Kiawentiio

Kiawenti:io Tarbell^[1] (/ˌɡjɑːwənˈdiːjoʊ/,^[2] born 28 April 2006),^[3] known mononymously as Kiawentiio, is a First Nations (Mohawk) actress and singer-songwriter. She made her television debut in the third season of the CBC series Anne with an E (2019) and her film debut in Beans (2020). She starred as Maya Thomas in the sitcom Rutherford Falls (2021). She was cast as Katara in the Netflix live-action remake of Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024).

Kiawentiio
Born	Kiawenti:io Tarbell (2006-04-28) 28 April 2006 (age 18) Akwesasne, Ontario, Canada
Occupations	Actress singer songwriter
Years active	2019–present

Early life and education

Kiawentiio was born into a Mohawk family in Akwesasne, a First Nations reserve that is located on both sides of the Canada–United States border, spanning the St. Lawrence River.^[4][5] On the US side, it is also known as the St. Regis Mohawk Reservation.

Her first name means "nice morning" in Kanienʼkéha.^[6] Her parents are Barbara and Corey Tarbell.^[7] She grew up in a house on Kawehno:ke (also known as Cornwall Island) and attended Akwesasne Freedom School and Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School.^[8] She is based between Ottawa, Montreal, and New York, and has dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.^[9]

Career

Tarbell was one of 200 indigenous Canadian actresses to audition for the role of Ka'kwet, who is featured in an indigenous story line in season three of Anne with an E.^[10] She had to learn to speak the Miꞌkmaq language and obtain an understanding of their tribe, history and culture.^[11] She also starred in the title role of Beans as a 12-year-old Mohawk girl living in Kahnawake in 1990, at the time of the Oka Crisis.

She has appeared as recurring character Maya Thomas in the Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls (2021). In 2021, she was also selected to portray Katara in the Netflix live action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender series.^[12]

Filmography

Film

Year(s)	Title	Role(s)	Notes
2020	Beans	Beans / Tekehentahkhwa
2022	N'xaxaitkw	Zarya	Short

Television

Year(s)	Title	Role(s)	Notes
2019	Anne with an E	Ka'kwet	5 episodes
2021	Rutherford Falls	Maya Thomas	2 episodes
2023	What If...?	Wahta (voice)	Episode: "What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?"
2024—present	Avatar: The Last Airbender	Katara	Main role

Discography

EPs

Title	Details
In My Head	Released: 5 March 2021^[13]^[14]

Singles

• Light at the End (2020) from Beans^[13]
• This Moment (2021), part of EP In My Head^[13]
• Saying Goodnight (feat. Rasentonkwa Tarbell, 2021), part of EP In My Head^[13]
• Unfamiliar (2021), part of EP In My Head^[13]
• In What World (2021), part of EP In My Head^[13]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref
2019	Vancouver Film Critics Circle	One to Watch	Beans	Won	^[15]

References

1. "Rising Star — Meet Kiawenti:io Tarbell from Anne with an E". CBC Kids News. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
2. Kiawentiio on Instagram
3. "Kiawentiio". TV Insider. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
4. "Kiawentiio biography and filmography | Kiawentiio movies". Tribute. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
5. Craig, Jo (13 August 2021). "Who is Kiawentiio Tarbell? Explore the Instagram, Ethnicity and Roles of Avatar: The Last Airbender Actor". HITC. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
6. Roundpoint, Shannon Burns. "ACTING UP". Retrieved 25 August 2021.
7. Sumi, Glenn (15 April 2021). "Beans star Kiawentiio starts her dramatic journey strong". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
8. Lafrance, Derrick (10 August 2017). "Kiawentiio Tarbell". Indian Time. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
9. Mehta, Sia (13 February 2021). "TIFF Kiawentiio Biography". TIFF. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
10. "Kiawenti:io Tarbell - Anne with an E". CBC. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
11. Time, Indian. "Rising Star Kiawenti:io Tarbell Talks about Her Experience on "Anne with an E"". Indian Time. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
12. Webster, Andrew (12 August 2021). "Netflix reveals cast for its live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series". The Verge. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
13. "Musician". Kiawentiio. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
14. Sumi, Glenn (15 April 2021). "Beans star Kiawentiio starts her dramatic journey strong - NOW Magazine". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
15. Castillo, Jorge Ignacio (12 March 2021). "Vancouver Film Critics Name Violation Best Canadian Feature". Vancouver Film Critics Circle.

External links

• Official website
• Kiawentiio at IMDb