- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Co-created by Indigenous filmmakers Sterlin Harjo (Seminole) and Taika Waititi (Māori), the coming-of-age drama/comedy follows the lives of four Native American teens — played by’ Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis and Lane Factor — growing up on an Oklahoma reservation. The show debuted in 2021 to immediate critical acclaim.
The first two seasons of “Reservation Dogs” takes viewers on a journey with the teenage characters who are grieving the death of their best friend and promising to fulfill his dream of traveling to California. The show — which has an all-Indigenous writer’s room, crew and regular cast — has received wide praise for its nuanced portrayal of modern Native life and has netted numerous awards, including a 2022 Peabody Award and a 2022 Independent Spirit Award. The show has a 99% rating on the popular movie and television review website Rotten Tomatoes, making it one of the website’s top-rated shows of all time.
“It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen or felt before,” said Danger, who is a member of the Muscogee and Seminole nations. “We are so often seen as historical relics. To see us in a modern setting, dealing with real problems – but also rez problems – was so refreshing and says, ‘We are here. And we are going to be represented.’”
Season two, which premiered on Sep. 28, 2022, featured cameos by several well-known Native Americans, including former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, award-winning actor and comic Tatanka Means, and “Prey” actress Amber Midthunder.
In an interview with GQ Magazine in 2022, Harjo was asked how he felt about the show — embraced by both audiences and critics — being passed over for an Emmy.
“The fact that I get to tell this story and it’s supported and we’re on Season 3, I mean, that’s better than any Emmy,” Harjo replied. “The fact that Native people have something they’re so proud of and take ownership of is better than any Emmy.”
More Stories Like This
Religion Focus of New Eiteljorg Efforts Funded by $2.5M Lilly Endowment Inc. GrantChickasaw Artist Regina Free Free Wins Best of Show at Hushtola Art Market
Sundance 2025 Short Film Lineup Unveiled: Indigenous Stories Shine Among 57 Global Selections
SWAIA Announces Dates for 2025 Native Fashion Week
Sundance 2025 Lineup Highlights Powerful Indigenous Stories, Including ‘Free Leonard Peltier’ and ‘El Norte'
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
Right now, your support goes twice as far. Thanks to a generous $35,000 matching fund, every dollar you give during December 2024 will be doubled to protect sovereignty and amplify Native voices.
No paywalls. No corporate owners. Just independent, Indigenous journalism.
