‘Reservation Dogs’ Star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Says We Need More Indigenous Representation Behind The Camera: ‘It’s In Our DNA To Tell Stories’

etcanada.com:

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai wants to see more Indigenous art on our screens. The “Reservation Dogs” star recently sat down with ET Canada’s Carlos Bustamante as part of our “Indigenous Artists and Icons: Inspiring Change” special in honour of National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. READ MORE: Indigenous NHL Star Ethan Bear Opens Up About How The League Should Fight Racism Moving Forward: ‘It’s Everyone’s Job To Support Each Other’ With a growing movement of Indigenous artists making a mark in Hollywood and beyond, the 22-year-old Canadian, who is of part Oji-Cree descent, shared what it’s like to be bringing the stories of Indigenous people to audiences in such a big way. “It’s really a weird feeling,” he admitted. “I’m very proud that I got to be a part of something, in my opinion, that’s so historical.

Being a part of history is crazy to me.” Reflecting on Indigenous people being able to tell their stories their way, Woon-A-Tai added, “It’s a new feeling.

As much as I am new in this industry, I could speak upon other native writers and actors that this is a very new feeling for all of us, to be in the space that we are all in.” “Forever our story has been told from other people’s perspectives,” he continued. “Our story was not told by us.

So you have stuff that we see in the United States called boarding schools, in Canada called residential schools. We see these and every time that it was depicted in cinema, on television, it was never done by an Indigenous writer, director or actors.