Reservation Dogs

The third and final season of the breakthrough series Reservation Dogs exemplifies the power of indigenous storytelling over ten exquisite and nuanced episodes chronicling life on and off the reservation. Co-created and executive produced by Sterlin Harjo, a member of the Seminole nation with Muscogee ancestry, and Taika Waititi, of Maori descent, the closing season tackles issues of poverty, forced assimilation, ancestral rites, and more, with humor, depth, and frequent touches of magical realism. Audiences continue following Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Elora Danan (Devery Jacobs), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis), and Cheese (Lane Factor) as they make their way from high school to adulthood. Smart-mouthed spirit guides such as William “Spirit” Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth) help and hinder them along the way until the group’s journey culminates in an artful finale that honors the fierce independence of the series and its Indigenous makers. For dispelling Hollywood’s colonialist tropes and turning violent or sanctimonious depictions of Indigenous Americans into fiercely liberated portrayals of individuals navigating life on the Rez, we honor Reservation Dogs with a second Peabody Award.