The Pivot Fund Fuels Underscore Native News’ Video Growth

Underscore Native News, a Pivot Fund grantee, is deepening its commitment to audience engagement by expanding into video storytelling with new hire. Bolstered by The Pivot Fund’s $150,000 investment, the organization has brought on Audience Engagement Manager Kyra Antone as its first-ever dedicated video storyteller to enhance Underscore’s powerful storytelling and connect more deeply with its audience.

Antone, whose Indian name is Kiohod (Rainbow), is Coeur d’Alene and Tohono O’odham and a direct descendant of Chief Spokane Garry—a 19th-century Spokane leader known for his commitment to education, diplomacy, and protecting his people’s land and rights. Like her ancestor, Antone is using the power of storytelling to bridge communities and ensure Indigenous voices are heard.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Antone developed a passion for storytelling with a focus on uplifting Indigenous perspectives. Before joining Underscore, she taught podcasting to Native youth with Voices to Hear, worked as a communications consultant for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute, served as a production assistant on PBS’s Native America 2.0, and was the communications specialist for the National Indian Child Welfare Association.

Now, with a focus on video production, Antone is helping Underscore reach younger audiences, add emotional depth to its stories, and make content more accessible to Indigenous communities across the region.

“I definitely want to engage in more digital and audio storytelling,” Antone said. “I think there are so many amazing stories that Underscore has covered, and there’s room for short snippets of video and audio storytelling from the people we’re interviewing.”

This shift to video is about more than just technology—it’s about creating deeper, more personal connections with Underscore’s audience, said Myers Reece, Underscore’s executive director. He added that video storytelling captures voices, expressions, and emotions in ways that text alone cannot.

Thanks to an equipment grant from a local funder and strengthened by The Pivot Fund’s investment, Underscore has also acquired high-quality video and audio equipment, allowing it to produce dynamic content that brings Indigenous stories to life.

Beyond its digital platforms, Underscore is expanding its reach through strategic partnerships with regional community media outlets, pushing its content beyond the website and into local TV broadcasts, public access channels, and other distribution networks. These collaborations will ensure that vital Indigenous stories reach an estimated 350,000 households, amplifying Underscore’s impact and reinforcing its role as a trusted source of news and storytelling for Indigenous communities.

For Antone, video storytelling is about more than just coverage—it’s about connection. “You really get the emotion of the people in that space and in that area,” she said. “I’m hoping that will help us bridge that gap and connect more with our audience.”

With this new investment in people, technology, and partnerships, Underscore is making sure Indigenous voices aren’t just heard—they’re seen and felt. In the spirit of Chief Spokane Garry’s legacy, Antone and Underscore are using storytelling as a tool for education, cultural preservation, and community connection, ensuring Indigenous perspectives remain at the center of the narrative.