Saskatchewan TikTok Star Grandma Sherry Lands APTN TV Series

Yorkton, Saskatchewan resident Sheryl, known to her online audience as Grandma Sherry, is transitioning from viral TikTok fame to a national television career on the APTN network [1, 2]. After gaining a following of over 235,000 people by sharing traditional recipes and stories about her Dakota heritage, she is now set to host multiple television programs [2, 3].

Key takeaways

• Grandma Sherry’s online popularity began in August 2024 after a video of her making bannock went viral, garnering over 1.3 million views [1, 4].
• She credits her granddaughter with encouraging her to start posting videos to preserve family stories for future generations [1, 2].
• The creator has been tapped for two television series on APTN: one focused on the Dakota language and a second English-language program centered on healing and Indigenous culture [2, 3].
• Her public journey includes a 10-year personal history of surviving cancer, which she credits as a catalyst for her spiritual reconnection to her roots [2, 3].

From viral bannock videos to national television

Grandma Sherry’s path to becoming a social media figure began when her granddaughter suggested recording her stories for posterity [1, 4]. While she initially posted short clips, her breakthrough came in August 2024 with a video demonstrating how to make bannock, a traditional quick bread [1, 4]. The video resonated with viewers, leading to a surge in interest in her family history and her efforts to educate the public on the Dakota language and culture [1, 4].

Beyond her cooking content, Grandma Sherry has become a voice for personal resilience. During a recent storytelling circle at the Yorkton Indigenous Friendship Centre, she shared that her transformation into a public figure followed a decade-long battle with cancer that began on Mother’s Day [2, 3]. She described how, during her treatment, she found spiritual comfort in the practice of smudging and a deeper connection to her Indigenous heritage [2, 3].

Why it matters

The expansion of Grandma Sherry’s work from TikTok to APTN represents a broader effort to preserve and share Indigenous knowledge with a global audience [2, 3]. Her upcoming English-language series, which is scheduled to film a pilot later this summer, aims to broaden her reach by focusing on teachings related to healing and culture [2, 3]. As she continues to balance her online presence with her new television projects, she remains focused on her message that "people are hungry for goodness," using her platform to bridge the gap between her personal history and a wider public audience [2, 3].