By Kaniehtonkie.

Akwesasronon Cecelia King and Doug George – Kanentiio have been working with Marvel Studios on 'What If...?' featuring Marvel's newest superhero "Kahhori.' King worked with the Marvel crew as a Kanien'kehá language expert and George as historian, to ensure cultural authenticity.

King stated, "For the past two years I've been working closely with Marvel Studios and Ryan Little to help with the language for Kahhori, a brand-new Mohawk superhero, in an upcoming episode of the Marvel television show 'What If...?' It's been an awesome experience working with Ryan, who is the writer of the episode, and I am appreciative for the care Marvel has shown towards depicting the language and culture as accurately as possible during the production. Ryan spent some time in Akwesasne this past year visiting and here is a photo we took during a family dinner. I'd also like to give thanks to my friend, the late Joanne Shenandoah, whom I'm forever grateful to for thinking of me and mentioning my name to Ryan. I can't wait for you all to be able to watch what we've been working on."

In a press release, "'What If...?' asks what would happen if the Tesseract fell to Earth and landed in the sovereign Haudenosaunee Confederacy before the colonization of America.

Marvel Studios' animated anthology streaming series What If...? flips the script on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reimagining famous events from the films in unexpected ways and creating a multiverse of infinite possibilities. Those possibilities continue to expand in the second season, as Marvel Studios introduces new stories, and new Super Heroes, to the MCU. We are excited to share a look at one of those new characters: the all-new Marvel Super Hero Kahhori.

What If...? asks what would happen if the Tesseract fell to Earth and landed in the sovereign Haudenosaunee Confederacy before the colonization of America. The Tesseract takes on a new life and a new mythology, transforming a lake into a gateway to the stars and leading Kahhori, a young Mohawk woman, on a quest to discover her power."

George told Indian Time, "Joanne and I accepted the responsibility as advisors given the assurances by Marvel that this would be truly unique-no other mainstream entertainment outlet had ever featured a Native woman in such a central, spectacular role – a tough, intelligent, physically striking Mohawk consistent with our history. 

Mr. Little, the producer, is a graduate of Syracuse University and was exposed to our people by the late David Coryell, a professor in the Newhouse School of Communications. Mr. Coryell was a great friend of Jo and me. So, when Ryan sought advisers, he thought of us. This represents a radical change in how the viewers will see Native people and a hero to our younger people. And we naturally turned to Cecelia King, one of our most beautiful Mohawk speakers.

We have always had these kinds of people in our teachings: Wolf Mark, Thunder Boy, Skywoman. So, this came naturally. It also means new opportunities for those who want to get involved in this kind of production as Marvel is committed to seeking out new talent. We expect it will become a worldwide phenomenon. It is amazing that the most influential film company in the world has come to the longhouse door!"

George added, "It tells a remarkable story from a Native-Mohawk perspective which is truly unique and historical, and will give the viewers a new, challenging and entertaining perspective on this land's first peoples. The story is dramatic, the characters fully realized, and the action sequences are breathtaking. The episode is exceptional in another sense – it is done with the complete cooperation of the Mohawk people from dialogue to adornment."

Written by Ryan Little (What If...? ), the episode was created in close collaboration with King and George. The episode takes place in the Mohawk language and is informed by the history of the Akwesasne region in what is now Northern New York and Southern Ontario.

Little said, "I had a wonderful writing mentor who worked extensively with the Indigenous community in upstate New York, and I was excited to draw on that experience to build an entirely original corner of the MCU with storylines for new Indigenous heroes written from a place of respect for past generations and optimism for future ones. Kahhori, pronounced 'KAH-HORI,' is a real, Wolf Clan name, meaning 'she stirs the forest' or is someone who motivates those around her. In her debut adventure, Kahhori will have to live up to her name to recruit powerful allies into the fight to save her people and change the course of history forever."

Director Bryan Andrews (What If...? ), Executive Producer A.C. Bradley (What If...? , Ms. Marvel), Story Editor Matthew Chauncey (What If...? ) and the entire production team also worked with members the Mohawk Nation to design Kahhori's look and environment, and to help incorporate traditional Mohawk music to use in the score.

Kahhori – Marvel's newest superhero.

Kahhori marks a significant new edition to the pantheon of Marvel Super Heroes. Ahead of her debut on Disney+, FUNKO is celebrating Kahhori with a special glow-in-the-dark Funko Vinyl Soda that teases the new hero's cosmic powers.