to follow her.
TikTok as an Educational Tool
As you can see, TikTok is about much more than entertainment. In the hands of the right people, the platform can educate others about important topics. That’s what everyone on this list has in common: they bring awareness to indigenous and Native American culture and traditions.
But that’s just the start of the possibilities with TikTok. If you’d like to learn more about TikTok’s role in amplifying people’s voices, check out these 10 queer TikTok creators you should know and these 8 Hispanic TikTok creators you should know.
