She sees a "hunger for these kinds of new stories, and I think that means diversity in storytellers." She cited the example of "Crazy Rich Asians," which according to Forbes is the most successful romantic comedy in six years.

To research the look for the series, Dittloff consulted the historical archives at the University of Montana, and as a whole is hewing to "the idea of vibrancy and finding strength in femininity."

They plan to shoot on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where Earling's novel is set and where her aunt lived. Fields said it was important to stay in Montana, as they "consider the land a character" and are working with the tribes.

Johnny Arlee, a CSKT elder who worked on the Robert Redford film "Jeremiah Johnson," is serving as a cultural adviser and language specialist and will help the cast with lines of dialog in Salish.

Also serving as a cultural consultant are siblings Ivan and Ivy MacDonald of the Blackfeet Tribe. The two have made short films about missing and murdered indigenous women and are planning a feature-length documentary.

Since January, 20 indigenous women in Montana have gone missing or have been murdered, he said. Only last weekend, a woman went missing in the Flathead.