‘Outlander’ Season 4: EP Previews ‘Authentic’ Native American Characters

“Outlander” is a historical drama that travels the globe. After taking on Scotland, France and Jamaica, the Starz time travel drama will show Jamie and Claire in 18th century America. They’ll share screen time with Native Americans, which means the “Outlander” team has a whole new culture to depict on screen, and they want to do it the right way.

Radio Times reports that over 100 First Nation Canadians were on set in Scotland (which is doubling as North Carolina) to portray members of the Cherokee and Mohawk Nations. Executive producer Matthew B. Roberts told the outlet that the entire “Outlander” production team went into research mode to make sure their portrayal of Native Americans is as accurate as possible.

“Every department, from production design to costume and hair and make-up does a huge amount of research to ensure we create a world that feels authentic to the time and place,” Roberts said.

That isn’t limited to learning about how Native Americans looked and spoke just ahead of the Revolutionary War. They also learned about the way Native Americans lived and survived.

“To build our Native American world, they have learned traditional techniques, from canoe building to hand weaving and, to populate that world, we have welcomed a great team from Canada to play both the speaking and supporting roles of the Cherokee and Mohawk Nations in ‘Outlander’ Season 4,” Roberts added.

Names of actors for the Native American characters have not been released yet. There were only a few Native American characters named in Diana Gabaldon’s book, “Drums of Autumn.” One of the more important roles for this group will likely be Wakatihsnore, the sachem (leader) of the Mohawk village where a beloved Scottish character will be held captive. (You didn’t expect a season of “Outlander” to go by where someone isn’t held against their will, did you?)

“Outlander” Season 4 will bring several new characters into Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) world. Jamie’s aunt, Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy), will help them settle in stateside. Her acquaintances, like her maid, Phaedra (Natalie Simpson), and her lawyer, Gerald Forbes (Billy Boyd), will also be around.

There will be new characters in the 20th century as well. Gayle (Simona Brown) will play Brianna’s (Sophie Skelton) roommate, and Lizzie (Caitlin O’Ryan) is another friend.

“Outlander” Season 4 premieres Sunday, Nov. 9 on Starz.