Indigenous Media Rewind 2023
'Tis the season for reflection and celebration! As we eagerly step into 2024, it's time to fondly reminisce about the incredible moments that made 2023 extraordinary. At Red House, our unwavering dedication to amplifying Indigenous voices across all forms of media remains steadfast. From the silver screen to television, from gripping podcasts to groundbreaking web series, we're thrilled to present our curated collection: the top 10 Indigenous media triumphs of the year. Join us in reliving these remarkable achievements and share them with your loved ones. Don't hesitate to let us know about any gems we might have missed—we're all ears!
Killers of the Flower Moon - Theatrical Release
Scorcese’s retelling of David Grann’s book by the same name, recounts the true story of the Osage Nation and the crimes committed against their people in 1920s Oklahoma at the height of the oil boom. The film stars Leonard DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, Lily Gladstone as Mollie Kyle and Robert De Niro as the villainous William Hale. Eagerly anticipated after many setbacks and speculation, the film arrived in theaters in early October. Though it was met with mixed reviews, the film has been lauded by the Osage People and by Indigenous groups overall as a win in terms of representation and authenticity in ways in which the crew and cast were realistically represented, given agency, and that their cultural nuances were respectfully portrayed. The commendation stems from the concerted efforts made by the production team to collaborate closely with Indigenous consultants, ensuring accurate depictions of traditions, language, and the complexity of Indigenous identities.
Lily Gladstone - Gets Her Glow-up
In Killers of the Flower Moon, Lily Gladstone's compelling portrayal of Mollie Kyle alongside Leonardo DiCaprio has earned her acclaim, multiple nominations, and awards, notably a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama. As Oscar season approaches, speculation mounts around a potential Best Actress nomination in 2024. Could this be the moment for an Indigenous actress to claim Hollywood's top prize? It's premature to say, but we're enthusiastically rooting for you, Lily!
Fancy Dance Creators - Put Hollywood on Notice
Filmmakers Erica Tremblay and Miciana Alise, creators of the acclaimed film "Fancy Dance," featuring Lily Gladstone and Isabel Deroy-Olson, debuted to resounding praise at Sundance and SXSW. The film’s success, however has failed to secure a distribution deal in Hollywood. In an effort to shed light on the issue surrounding not only “Fancy Dance” but other Indigenous films, they boldly called out major streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, and AppleTV+ for what appears to be a significant oversight in fostering genuine diversity and inclusion in their programming. As Lily's prominence in the industry continues to soar, we anticipate and urge these streaming giants to take a proactive stance in promoting the other valuable, albeit smaller, projects she's been involved in. It's crucial for them to actively expand Indigenous representation within their libraries and demonstrate a sincere commitment to inclusivity in storytelling.
Reservation Dogs - Final Season
All good things must come to an end, and with this came (cue the tears) the final season of Reservation Dogs. While fans of the show will have to relive the lives of Elora, Bear, Cheese and Willie Jack by binging all four seasons on repeat (we all have an auntie or uncle who still needs to watch it, right?) We can't all help but feel like we’ve been left behind by our four Rez Dogs. There are talks however, of a potential movie in the works from creator Sterlin Harjo. While we hope it comes soon, we’re going to grab our tissues and go watch the final episode again just to let it sucker punch us in the feels once more.
Dark Winds - Renewed for Season 3
There’s good news for fans of Officer Big, you can still catch Zahn McClarnon playing hot sheriff over on AMC’s “Dark Winds.” Currently streaming on both AMC+ and HBO, season two features Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) as he reunites with Jim Chee played by Kiowa Gordon, his former deputy turned private eye. When their separate cases bring them together in pursuit of the same suspect, they find themselves in the high desert of Navajo Country chasing a killer who’s turned his sights on them to protect a secret that rips open old wounds and challenges Leaphorn’s moral and professional code. With the help of Sgt. Manuelito (Jessica Matten) and Valencia County Sheriff Gordo Sena (A Martinez), Leaphorn and Chee must thwart their would-be assassin and restore balance not only to their own lives, but to the reservation that depends on them. In September AMC confirmed season 3 will go into production sometime in 2024 and is set for release in early 2025.
The Writers & Actors Guilds - Go On Strike
We can’t talk about this year’s films and TV shows without mentioning the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. This was important in so many ways for the acting and writing community at large which saw a massive turnout of actors, writers, and creators from across the industry in support of fair pay, better working conditions and restrictions on AI both in the writers room and onscreen. Representing both on picket lines in-person and online were the Indigenous film and TV community including stars like actress Sarah Podemski from “Reservation Dogs’, “Dark Winds’ Kiowa Gordon, “Prey” producer Jhane Meyers, and even Red House’s own, Marcus LaVoi of “Chambers.” The SAG-AFTRA' strike went on for a record 118 days, and in the end a tentative deal was made in early November fulfilling many of the demands. The writers strike ended after 148 days and is tied with the 1960 strike as the second longest labor stoppage that the WGA has performed, only behind the 1988 strike (153 days).
D.C.’s Blue Beetle - Theatrical Release
This year was big for Latino actors as well, as the DCU’s Blue Beetle hit theaters in late summer as the first live-action movie starring a Latino superhero, and it was shot entirely in Puerto Rico. It also takes Latino representation to the next level by not only making Jamie but the entire Reyes family the focus. Blue Beetle stars Xolo Mariduena in the titular role as Jaime Reyes, who dreams of making his family proud, until an alien scarab decides to make Reyes its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle. The film’s mostly Latine & Indigenous cast include Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Damián Alcázar, Belissa Escobedo and Raoul Max Trujillo as the formidable Carpax.
Lakota Nation Vs. The United States - Theatrical Release
Indigenous people know how to make documentaries, especially ones that hit you in the gut. This summer “Lakota Nation Vs. The United States” made its debut in theaters nationwide and was met with overwhelming praise, with hopes to be an Oscar contender in 2024. Directed by Jesse Short Bull and Laura Tomaselli and written by Layli Long Soldier, Benjamin Hedin, Laura Tomaselli, Lakota Nation is a provocative, visually stunning testament to a land and a people who have survived removal, exploitation and genocide – and whose best days are yet to come. The film is now streaming on AMC+.
Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s - Wins a Pulitzer
In the second season of her Stolen series, investigative journalist Connie Walker unravels the haunting story of her father’s time at the infamous St. Michael’s boarding school in British Columbia. Beginning one night back in the late 1970s while he was working as an officer in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Connie’s father pulled over a suspected drunk driver. He walked up to the vehicle and came face-to-face with a ghost from his past—a residential school priest. What happened on the road that night set in motion an investigation that would send Connie deep into her own past, trying to uncover the secrets of her family and the legacy of trauma passed down through the generations. In this compelling, Pulitzer Prize Winning series, Connie unearths how her family's story fits into one of Canada's darkest chapters: the residential school system.
Molly of Denali & Spirit Rangers - Emmy Nominations
Indigenous children's programming also soared to new heights in 2023. Both "Molly of Denali" and "Spirit Rangers" by PBS Kids broke barriers by embracing Native identities in smart, uplifting stories for young viewers.
“Molly of Denali” has made history as the first nationally distributed children’s series featuring indigenous leads. It earned Emmy nominations this year for Outstanding Children’s Animated Series and Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program.
Likewise, “Spirit Rangers” infuses STEM learning with Mescalero Apache culture. Its inaugural season scored Emmy nods for Outstanding Preschool Series and Writing.
These trailblazing shows organically showcase the richness of indigenous heritage through lovable characters overcoming challenges. They prod young minds to question assumptions while conveying every child's equal dignity.
The recognition indicates the turning tide as audiences increasingly demand authentic representation mirroring diverse backgrounds. PBS Kids leads here - may mainstream networks now follow showcasing our humanity at all ages. For never have stories celebrating indigenous virtues been more needed to nurture compassion over division.
Honorable Mention
The Last Of Us - Why Representation Matters
Indigenous Twitter lit up during the premiere of episode 6 of the “Last Of Us” starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. The episode, title “Kin” features a cameo by Graham Greene (Reservation Dogs, Wind River, Dances with Wolves) and Elaine Miles (Smoke Signals, Northern Exposure) as elderly Indigenous couple Marlon and Florence. The reason for the explosion on social media should be evident, but to spell it out, as we continue to preach from the rooftops, representation matters. And matter it did, with several people begging for a spin-off show for the stalwart, grumpy older couple of their own.
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