From a media release:
2Ducks Media and APTN are proud to announce the launch of the sweeping docuseries Animal Nation, premiering January 8, 2026 on APTN (in English) and streaming on APTN+. This groundbreaking project, created in collaboration with Indigenous communities across Canada and the U.S., takes viewers deep into the heart of some of the continent’s most beautiful wild spaces and tells the stories of seven iconic animals, guided by the people who have co-existed and protected their shared territories for generations. From incredible animal behaviour to on-the-ground conservation efforts, each of the seven episodes highlights a keystone species: Bear, Beaver, Bison, Caribou, Eagle, Salmon, and Wolf.
Filmed over two years, the series features spectacular landscapes and wildlife cinematography while highlighting a long-overlooked missing link in wildlife storytelling — the undeniable interconnectedness with generations of Indigenous people who have lived alongside these species and in these ecosystems. This coexistence has created an extensive knowledge base, unique conservation initiatives, cultural stewardship, collaboration with Western scientists, and a synergy evident throughout the episodes, as they all work to restore vital connections between the animals, the environment, and all of us who share these often-threatened spaces.
Created by Ojibway producer Jesse Bochner and Moroccan-born producer Ari A. Cohen, and a talented team of Indigenous key creatives — writers, directors, editors, composers and acclaimed narrator Tantoo Cardinal — the series blends everything audiences love in wildlife storytelling with the depth, insight, and relationships that come from Indigenous knowledge and culture.
“I am honoured by the privilege gifted to us by the communities and the animals themselves,” says director and co-creator Jesse Bochner. “One day we’re wading through thousands of spawning salmon, the next we’re placing secret cameras to capture the genius of a beaver. Every moment reminded us how much knowledge and generosity lives in these places. It was amazing and humbling for our entire team.”
“This project changes the way you see the land, the animals, and our future,” adds producer and director of photography Ari A. Cohen. “Wildlife films often ignore Indigenous and local knowledge — and that knowledge is the key to moving forward on a better path.”
Filmed in often rugged and remote areas with privileged access granted by the communities, Animal Nation moves from the caribou ranges near Yellowknife to the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in BC, to the salmon rivers of Labrador, the bison herds of Alberta and Montana, and the eagle territories of PEI and Sts’ailes — capturing moving connections between wildlife, culture, and people that are rarely seen on screen.
“I consider it a victory that these stories are being told,” says Tantoo Cardinal. “Growing up, I had a real relationship with the wind and the birds and the environment, so it’s kind of like in my blood, in my marrow to be able to be a part of speaking for the animals and to touch on the relationship we all have with the world that surrounds us.”
Animal Nation is produced in association with APTN and the financial participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Rogers Series Fund, the Québec Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit. French and Mohawk versions will air at a later date.
