A filmmaker from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has earned one of the most prestigious honors in broadcasting. LaRonn Katchia, a Warm Springs/Wasco/Paiute tribal member and filmmaker, received his first Emmy Award at the 63rd Annual Northwest Emmy Awards for his work on a documentary produced with Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Katchia won in the Long Form Content category. During his acceptance speech, he paid tribute to both his tribe and his collaborators at OPB.
“I wouldn’t be here without the support of my tribe,” Katchia said, also praising OPB “for allowing Indigenous creators to tell their own stories.”
Projects Recognized
Among the standout works recognized at the Northwest Emmys was Uncovering Boarding Schools, a powerful documentary produced in partnership with the Oregon Historical Society that took home the 2026 Community Outreach Award (Large Market). Katchia was also nominated in multiple categories for additional work, including documentary films exploring Indigenous environmental issues and adventure storytelling in Oregon.
His film Guardian of the Land earned nominations in the cultural/historical category and for Outstanding Director, recognition that reflects the depth and breadth of his growing body of work.
An Indigenous Voice in Oregon Media
Katchia’s recognition at the Northwest Emmys is notable beyond the personal achievement. Indigenous filmmakers are chronically underrepresented in regional and national media. His work — rooted in Warm Springs and Central Oregon — brings perspectives that rarely make it to broadcast audiences.
OPB’s partnership with Katchia is part of a broader effort the broadcaster has made in recent years to elevate Indigenous storytellers in Oregon, a state with 9 federally recognized tribal nations and rich, complex Indigenous history.
For the Warm Springs community, Katchia’s Emmy win is a source of pride and a reminder of the talent and creativity that flourishes in the reservation community often overlooked by mainstream media coverage of Central Oregon.
Katchia is a NATAS Emmy-nominated filmmaker and director whose work spans documentary, environmental storytelling, and adventure film. More information about his projects is available at laronnkatchia.com.