There’s something beautiful about watching our people create worlds where we don’t have to explain ourselves, where our Indigeneity just is, messy, brilliant, funny, and layered. That’s exactly what Kevin Chuculate is doing with his streaming, his podcast, Nativerse, and his writing. Kevin is a creator, writer, streamer, and podcaster. Kevin brings heart, humor, and a whole lot of indiginerdery to the spaces he’s building.
With a background in Indigenous People’s Law and a deep love for horror, he’s not just telling stories. He’s creating a universe where Native folks can see themselves in every genre, every role, every realm of possibility. In this interview, Kevin opens up about everything from flipping tired tropes to building community and how his ADHD shapes the way he engages with media. Spoiler: it’s all magic.
Q. What inspired you to create Nativerse, and how do you envision its role in amplifying Native voices in the realms of horror and hero narratives?
For me, I really love both of these areas, and I know there’s a large Native population that relates as well. I also wanted to talk to some of our favorite creators about their fandoms in these areas and maybe let them nerd out on a subject they don’t get asked much about.
Q. In your discussions on Nativerse, how do you approach the intersection of Indigenous identity with mainstream pop culture, especially in genres like horror and superheroes?
I generally like to see how it started for them, but also to understand the ways they move through and avoid stereotypes or playing off problematic tropes in whatever area they are involved with. I also love hearing about the other creative avenues they’ve been involved with and how different mediums inspire their work.
Q. Could you share the story behind your project “NDN BURIAL GROUND” and its significance in your body of work?
Yeah, so this was my first comic story that was put together, and I really loved it. Of course, now there are some things I look at and cringe at like most people, but I know that I was passionate about it. I wanted to jump into one of the core tropes of the Indian burial ground and flip it. In this story, it is more of a religious burial ground that is attacking and attempting to kill this native girl, but she, along with the help of others, is able to pull through.
Q. How has your academic background in Indigenous Peoples Law influenced your storytelling and content creation across different platforms?
It influences it a lot! There are some stories that I’m working on that are more informed about Native law, sovereignty, and jurisdiction, which allow me to say what I need with full conviction. It also helps me to share information on the ways we can pursue change and through which avenues it is needed.
Q. As someone who identifies as having ADHD, how does this aspect of your neurodiversity shape your creative processes and engagement with various media?
This one has definitely shaped much of my engagement. I’ll start with the positive sense. It has opened me to so many forms of media that I likely would not have engaged with in either writing or partaking in. The negative aspect is that I can sometimes zone in so hard and hyperfocus on certain areas that I begin to lose interest in others and not quite specialize to the degree I would like. Thankfully, I have others to help in this process, and when I need some more ways to engage, they help out.
Q. In your episode with Kam White, you touched on the importance of hope in superhero narratives. How do you see this theme resonating within Indigenous communities?
It is really important that we have our stories, with our version of what hope looks like. In many stories, there is still a lone, individualistic figure who saves. Whether it’s a savior-type hero or the “final girl” trope in horror, we need to recognize how much healthier it is to find a community that will ultimately be what helps us. And I know we sometimes romanticize that word, and it’s not easy to find, but it remains true nonetheless.
Q. What challenges have you faced in creating spaces like Nativerse that center Native perspectives, and how have you navigated them?
I think some of it is as simple as having an audience that wants to hear what we want to say rather than just hearing Natives in a way that non-Natives want to hear us. We are complex, funny, hopeful, pessimistic, happy, depressed, and all of these things mixed together on any given day.
Q. How do you balance your roles as a writer, streamer, and podcaster, and what synergies have you found among these mediums?
Oh, I’m still not sure if there’s ever a balance. I often struggle to ensure consistency with all of the above. There are a couple of things that help. I have been working to implement some of the discussion aspects with the streaming so that whether it’s a podcast or an event, it can be streamed while then being content for another. This also makes sense in terms of the synergy aspect, as I am inspired by the people I talk to, whether they are popular or not, and it constantly inspires me to be involved.
Q. Can you discuss the significance of community and collaboration in your projects, particularly in episodes like the “Scream Team Draft”?
Yes, I very much love highlighting other people and tribes, as we often assume that all Native Americans are just Cherokee or Diné. I also like showcasing us doing the kinds of things that bring us joy and meaning, which aren’t the most serious of all discussions. We create spaces of joy and refreshment with the stories we tell, and I love to create a space where people can find that amidst the many struggles going on in public and likely in their own lives as well.
Q. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Nativerse and other creative endeavors in terms of impact and outreach within and beyond Native communities?
It’s very similar to the previous question for me. I want to create spaces and tell stories that help us continue to experience joy, love, and peace, even when we see so much tragedy. I believe it’s important that we engage with serious issues and share our histories, but in the meantime, we need the energy to persist. Our stories help maintain that enduring spirit. I want it to highlight us and provide opportunities for our writers, comedians, streamers, podcasters, artists, beaders, and others to share the worlds that exist within them.
Kevin Chuculate is proof that Native joy, creativity, and complexity are revolutionary. With Nativerse, he’s not just carving out space. He’s building a constellation of Indigenous creators who are rewriting what representation means in pop culture. Whether he’s spotlighting Native fandoms or challenging outdated and stereotypical narratives with new, unapologetically Indigenous ones, Kevin ensures that we not only survive but also thrive, laugh, geek out, and tell the hell out of our stories. And honestly? That’s the kind of universe I want to live in.
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