Lindsey Bark
Cherokee Phoenix
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The rise of Native stories being told like “Reservation Dogs,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” and the release of the first Indigenous Marvel anti-hero portrayed by Alaqua Cox in “Echo,” is showcasing more Native acting talent.
This increased exposure for Native actors has led to Blackfeet actress Lily Gladstone becoming the first Native best actress winner at the Golden Globes for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and she is nominated in the same category for the Academy Awards, which will be presented in March.
Rather than an individualized win, it has helped create more space for Native people in the film and television industry.
“Getting into the film industry is much more of a possibility now for Natives in Oklahoma than ever before,” Cherokee Nation citizen and actor Ryker Sixkiller said. Sixkiller said seeing Gladstone’s win was a surreal moment, but it also felt right. “Lily put so much into that role and is such a genuine person. It was a win for Indian Country, and it’s exciting to know that the youth have someone like her to look up to,” Sixkiller said.
Cherokee Nation citizen and actor Nathalie Standingcloud and Sixkiller have both been involved in projects with Gladstone. Though the Native acting community is small, and seeing the same actors across multiple projects, there is a continued need for more Native workers in film to help portray more accurate narratives.
Standingcloud grew up seeing her relatives on television and with Gladstone’s win, sees even more potential for Native people to be included in film.
“In that moment, seeing Lily on stage, it brought me back to when I saw my aunt Kimberly (Guerrero) on TV for the first time as a guest star on the Seinfeld show,” Standingcloud said. “Seeing is believing, and I have this feeling like I can do it, too. Although getting awards is nice, it’s way bigger than that.”
“In order to work with the resources, we need to tell our stories the way we want them to be told. We need those allies in Hollywood to trust us,” Standingcloud said.
Sixkiller said being able to tell one’s own story helps to reclaim the truth that historically has been inaccurate in Hollywood.
“Traditionally, stories told on film that portray Native people aren’t told by Natives, which has resulted in inaccuracies that other people, including Native children, believe to be true about their own history,” Sixkiller said.
While Standingcloud and Sixkiller are making their way through film and television, each have goals to obtain both as a Native person and an actor, together and separately.
“First I want to be that authentic representation for Native roles when it is needed. Secondly, as an artist, I’m very interested in learning how to work with animation like the movies I grew up watching. Finally, I’d like to work on a project and play a role that doesn’t rely heavily on my cultural background,” Standingcloud said.
Sixkiller has pursued stunt work in his acting performances, which has helped him obtain multiple roles.
“Performing stunts over the years has helped me reach some big acting goals of mine. I’ve done stunts in ‘Reservation Dogs,’ ‘Echo,’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Dinosaur World’ giving me the opportunity to work alongside people like Lily Gladstone, Xing Yu, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro. I even got to work on ‘Tulsa King’ with a childhood hero, Sylvester Stallone, which seems impossible for a Native kid from Adair County. Branching into the world of stunts has helped me land roles that are a bit more in-depth and challenging,” he said.
While it can seem daunting, Standingcloud said trying and being told “no” is not the worst thing in the world for those getting into acting.
“In this industry there can be a lot of feelings of rejection before you get the work you want. But it’s important to keep in mind every encounter or interaction you have while being in that environment counts. Keep good character and work ethic because you never know who is watching you. Word travels fast,” she said.
In addition to Gladstone’s historic Golden Globe win, it was recently announced she is nominated in the best actress category for the Academy Awards. The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, is scheduled for Sunday, March 10.
