Deaf Indigenous actress from Winnipeg stars in new Marvel series

Actress Katarina Ziervogel, an Ojibwe and Mohawk woman belonging to Sagkeeng First Nation, shares her experience on the set of Marvel’s new series “Echo.”

Ziervogel, who’s also part German, is from Edmonton but moved to Winnipeg as a child.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been chosen to play the part of Maya’s mother as Taloa,” Ziervogel told CityNews. “I’ve just been very happy and privileged to be able to play the role in this show.”

Ziervogel says it was incredible to have both Indigenous and Deaf representation on screen in mainstream media through the new Marvel series.

“Such an amazing experience,” she said. “Because growing up while there was Deaf representation and Indigenous representation on screen, never in a single character or a single show. So I think that being a part of that representation is something that’s happened for the first time and I’m hopeful that as young children or youth see that on screen they’re able to also see themselves and have themselves represented. But again, not just Deaf or Indigenous but also amputees.”

Ziervoge, who spoke to CityNews with ASL interpreter Cindy Boscow, says it was incredibly impactful for her to represent the relationship between a mother and daughter.

“Taloa is Maya’s mother,” she said. “That is the character I’m playing, she is a Deaf and Indigenous woman. Maya is also Deaf and Indigenous. I think that that is a special relationship because there’s such a great connection between the mother and daughter.”

A new episode of “Marvel Studios: Assembled,” which goes behind the scenes and explores the making of “Echo,” came out Wednesday.

Ziervogel, who’s also the co-writer of the film “Finality of Dusk,” says she’s heard a lot of positive response since “Echo” has come out.

“I got a message from a Deaf Indigenous woman who also has a daughter who is also Deaf and Indigenous. Having that commonality, it was the first time she had said she was able to see someone that was representing her experience on screen. Having that there was nice to have that connection and be able to see not only a mother but a daughter as well.

“So it was a really amazing message to have received.”

Ziervogel says Marvel went to great lengths to make sure the set was accessible for all the actors, which is not a common experience for her.

“They had interpreters ready on set, even wardrobe would have lights for anybody who wanted to come in and out of the room so we would know, as opposed to somebody knocking at the door, we would know somebody was ready to come in,” she described. “I think almost all of the crew had the opportunity to learn some sign language, which was incredible.

“So by and large, it was a very unique experience. I’m hopeful that seeing this, that other projects and if there’s any other Deaf actors included, that they will take those steps like they did here in the future.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Katarina Ziervogel speaks with CityNews’ Joanne Roberts about Marvel’s “Echo” and media accessibility for Deaf people

She wants to see more characters like the ones in “Echo,” and says she hopes other media organizations take accessibility as seriously as Marvel has.

“I think it’s important to start by hiring, whether it be a disabled person, a Deaf person, anybody who’s had first-hand experience, so that they can tell you what sorts of accommodations are needed,” Ziervogel said. “What kind of accessibility they want or need. Listen to what they say. Give them a platform so that their voices can be taken into account and that way it’ll give the company the opportunity to learn what types of needs that they would need.”

Ziervogel says she’s not sure what the future holds for her character at Marvel, but she’s grateful for the experience.

“Echo” is available to stream on Disney+.