I admit that, as a super fan, I'm far from objective. But at its core, it was the humanity of the simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking storylines that enraptured fans – although not, it seems, Emmy and Golden Globes voters. It didn't hold back on its depictions of the many hardships that tribal communities face in the wake of colonialism, such as forced assimilation, inordinate violence, marked health disparities, and lower life expectancies.
Premiering in 2021, this coming-of-age tale told the story of four teens trying to navigate modern life on an Oklahoma Indian reservation. For Native Americans like me who have rarely seen ourselves accurately represented in entertainment, the revolutionary TV show Reservation Dogs has been both life-affirming and life-changing.
