‘Reservation Dogs’ Star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai on the Show’s ‘Bittersweet’ End, Telling Accurate Native Stories and Hopes for Bear’s Future

As a lifelong cinephile who has seen my fair share of feel-good stories, none have left such an indelible impression on me as the overdue recognition of “Reservation Dogs.” Having grown up watching the series unfold, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of connection to its characters and their journey.

Among all heartwarming tales during this year’s Emmy awards, none is more satisfying than the long-overdue recognition for “Reservation Dogs,” the FX series that combines humor and coming-of-age themes. In its third and final season, it garnered four nominations, a stark contrast to the initial two seasons which were overlooked. One of these nominations was bestowed upon D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, the 22-year-old Canadian actor who brilliantly portrays Bear, a character from the group of Native American teenagers in Okern, Oklahoma.

In the series, Bear, who has been deeply affected by his friend Daniel’s (Dalton Cramer) suicide, conspires with the Dogs to leave their home for California. The final scene shows him in harmony with his questionable spirit guide, William Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth), finding solace within himself and expressing gratitude towards his community. Later, Woon-A-Tai shared with EbMaster about his personal growth during filming, collaborating with showrunner Sterlin Harjo, and the insights he gained from a unique life experience.

You were still a teenager when you were first cast, right?

Absolutely. At that time, I was on the cusp of adulthood, about to celebrate my 19th birthday. We were on the brink of the pandemic. I received an audition for a self-tape that spanned four pages in length. Even without reading the script, I felt a strong bond with Bear from those four pages alone.

I tried out for the role and received a call back. Later, they arranged for me to travel there; it was my initial visit to California. I was quite anxious. The performer portraying Daniel – Dalton Kramer – it was just him and I who were remaining in contention for the part of Bear.

As a film enthusiast, I recall finding myself in a unique situation before stepping into that room. The air was thick with laughter, a sound I hadn’t heard from Sterlin before. His laugh, reminiscent of a hyena’s, was infectious and I found myself wanting to be a part of it.

Besides the hyena laugh, what was your relationship with Sterlin Harjo like?

Sterlin is one of my most cherished directors I’ve collaborated with. To me, he’s like an honorary uncle, and I hope he views me as a valued nephew. He relied on casting director Angelique Midthunder to make the right choices, and by trusting her and us, he allowed us a great deal of creative freedom – enabling us to deliver lines in our unique styles, even incorporating some improvisation. Paulina Alexis (Willie Jack) had many improvised lines, for instance. He worked closely with us, helping us tell the story from our perspective, as we deeply understood our characters.

The atmosphere was electric, as if we were one large, joyous family on an exhilarating amusement park adventure, and then our father abruptly announced we must leave. We were deeply immersed, basking in the thrill, only to be told that it was coming to a close. This moment was undeniably a mix of joy and sadness, but I fully grasped why he felt it necessary to bring things to a conclusion. It wasn’t that Sterlin wasn’t responsible for crafting the show or that I, as an actor, was producing it solely for financial gain or convenience. Instead, we recognized that every tale has a commencement, development, and resolution, and this one deserved a fitting conclusion.

It seems to me that their initial notion was rooted from the outset. These individuals attributed the demise of their cherished companion to the surroundings they inhabited. They accused their environment. Among them, Bear in particular harbored feelings that the greener pastures lay beyond his reach, believing a superior life awaited him with his father in California. Yet, upon relocating and experiencing the truth, he eventually recognized that the bond holding them together, the healing factor, was their community back home – the very place they felt the need to escape from.

It was moving to conclude the series with an episode centered around a funeral, as it underscores how Native communities approach death in contrast to many Western civilizations. Instead of focusing solely on mourning, they gather to celebrate the deceased’s life. In this case, we were celebrating not only the character Fixico’s life but also the life of “Reservation Dogs.” Thus, it was a profoundly touching conclusion.
Can you share your thoughts about what might happen next in Bear’s journey?

I’m quite certain we’ll have the chance to witness it someday! It seems as though Bear has discovered what he had been searching for all along – a sense of belonging and something worthy to call his own and take pride in. After a prolonged search, spanning across three seasons, I believe Oklahoma and his community are what he found. I have a strong feeling that Bear will decide to stay in Oklahoma. As for his relationship with Jackie, only time will tell, but I am certain that where Bear resides is where he truly belongs: with his community.

Indeed, the previous day’s filming was dedicated to shooting the emotional funeral scene, which was truly heartwarming since we were reunited with everyone. However, the final moments, the last few hours, were filled with tears. This was particularly evident when they called “cut.” The entire crew understood the significance and magnitude of this episode, just as I feel connected to the show, considering it as much theirs as mine.

In the final scene of my last episode, I worked with William Knifeman, an experience that was particularly enjoyable since throughout the previous season, my character Bear was quite isolated. It felt odd not having him around for guidance, but in our last encounter, we were joined by Dallas Goldtooth. This meeting with William Knifeman was satisfying. However, I had a challenge – I couldn’t whistle! Yes, you heard it right; I can’t whistle. So, Sterlin Harjo helped me learn to whistle during the final 30 minutes of filming, which was quite an ordeal since whistling at night is considered bad luck in some cultures. This left me feeling a bit nervous and apprehensive. All in all, my last scene ended up being the crew laughing at my attempts to learn how to whistle! It was a somewhat underwhelming end to a unique series like “Reservation Dogs”. Now, transitioning from this indie project to mainstream Hollywood is an interesting experience.

Lesson from my experiences, particularly in projects focusing on Indigenous themes, is that it’s crucial to involve an Indigenous writer and director. Previously, I was accustomed to working with many non-Indigenous individuals. The series “Reservation Dogs” has shown me the significance of allowing us to narrate our own tales. No one should recount our stories but us; this practice has led to a long history of misrepresentation and inaccuracies. Going forward, I am fully committed to sharing Native narratives through an authentic Indigenous perspective.

2024-08-08 21:17

‘Reservation Dogs’ Star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai on the Show’s ‘Bittersweet’ End, Telling Accurate Native Stories and Hopes for Bear’s Future

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