There is room for everyone – at least on paper – and Native Americans already had to make a bit of noise with a series that Disney +: the dream of four teenagers who want to change their boring lives in Oklahoma for exciting California and a title –’Reservation Dogs’– which alludes to both the native reserves and the movie Tarantino. Its good reception in the US – it premiered on August 9, International Day of Indigenous Peoples, and has already signed for a second season – has a lot to do with the team: for the first time, practically all are descendants of indigenous peoples. That’s why it works so well, with its hilarious characters, its crazy adventures and a sour humor that escapes the cliché.
In fact its creators, Taika Waititi (the New Zealand director of ‘Jojo Rabbit’) and Sterling Harjo (founder of the comedy group The 1491s, whose members work on ‘Reservation Dogs’) were inspired by their own experiences to set the plot, betting on unknown actors. “We are tired of seeing ourselves walking through the forest talking to ghosts or yelling at the wind as if we had the answers for our relationship with nature. And all this while a flute plays,” Waititi explains.
That is why this series starring Paulina Alexis, Devery Jacobs, Lane Factor y D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai it has earned the nickname of the most radical adolescent ‘show’. And one of the most acclaimed kids is the latter, Living-A-Tai, from the ‘oji-cree’ tribe. Born 20 years ago in Toronto, where he lives with his twin brother Xxavier, he is a rising star who made his television debut in 2018 with ‘Holly Hobbie’ and made his film debut in 2020 with ‘Beans’, an award-winning film in Canada.
“We are tired of seeing ourselves walking through the forest talking to ghosts or yelling at the wind as if we had the answers for our relationship with nature. And all this while a flute plays,” explains the creator
Today he is one of the freshest faces in Hollywood, to whom the fashion brands are already screaming. Help your physique and a good eye to sign the stylist Avo Yermayyan, which has helped her dress up on her press tour to present the series with looks inspired by her heritage, mixing traditional pieces with those of emerging indigenous designers. “I’ve always loved fashion, so having the opportunity to tell my story through clothes has been a dream come true,” she tells ‘Vogue’.
His tribe settles on the Big Trout Lake Reservation, “also known as Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, or KI for short,” explains the actor in the latest issue of ‘Native Max Magazine’. “I have a lot to do with my character and that idea of wanting to find a place to run away and fix problems. The trip from rural Oklahoma to California as salvation happened to me, because, even though I was born and raised in Toronto, the most Big from Canada, I’m always looking for something new. I also think I’m kind, like Bear. “
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With grandfather’s ‘mukluks’
The actor poses with his grandfather’s boots –’mukluks’–, made in his reserve. “They are 60 years old, he only wore them once and they fit me perfectly. I try to support indigenous designers and companies like Tribe Life Originalz or Eighth Generation,” he insists. Regarding his participation in the series, Living-A-Tai explains how his life has changed: “I had never been in such a big production, nor had I had a leading role, nor had I traveled outside of Canada to shoot. It has been very interesting to go to Oklahoma”, the young man emphasizes about such a state It is important to their culture that the United States Supreme Court declared half of the territory as a Native American reservation in 2020.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com