Kiawentiio Tarbell's Pets

Kiawentiio Tarbell, known as Kiawentiio, is a First Nations (Mohawk) actress and singer-songwriter. She debuted on television in “Anne with an E” (2019) and made her film debut in “Beans” (2020). She was cast as Katara in the Netflix live-action remake of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2024). Born in Akwesasne, a First Nations reserve, Kiawentiio grew up in a culturally rich environment, attending Akwesasne Freedom School and Cornwall Collegiate and Vocational School.

Her career began with a significant role as Ka’kwet in “Anne with an E,” where she was selected from 200 indigenous Canadian actresses. For this role, she learned the Miꞌkmaq language, delving deep into the tribe’s culture and history. In “Beans,” she portrayed a 12-year-old Mohawk girl during the Oka Crisis, further showcasing her ability to tackle challenging and culturally significant roles. Kiawentiio’s work extended to “Rutherford Falls” (2021) as Maya Thomas and a voice role in the episode “What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World?” of “What If…?” (2023). Her casting as Katara in “Avatar: The Last Airbender” marks a significant step in her career working alongside Momona Tamada, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Ian Ousley, Dallas James Liu, and Gordon Cormier as well as the creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.