Kansas City PBS is proud to announce the premiere of Lyda: Wyandot Warrior, an upcoming documentary that recounts Lyda Conley's fight to protect the graves of her Wyandot ancestors in Kansas City, Kansas.
As the first Native American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Lyda Conley took a courageous stand for Indigenous rights and heritage, proving that one woman’s determination and resilience can change history and preserve it for generations.
The documentary from Kansas City PBS producer Emily Woodring and consulting producer Chief Judith Manthe of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas features both local historians and members of Conley’s family. The production team worked closely with the Wyandotte County Historical Museum to bring the powerful story to life on-screen with carefully curated historical photos and documents from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
“Lyda: Wyandot Warrior shines a light on an extraordinary woman whose courage helped preserve an important part of our region’s history," said Cara Williams Fry, president and CEO of Kansas City PBS. "We’re grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Chief Judith to tell Lyda’s story and ensure her remarkable legacy is known and celebrated in Kansas City and beyond."
Emily Woodring is a Kansas City-based, Mid-America EMMY Award-winning producer. Since joining Kansas City PBS full-time in 2019, Emily has co-produced, filmed and edited seven documentaries, including Womontown and Winning the War. She has received three Mid-America EMMYs, and her film Nichols’ Folly earned a national NETA Award for Best Historical Documentary.
Join Kansas City PBS for a Lyda: Wyandot Warrior screening, discussion and artifact display at Yardley Hall in the Midwest Trust Center later this fall. Date, time and additional details coming soon: kansascitypbs.org/lyda
Watch the Lyda: Wyandot Warrior Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at 7 p.m. on Kansas City PBS Channel 19.1, YouTube or the PBS App.
Watch a preview and learn more here.
