REVIEW ESSAY: William “Spirit” Knifeman
The postindian warrior of survivance in Reservation Dogs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22024/UniKent/03/tm.1342Abstract
Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s hit television show Reservation Dogs (2021-2023) has revolutionised Indigenous representation in the mainstream. This review discusses the role of the character William “Spirit” Knifeman (Dallas Goldtooth) as the embodiment of what Gerald Vizenor describes as a postindian warrior. Knifeman allows the screenwriters of Reservation Dogs to employ a blend of trickster storytelling, humour, and subversion to create a sense of survivance within the show. These narratives of survivance help shatter the mass-mediated figure of the imagined indian and are shown to provide a sense of healing to both individuals and their wider communities.
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