If you’ve watched the Netflix sports drama Rez Ball, you probably found yourself wondering about the lead actor who plays Jimmy Holiday. He’s got this raw, quiet intensity that usually takes years of theater school to develop. But Kauchani Bratt basically came out of nowhere.
He wasn’t a "child star." Honestly, he was just a philosophy student at UC Santa Cruz who saw a casting call on Instagram.
Since the movie dropped, the internet has been buzzing with questions about his background. Is he Navajo like his character? Where does that unique name come from? There’s a lot of surface-level guessing out there, but the reality of Kauchani Bratt ethnicity is a fascinating mix of North and South American Indigenous roots.
It’s Not Just One Thing: The Mix Behind the Actor
Most people assume that because he plays a Navajo (Diné) basketball player so convincingly, he must be Navajo himself. He isn't. But he is deeply Indigenous.
Kauchani’s heritage is a split between two very distinct nations. On his mother’s side, he is Quechua, the Indigenous people of the Peruvian Andes. On his father’s side, he is Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan.
The Coahuiltecan people are original to what is now South Texas and Northeast Mexico. So, basically, his ancestry spans the entire length of the Americas.
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It’s kind of wild to think about.
You’ve got the high-altitude traditions of Peru meeting the resilient history of the Texas Gulf Coast tribes. His mother, Eldy Banda, was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to the States when she was a teenager. His father is Peter Bratt, a filmmaker and activist. If that last name sounds familiar, it’s because Kauchani is the nephew of actor Benjamin Bratt.
Why the Coahuiltecan Connection Matters
You don't hear about the Coahuiltecan Nation in history books nearly as much as the Apache or Comanche. That’s a shame.
The Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation is a tribal community made up of many smaller bands. They’ve been fighting for federal recognition for ages. For Kauchani, this isn't just a "fun fact" for a bio. It's a real part of his life. He grew up in San Francisco but spent his youth playing in reservation basketball tournaments across the country.
He didn't just walk onto the set of Rez Ball and learn how to dribble. He’s been in the "Rez Ball" world—the actual, high-stakes, fast-paced world of Native American basketball—since middle school.
His high school team actually won the Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI). That’s a massive deal in the community. When you see him on screen hitting those shots, there’s no "stunt double" magic happening there. That’s years of sweat and actual tournament experience.
The Quechua Legacy and a Strong Grandmother
We have to talk about his grandmother.
His paternal grandmother, also named Eldy, was a powerhouse. She was a Quechua woman from Peru who became a nurse and a fierce activist for Native American rights. She was actually part of the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz.
Imagine being six years old and your mom takes you to occupy an island to fight for Indigenous sovereignty. That’s the environment Kauchani’s father and uncle grew up in, and it’s the legacy they passed down to him.
His father, Peter, once mentioned in an interview with UC Santa Cruz that their 87-year-old matriarch is his biggest fan. For her, seeing her grandson on a global platform like Netflix isn't just about "fame." It’s about the fact that her lineage—from the humble beginnings in Peru to the activism in San Francisco—is still thriving and being seen.
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Wait, So He’s Not Navajo?
This is where some people get confused.
In Rez Ball, he plays Jimmy Holiday, a kid living in Chuska, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. The movie is even partially in the Navajo language. Kauchani had to learn the nuances of that culture for the role.
While he isn't Diné, he’s talked a lot about the "parallel experiences" of being Indigenous. Whether you're Quechua, Coahuiltecan, or Navajo, there’s a shared history of resilience, a specific kind of humor, and, of course, the obsession with basketball.
Director Sydney Freeland, who is Navajo, specifically looked for Native actors who could actually play ball. She didn't want actors who "looked the part" but couldn't keep up with the pace of the game.
Kauchani fit that narrow window perfectly.
Breaking Down the "Native Actor" Stereotype
For a long time, Hollywood treated "Native American" as a monolith. Like everyone was the same.
Kauchani Bratt’s rise is helping break that. By being open about his Quechua and Coahuiltecan roots, he’s showing the diversity within Indigenous communities. You have someone who is South American and Texan-Indigenous playing a Southwestern character.
It’s about representation, sure, but it’s also about accuracy.
He’s mentioned in interviews that growing up, he didn't see himself on screen. Now, he’s that face for other kids. But he isn't just "the basketball guy." He graduated from UCSC with a degree in philosophy. He thinks deeply about these things.
What’s Next for Him?
Honestly, the sky is the limit.
Rez Ball was his first professional gig. Most actors spend ten years doing commercials and bit parts before they get a lead on Netflix. He skipped all that.
He’s got the "Bratt" legacy behind him, but he’s clearly carving out his own lane. He’s not trying to be the next Benjamin Bratt; he’s doing something much more grounded in his specific cultural identity.
How to Follow His Journey
If you want to keep up with what he’s doing, here’s the best way to do it:
- Watch the Interviews: Look for the Netflix "Native American Heritage Month" specials. He talks a lot more about his specific traditions there.
- Support Indigenous Cinema: The success of actors like Kauchani depends on people actually watching movies like Rez Ball and Reservation Dogs.
- Follow the Tribes: If you're interested in the Coahuiltecan side of his heritage, look into the Tāp Pīlam Coahuiltecan Nation’s efforts for recognition in San Antonio. It’s a living history.
Kauchani Bratt isn't just a "new actor." He’s a bridge between different Indigenous worlds. Whether he's hitting a three-pointer or discussing philosophy, he’s carrying a massive amount of history with him. And honestly? He makes it look easy.