My thought on why Deer Lady ordered 2whole pies is she knew someone was coming to share them with. And/or she was remembering being hungry, having no control over what she could eat and having bland tasteless food at the boarding school.
As an indigenous Maori from New Zealand, I can totally relate to this particular episode. Tamariki being forcefully taken from their homes and adopted into white families, the loss of land, language and culture, the State abuse. These are the true pillars of colonisation in all its violence and racism. These stories need to be told. Absolutely exceptional and heart wrenching episode.
Tautoko, the fact that this happened to our kaumatua generation is crazy to me and the lasting effects its hade on Maori (and all indigenous) family's. this reminded me of the movie Rabbit proof fence i watched as a kid, heart breaking and eye opening
Kia ora, I'm Māori too. Currently learning Māori language as an adult. It's not just language learning, but processing grief and generational trauma too. It's not easy at times but thankfully we have each other to support and encourage and to be able to share our stories with. This episode was just so devastating but it's so important that these stories are told. Within our indigenous cultures we have so much wisdom around healing and well-being and things we can turn to to heal ourselves. Mauri ora 🤍
I'm Irish, and for me this episode crossed wires with our history of the Industrial schools, the Magdalene laundries, the mother-and-baby homes, the mass graves found in Tuam... Wherever there has been colonialism, there has been cruelty, and hopefully there will be knowledge and solidarity... Peace...
The same can be said about the language loss. Sure, Irish is taught in our schools by now, but there are only about 40,000 to 80,000 native Irish speakers left, and less than 40% of all Irish are fluent in the language.
This episode is a MASTER PIECE. I have never seen such an accurate portrayal of trauma and in that way it is universal. The use of the "giibberish" is an artistic perfection. It shook me to the core. Everyone should see this episode and know this awful history of our nation. It is the way in which trauma is remembered, visions, details, sounds...and only ion remembering the trauma can it be healed.
i recommend watching Rabbit proof fence, a heart breaking and eye opening film from 2002 it shows the same thing happening to a family of aboriginal sisters and is based off a true story, it's a great history lesson of colonisation and a great reminder that this has happened to all indigenous cultures
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Bear) played this episode to perfection. Didn't over act, which he easily could have, especially as the young actor that he is. Also noteable, the two main characters here, Bear and Deer Lady (Kaniehtiio Horn), are played by Native Canadian actors. The Native story is world-wide. Thank you, Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi for bringing these stories to a wider audience.
I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado and when I was in Elementary school one of our teachers told us about how the “state home” there had been an Indian boarding school and how the children were taken away from their families, had their hair cut and weren’t allowed to speak their language. I was only about 10 at the time and it left a strong impression upon me about the evils of racism and colonialism. It is important to teach children about even the ugly history of the US so we can recognize prejudice, hate and evil acts, even when it’s dressed up, thumping a bible and waving a flag.
As a non Native but as a Family of Holocaust survivors I understand the horrors the Native people in boarding schools had to deal with. I was very sad and heartbroken. I was cheering for Deer Lady to take her revenge out on this man. I felt she was a spirit guide rather then seeing her as a real living person.
The dread feeling of humans being shuffled around like livestock. How modern day we have the sex traffic and women slaves around the world. People being taken to a place where they are not sure where they are going. No matter what lifetime we are in this is happening around us everyday.
I'm a non Native who grew up in rural Australia during the ending years of the Stolen Generations. Indigenous Australians were forced to endure a very similar nightmare as Native Americans, and Natives across the globe. This episode was so beautifully done and needed to be done!
I love Deer Lady. I love Reservation Dogs and I especially loved this episode, as hard as it was to watch. I wanted Deer Lady to get revenge on the "human wolf" that made her and her friend so miserable. I'm not Native, but I am a survivor of abuse. What she did to that man, she did for all victims of abuse.
I am a 58 year old mostly white woman who grew up in utah while the Intermountain Indian Schools were operating and many LDS families had Native children living with them. I intuitively knew this was horrific and wrong. That these children had been taken from their families and culture. This episode was so Necessary and Important. It was a hard watch. The truth often is. But ultimately i found it to be cathartic, but still deeply sad. Some things can never be resolved. I think Intermountain was closed around 1980. 😢 I dont want Res Dogs to ever end.
Unfortunately most of the people who need to see this won't. What is the saying " Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it." What the "Americans did to the Natives can easily happen to them at any moment. Chinese companies have been buying up farmland in the heartland of the U S that our government pays farmers not to use. Why are they doing this? Is it because China has no farmland of their own? Is our soil better than theirs? Do they really need all that much food? Not really. It's simple. Those who control the food, control the world.
I’m 49, non-Native & an educator. I have NEVER heard of Native Boarding Schools until this particular episode. I was floored when I watched the episode & did some research after.
I learned about the schools in North America when researching the Irish Catholic institutions, whose horrific history included unknown numbers of children's deaths. Yes, I was also surprised to even imagine these situations existed, and NOBODY CARED! All of that history must become known, so it cannot be repeated.
Dude. That’s actually kinda of a shocker. My super conservative teachers in AZ told me about them. I can’t believe there are so many people who don’t know about this.
Young brothers! I was taken away from my family as an infant. There are no adoption papers or any kind of paper trail. I found out at the age of 36 that I was “adopted “. I will complete my 70th year of life in December. I found out through DNA testing that I’m 53% Indigenous. It sucks not knowing where I’m from or where I belong. Thank you for this review. God bless. Blaze
Never doubt brother. The native community is small. And even though that’s a tragedy. It might benefit you. Show your pictures, spread the word among your tribe if you can. You might just find them.
I was so reluctant to watch this episode when I heard ahead of time what it was going to be about. But I love the actress who plays dear lady she is fantastic in Letterkenny Did anyone else notice that Big's grandmother is possibly one of the children at the school? In the first episode that we see dear lady she tells Big that she knew his grandmother when they were little.
The pies are a Twin Peaks nod, since the setting is a diner. Specifically, the cherry pie, the favorite of Dale Cooper, a character who also seeks out bad folks as part of his identity as an investigator. As for the apple pie, I assume its sweetness is representative of Bear, who eats this specific pie.
I think deer eat sweet fruits, so naturally, Deer Lady would want them. Twin Peaks is a good connection too. Reminds me of the Netflix show, Sweet Tooth.
I am of Cohuiltecan heritage and went through the lack of native or Spanish language teaching as my papi wanted us to be more american than mexican in order to have an advantage in our lives. He couldn't change the way I look and I am proud to bear the face of our ancestors. I returned to Mexico to live as I thought it should be and my daughter still lives there having found herself more comfortable there with our people than trying to live here with racism of the "you people" being thrown in our face.I knew John Trudell and as another brother of native Mexican heritage I always respected him and all the brothers when they shared their wisdom with us. Give thanks for breaking this episode down so well and helping us process the emotions it invoked. 🙏
My dad was the same way as your father. He never talked or wanted to tell anyone of his indigenous side. He could barely tell people he was Mexican. We grew up in the US only speaking English. My mom spoke mainly Spanish, she had Apache grandparents on her mom's side but her father was Mexican. She was only taught Spanish, but my dad would push her to speak English as well. I always felt like he was ashamed of being Mexican. I know he would say the same thing, it benefits us to assimilate to this culture, but I feel now it robbed us of our native Mexican and Indigenous traditions we would have learned had we been told more about them.
My dad being a Mayan Indian and mother Spanish Guatemalan , Seeing the different in generational trauma after the civil war was interesting. This episode had me emotional due to seeing how Mayans were treated during the war in Guatemala.
Thank you for discussing this, as a German / Non-Native it also reminded me about the Holocaust as mentioned here in the threads, and I guess other refugees coming to Europe / Germany, seeing it through their eyes, perspective, not understanding the language. It's a really impressive series, and I can't wait until season 3 is ready to be seen in Germany. The way it is terrifying, education, entertaining, soul touching, uplifting all at the same really speaks of the quality of it. Thank you for sharing your perspectives.
When I saw the warning in the beginning of the episode, I immediately teared up. I read the book "Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery", and one of the stories is about an indigenous person, Danny. His experiences in "boarding schools" are very similar/worse than this episode. (I am not Native, but Polish. My dad is a refugee, born in a displacement camp in Germany.) (Edited to say that we (me, my siblings, my cousins) were not taught Polish for the reasons discussed here.)
On rewatch this time I noticed that in the previous episode Maximus and Bear talked about poetry and Bucky sharing poetry. Maximus explained that poetry's about what's unsaid between the lines. When Bear encounters Deer Lady she's reading poetry.
You asked about non-native perspectives on this episode. My ancestors came here mainly around 1850 and pretty much came straight to chicago. One line came around 1910. I grew up Catholic. I heard about the boarding schools a few years ago. But this was so heart wrenching because it was the child’s perspective. You can few the horror - great commentary on this being shot like a horror movie - the children are experiencing and it is probably as close as we will get to understanding what they went through. I’m grateful for the episode because it made me think about what happened in a more authentic way then just understanding it happened. A lot of crying, horror, pain, and really a lot of shame that people can do such a thing to children. So glad I found your channels on RUclips. I really enjoy your perspectives and stories.
This broke my heart 💔 when I realized what the subject of the episode was going to be . I loved how well done this episode was . I cried a lot but at least we know now and we showed our ancestors and elders and the creator that we will never let anyone else again forget , 🦋😔💙. I love this channel. Great vibes. Thank you gentlemen
Thank you for taking a moment to write a comment. This episode was so heavy yet so important. It was great to see this story being told in this way. 🙏🏽
Another excellent review and analysis. My uncles went to Chilocco, but never spoke about it. Grandma told me the story about why they went or I wouldn’t have known. I thought of several things in addition to your points. First, a deer generally doesn’t kill a wolf, so I think juxtaposing how Deer Lady attacking a wolf with a deer attacking a wolf would make a deer afraid to go into an encounter that might kill the deer. Thus, she is afraid on two levels, from the trauma and as a deer spirit. She clearly knew where he was. She didn’t need directions. I think she had been putting it off out of fear and the antler breaking was the spirit world reminding her of her obligation. Secondly, I’m Cherokee, not Kiowa, but I thought of clan revenge. Koda became her family and her clan. In the gay world we talk of the logical family we form from friends when our biological families are abusive or cannot meet us in the way we deserve. Koda is her logical family and clan. When he is killed, as his clan member, she can kill the killer for even an accidental death, so that Koda’s spirit can leave this world, where it is trapped. The killer’s spirit takes Koda’s spirit’s place trapped on earth. Thus, it might be the spirit of Koda (tsigesv) who broke her antler, calling to her to avenge his death, which she was afraid to do. Finally, we tend to think that our interactions with our ancestors and the spirits is one way from them to us. I don’t think that is the case. From spirit plates to other aspects, we give and benefit our ancestors and spirits. It’s a two-way street. So I think the spirits sent Bear to Deer Lady to help give her the resolve necessary to stalk and chase the apex predator of her logical family/clan member, since his family would be unable to do it. She was the only entity who could do it. That’s why the line about how Bear reminds her of Koda is important, as well as talking about how when she crosses paths with someone, it is usually for a reason. We and Bear assume it is about what she has to do with Bear, but it’s actually about what Bear can do for her. With Bear with her, she is able to confront her own fears and do her job. Bear naturally thinks about how the two of them meeting is because he is somehow deficient, which is usually why a man meets Deer Lady, but she needed him and his new spiritual gift to overcome her own fear of the wolf. So she reassures him that he’s not his father, he is not the deficient man his father is. He is different. Finally, I don’t think Bear would have intersected with Deer Lady at all were it not for his choosing the spiritual path in the previous episode. His choice made him available for the spirits to use in a way that he’ll never understand. So, I think that sometimes our ancestors and the spirits sometimes help us and sometimes, unbeknownst to us, we help them. We don’t have to understand how or why.
So many good points in your analysis! Thank you! That is good! We totally forgot about Bear's spiritual aspect. The way spirits have an influence on the story this episode. I definitely agree about Koda becoming Deer Lady's family, her clan.
I really like your perspective! In addition, I'd like to point out a wolf isn't really an apex predator, it can't do anything against a bear, is afraid of humans, and I think is at a disadventage against pumas, lynx and wolverines, especially alone. But as you pointed out, the deer lady is... well, a deer. And not any deer, a doe. Does don't have antlers or any natural weapons, her main defense strategy is running away, she's ultimately a prey and not one that could fight back against a predator such as a wolf. So it could be weird that such a spirit of revenge and retribution would be associated to such a vulnerable creature, unless the image of the doe is first and foremost a deception to lure in predators. It seems to be her usual routine, appearing inoffensive and vulnerable so those who would take adventage on her feel overconfident and the others are spared, but with the wolf it's different from the other cases because he's old and won't do anything now, but he has already shawn her his fangs when she was a human girl so the judgement is already passed before she meets him again.
One interesting observation I saw on Reddit was that in nature the wolf always comes out on top of the deer, but when Deerlady met Bear she finds the strength to confront the wolf.
Fabulous discussion; thank you! I've watched this episode twice, but would never have picked up on things like the change in aspect ratio and the horror-movie styling and the camera angles, all choices that deepen the storytelling without my even realizing it. As a non-native, I did know about boarding school atrocities, so my stomach definitely clenched when that warning popped up. Can't imagine how much harder that would hit when you have a personal connection. Gah, love Res Dogs, loved this episode, and thrilled that I've discovered your channel. I'm going to watch all your recaps now!
The gibberish reminded me of the myth that made us play the Beatles records backwards to hear “Paul is dead” - it made the nuns sound like they were the demons.
This episode was an absolute masterpiece. I absolutely loved that the nuns were speaking gibberish. I’m from Regina, about 30 min from where the last residential school in Canada was closed (1994) and of course we were taught nothing about them and the horrors done. This episode should be mandatory in all schools when talking about colonialism and Canadian studies.
I'm indigenous Mexican also an Immigrant and its sad that a lot of our native languages Are lost, not spoken or acknowledged because of when Spanish colonizers came they forced us to speak there language A lot of people don't know this. But Spanish is not Mexico's native tongue. It's colonizers language. Mexico still deals with colorism and racism to this day between native Mexicans, afro Mexican and white mexicans A lot of people don't know this, but most of the people in Mexico are natives or mixed we are everywhere, but the rich white Mexicans in power don't want anybody to acknowledge this and want to keep everybody blinded. And in denial of their blood and roots.
I recently just heard the words spoken out loud that Mexicans are as indigenous as Dine and Lakota and everyone else. Then an old map rose up from a page to affirm this. The text said whites and Spanish took your lands. Today white extremists scream at Mexicans to go home. They tell First peoples the same. So it was great when natives said, fine, I will pitch a teepee in your back yard. Mexicans need to say fine, will rebuild my casa in your front yard. This is their home. I am learning cultures so I can blend and do things their way, whatever country I am in. I do not plan to gentrify and will just start learning languages like a mad woman. Lol. Mexicans were also here first.
My grandmother taught my mother who taught me how to count to 5 in Rarumari (white people call us Taruhamara or something like that) but, that was all she could remember of the People's language before being forced to speak in Spanish. I'm sorry you lost your connection to the elders of your people.
This episode was so heartbreaking. I knew where they were going as a non-native. But it's because I've researched MMIW after reading Flowers of the Killer Moon. It horrific and disturbing.
I'm so happy to see you all back on RUclips!!! I miss your videos on "patricksanavajo" channel.. I'mma 65 year old retired Hispanic/DNA showing Indigenous roots/ NM and Colorado... I've been watching Rez Dogs from the get go!!
One thought about the pie flavors too was that both cherry and apple are promoted as the most “American” of pies. By ordering both (in anticipation of Bear joining her), Deer Lady turns that pie “patriotism” on its head.
As a person that has Indigenous ancestors from both Northern part of North American area as well as Southern Mexico. This episode got to me, even though I only have heard stories about my ancestors. My mother was born in 1935 and she had Apache grandparents, she passed away and didn't like to talk about her families history so I don't know much about my ancestors. These stories are not taught in schools, so watching this made me feel sad for my ancestors that were persecuted and driven off their lands, just for being different... This episode definitely made me cry. 😢💔
I'm English, my wife is Canadian and her grandfather was Ojibwe. When I first visited Canada we went to the human rights museum in Winnipeg. I can tell you I left there with a heavey heart , it never fails to amaze me how evil people can be to each other ,but I also know that there are good honest people all over this world and for my part I am happy to call any of these people my brothers and sister's . Res Dogs is one of the best programs I've watched for a long time. The characters were all fantastic, but William knifeman and of coarse his horse were just hilarious.
This episode really opened my eyes to how the native populations and the black slaves brought to America had so much in common in a way I'd never internalized. Removal/destruction of community and being treated "lesser than". Powerful. Loved the breakdown, keep up the good work!
YESSS was waiting to hear y’all talk about this ep. It truly deserves awards and I’m hoping this will inspire non natives to seek education and understanding just to see more about residential schools. Cuz it’s not like they’re taught in US curriculum. Also felt the same when Ian expressed what life could’ve been like without the schools. The family we’d still may have the languages and cultures that could still be thriving. Excited to see y’all chat it up for ep 4 next.
It's because of the schools that my great grandmother on my dad's side was forced to go to is the reason why I don't know my Meskwaki culture and traditions, I am currently trying to find out the information I need to know for my ancestors.
As Deer Lady is standing behind the old man, right before she kills him, we see a print on the wall over her right shoulder of a wolf standing on a hill overlooking a village. It’s a cold Winter night and you can see the steam of his hot breath in the frigid air. This print was prevalent in white middle and working class homes through the 40s and 50s. My parents had one and I had it professionally framed and it is hanging in my home. As a child I was fascinated by this image. As an adult I wonder why this print was so popular all those years ago. Another thing for Patrick to ponder upon 😉 .
Im all caucasian and I knew right away, as soon as the young girl was running barefoot in the snow, that it would be about boarding schools and be very, appropriately, hellacious. The gibberish was genius and took me into an understanding of terror. Amazing directing and writing. I am glad you are all doing this show. Thank you.
As a 1/8th with no connection to indigenous elders, I’m so grateful for you being here-that you and your lineage survived and are Showing Up. You are good neighbors.
I'm Non-Native, and I didn't know that Native American children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools. The abuse they suffered is horrifying. I came to this channel to learn more and gain perspective, and I think Reservation Dogs is a treasure.
This was such a heavy episode. I wanted to listen to a review and breakdown as soon as I finished watching it. I am so thankful for this show and the actors. Thank you for this review. Keep them coming!
This episode blew my mind! Horrible history tucked away. Heartbreaking! I appreciate your coverage of the Res Dogs Episodes. A tough episode that needed to happen. Love U guys!!!
So someone on the subreddit they said that as Deer Lady drives off at the end, they saw fishing poles sticking out of the truck- I couldn’t see them myself. But they also thought that Deer Lady’s antlers breaking at the sink in the beginning meant that she was nearing the end of her time, and she went after the Human Wolf as her final kill, and that now she could join Koda and go fishing in the spirit world. But I’d need to see the fishing poles in the truck to confirm this, so idk.
I zoomed into that scene and you can see 2 lines that look like fishing poles sticking out of the truck! unless I'm seeing things lol, I didn't see that until your comment! Deer Lady's antlers breaking signaling the end of her time? the end of her personal redemption journey? perhaps! I like that.
Reservation Dogs was going into some very deep territory and it gave me more perspective on what my Mom's Grandmother went through while she was in the boarding school when she was a little girl. My mom told me only what she knew when I was a child (only what her Grandmother would tell her). There were reasons that my Great-Grandmother would never smile and none of her Grandchildren could ever remember if she ever did smile. It is quite a shame that the Reservation Dogs series ended with just the 3rd season. There is so much more I feel that could have been covered with the show. Even more so, we all really needed to see Adam Beach make an appearance.
I told the story of boarding school at my high school's indigenous student organization. I studied Indigenous American studies. The boarding school topic was 6 weeks. I cried when i brought in the speakers because My great grandparents was the last generation. My great uncle on my grandma's family was the last principal at Phoenix Indian School. Seeing this episode with my husband was hard for me. I cried and he saw me how much pain I go through as an indigenous woman. He said that it will never happen again.
When Deer Lady orders the whole pies at the diner, maybe she knew Bear was going to be there and they were going to interact with each other. Just my thought. Love your discussions.
Good thought. It's like she knew she would meet bear so she ordered extra. Although we couldn't understand why a FULL pie? Why not just a slice lol. I guess one could say she had a "big appetite"? because after she would be getting vengeance. Hmm.
@@IndigenousTalkOfficialI saw this as a sort of allowed indulgence. I think this speaks to both being abused as a child (not having enough to eat) and as a woman (having your diet policed). And maybe this is superficial, but deer eat fruit :)
Non Native, but the son of an Armenian genocide survivor. I’m first generation American and was not taught to speak Armenian. Due to redlining my father couldn’t buy a house in Westchester, NY. He had to buy land and build his home. Many parallels, horrific genecide, prejudice, loss of culture. I loved your insightful review of Reservation Dogs. It brought to me a deeper understanding of what I had watched. I appreciate you guys.
This episode alone should get Reservation Dogs an Emmy. So much to unpack... I grew up Catholic, and seeing what Catholics and other Christians did to Native American children sickened me. They abuse their power, as seen by the still constant trickle of the past 3 decades, at least, since the child sex abuse scandal was broken in the Boston Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. The reverse gibberish spoken language reminded me of Twin Peaks, and added to the strong horror film vibe of this episode. Lots of horror film tropes in this episode, and well used. I would love to find out by anyone who knows if there was some significance to the breaking of the antler that Deer Lady was trying to wash clean, it seems like you guys, being Navajo, think there may be, but it's not part of Dine culture. I read the autobiography of the Lakota Sioux Henry Standing Bear last year, thanks to a French Canadian former-Catholic friend of mine who grew up in Lincoln Nebraska, and it felt so sanitized compared to the reality, especially his description of attending the boarding school in Pennsylvania... what's the Native American corollary to Uncle Tom? The scene where Deer Lady meets the deer in the woods who transformed her gave me a super strong Harry Potter vibe, from the scene lighting in the dark woods, to the fact that a doe was the patronus of both Lily Potter and Severus Snape. I cried ugly tears at the end when I saw Koda's last name was Littlebird. It reminded me of "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" from Harper Lee's incredible novel, and that birds, especially little birds, are innocent, and don't deserve to have senseless violence visited upon them. I need to find out why bird feathers are sacred in Native American culture, and why it is generally illegal for anyone other than licensed authorities and Native Americans to possess bird feathers. I *totally* caught the honey bunny Pulp Fiction diner reference when I first saw it, even said so to my Lincoln Nebraska friend! Like I said, *so* much to unpack, if I watched it again, I'm sure I could write even more, but I'll leave it here. You guys are doing a fantastic job with Indigenous Talk, keep up the great work, and I hope that Jacob is OK, missed him this week :)
As a non- Native woman with Native friends and a Native grandson, I found this episode of the school horrifying and extremely sad. I’ve heard the stories since I was young but to see it acted out was beyond gut wrenching. I’ve watched all the episodes and love the writing and acting. Deer Lady makes a lot of sense to me and that particular episode helped understand her back story.
Some additional thoughts about the pies: she was literally forced to eat unfamiliar food by the nuns in residential school. For Deer Lady to have complete freedom to eat a dessert, in the flavor of her choosing, in the quantity that she chooses, it is an exercise of her liberation.
This is such a great observation. I know some people who've been in starvation situations will binge eat years and years later. That may not be the message with Deer Lady but either way she probably wouldn't have ordered herself two pies if she hadn't had that trauma in her past.
Whoa. The Algorithm brought me here. This was such a fascinating convo. Thanks for putting this out here. I've missed critical reviews, cultural context with insightful interpretations, and well written and performed stories. Rad.
Elias, You made a GREAT point in talking about the Deer Lady the moment she killed the human wolf. It was her before (and maybe why) she became Deer Lady. that also gives insight into the wehn she shed a tear at the door and how her countenance changed as she was walking back to the truck. She had to become that girl again to get back to the raw terror she knew had happened and take her power back as that girl. then you could watch her countenance change when she was walking back to the truck. She walked into the house as that girl but back to the truck much more whole than when she arrived.
This episode scared the crap out of me. playing audio in reverse is classic demonic reference...like playing records backwards and summoning the devil.
There were boarding schools in my home state of Michigan until 1983. So crazy. Just a year before I was born. I didn't know that til after I watched this episode. Because only Canada openly covers the topic. My grandma refused to talk about her experience and she passed away a long time ago. (Sault Tribe Chippewa)
My aunt and father both were Forced into boarding school. My aunt said she liked it. My father is very bitter about this. Don't ask unless you want a Vietnam war. He was sent to a place close to Muskogee boarding schooling
Yá át tééh, I really enjoyed the Native breakdown on this episode, I being Navajo have heard the stories from my Mother and my Aunties about there experiences being in the boarding school in Ganada, AZ. Even though this topic is hard to discuss, you guys provided insight and humor. Subbed and Liked
A couple of things, in the beginning she is cleaning the antler and it breaks. She then sees the old man at the table looking at pictures. I believe the antler is giving her an assignment of sorts. If you pause it when she is stabbing him, you can see the antler is broken. Also, she tells Bear not to worry, that he is not his Dad. But his Dad has not been seen in over a week. Did Deer Lady kill him, was it a foreshadow in Bears life. And the wooden sign at the entrance of the mans house has his name, which is the same name the nun called him while leaning on the fence.
Thank you for your perspective on this episode. I fell in love with Reservation Dogs after watching the first episode. I lost track of the number of times it made me laugh and made me cry. This episode in particular had me in tears throughout. What a tragically beautiful work of Art. It was a pleasure listening to you discuss it.
As soon as saw the girl running I knew. Not documented indigenous.. stolen African heritage. Gave me slave catcher vibes and tears for the ancestors. This episode was amazing!
Non Native here - when Deer Lady was standing over the old man as he was talking about how he was a bad person/etc… that reminded me of a Catholic confession. And Deer Lady heard it. Before he met his Maker. Gotta say this is a great show. I’m so happy to have seen it. Happier that most involved are Native. I attended a lecture a year ago about the “schools” and I was horrified when I finally learned about it.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. As a kid- growing up in 70's DETROIT- I had a personal perspective of "The Peculiar Institution". I learned about The Holocaust and I learned about The Japanese Internment camps. I NEVER learned about THIS. I had No idea. (Thanksgiving?!??!!! 🤦🏾♀️)
You guys are outstanding. So much to offer this discussion as film nerds, funny guys, and Native people. I also wanted to uncover the pie metaphor. Couple ideas: she’s still a kid at heart but she does what the eff she wants now so she eats pie for dinner. Orders two whole ones just cuz she can! But I agree with what you said about the cherries being shown in a gory way that makes the viewer think about blood. In Judeo Xtian teaching, the apple represented knowledge (ala Adam and Eve). She gets to eat the blood of her enemies and Bear gets the knowledge that Deer Lady is real? Not even sure he ever took a bite though. Just spitballing.
I knew right away even though I’m non-native, what was happening with terrible history and uncertain life for these kids. So heavy but I was able to watch. So Bear reminded her of her childhood friend. And then at the end the gravestone for her friend. The DEER IN THE WOOD, saving spirit WOW! I was wishing for a lighter episode after. They knocked it out the park. And psychic deer lady, even though murderous, is the great equalizer.
As a non native person I am so glad the information about the residential schools is coming out. The history of Catholic school abuse of children in their care is rising to the surface in the last 50 years in so many ways and places. The Native experience may be the worst (but Africa & South American stories are very bad too). Absolute power is always a bad thing.
16:38 When the Wolf talks about his past alcohol abuse: There is a phenomenon in domestic abuse where abusers are especially resistant to seeking treatment for alcohol abuse because they like the excuse it provides. It gives them a way to separate themselves from their violent behavior because, “It wasn’t really me. I was drunk. I wouldn’t have hit you if I was sober.” As if the abuser is their Drunk Self, and their Drunk Self is somehow a separate person that their Sober Self isn’t responsible for. The Wolf is acting like the version of himself that drank and did bad things doesn’t exist now that he doesn’t drink anymore, so he should get to leave his culpability in the past along with his drinking. Which isn’t how sobriety works, but it’s how abusers like to wield it.
Thanks for breaking down one of the best episodes of the series so far. It really gives a perspective to news articles for example about massgraves with 215 children in Kamloops.
I am so glad you gentlemen made this powerful analysis...I will share it my children and grandchildren...the resistance continues. Righteous Indignation Peace
I learned about this in history class during my junior year. Cutting their hair, stripping of their native ways. It was just terrible. I may not be native american I'm black but this episode was really sad and educational at the same time
Like natives, Hawaiians also went through the boarding schools where Hawaiians couldn't soak hawaiian nor dance hula. Thanks to King David Kalākaua, he brought the hula back.
I grew up in Chicago. I did not hear about the Indian boarding schools till moving to Arizona in 2016 and went to the Heard Museum. I was just horrified!
Totally agree that Deer Lady confronting the Wolf was the “girl” in her and less Deer Lady. The viewer has generally known her as a supernatural legend who seeks out those doing wrong, but this time it is personal. Her tear and small expression of emotion show how very difficult it is to confront one’s abuser, even for the strong in spirit. It can bring out the hurt child in even the toughest of people. For the Wolf, the things he says show that he knows his time is coming soon and the truth can no longer be denied.
My grandmother was so young she couldn't really remember but her brother was 8 years older than her and he told her and later me about what they went through as children. A Baptist couple "adopted" them and raised them "white". The couple were not necessarily cruel more like indifferent. They were expected to work hard on the farm even as children.
Hi guys... I'm half British and half Dayak Kenyan, which is a river tribe on the Mahakam river in the Borneo Indonesian rain forest. My parents married in Borneo and divorced 3 yrs later. My older brother and I moved to the UK when I was 4 yrs old in 1991. This episode was so powerful to me... because I went straight to an "old style" Catholic Boarding School here in the UK at the age of 4. I can not compare my experience to the tragic and harrowing experiences of the Indigenous kids of that generation but I could feel the similarities of what they were feeling at certain points... The biggest thing was that bizarre/ scary feeling of being in a new culture, environment, clothes, regimented schedules for pray and education... Not knowing the English language was a big one and one I really connected within this episode, because learning to read my teachers/ peers body language was massive to get by and fit in. Corporal punishment was on its way out(well, it was supposed to be) but we still experienced it in 1991-92... i.e hit with a wooden spoon or a thick cork insole on the back of the legs or the palm of your hands. We also had to stand in front of a grandfather clock for 1hr + . These were punishments for being a "bad" student... i.e doing badly in studies, losing sports matches with other schools, untidy dormitories and uniform. The main reason I mention the last passage of the strict handing outs from this school is that I remember there was an undercurrent of togetherness with all the pupils... we had each others backs. We never told on each other, we'd signal each other when teachers were about... and most of all, in break times we'd make each other laugh. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if the other kids didn't help me through that time! And that is where this episode comes in... because Coda Littlebird represents/ reminds me of that bond I created with other kids in that place, who had been there longer than me and helped me get through all those brand new experiences that I was feeling and seeing. I'm 36 now and I still remember that anxiety and fear of coming to England and then going to that school. My experience was a drop in the ocean compared to these Indigenous kids, but the feelings the episode conveyed through the screen was masterful to say the least and to be able to bring back those memories for me was emotional but cathartic. Like the "deer lady", you never forget those types of trauma's but it's a part of who you are... let's choose to remember the smile of the "Coda's" that have helped us through our own journey's. Terima kasih banyak sekali! ✌🙏
You guys are so insightful! I love this commentary and breakdown. I've been wanting to watch this Reservation Dogs ever since it was announced and, truth be told, this video came up for me with auto-play after an FX video showing each RD character in one scene. But, now, I am really excited to watch the show and now watch your episode about it. I wanted to make a comment on the pies. I still haven't seen this episode, but as for things I noticed while watching your video, the pies to me represent different sides of America. America as it wants to be known is the apple pie (as American as Apple Pie). However, the cherry pie is from "Twin Peaks," which is a TV show and movie about the darker side of America. If you haven't seen it, "Twin Peaks" is about an FBI agent coming into a small town called Twin Peaks to solve a murder of the Homecoming Queen and he often orders a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie. In the series & movie, Twin Peaks the town presents itself as a small town with well-manicured lawns and a well-adjusted, generous Homecoming Queen but it is full of serial killers and child abuse. With that in mind, it strengthens your reading about the cherry pie associated with death. It also shows Deer Lady's association with justice because the character that eats cherry pie in "Twin Peaks" is the justice figure that comes in to solve the murder. Then, the fact she chooses to eat the cherry pie over the apple pie (I didn't see the episode - did she eat the apple pie at all? I'm assuming not), it shows she is choosing to interact with the darker side of America. She is going after serial killer bloody justice in a small town. As for her ordering the whole pie, I think it is a really important detail. The fact she orders the whole pie suggests, like you said, that she is getting all of it but also that she gets to determine what amount she gets. She is now deciding which slice she takes - of America as it presents or America as it has been all along with blood and gore that needs justice and accountability - and how much. *She* now gets to decide the size of her pie slice and if/how she interacts with it, which she does by eating it. So she decides the amount of bloody justice she will take for American sins. I don't know if she finishes her pie slice or if she takes the pies with her, but I think those details would show more about her character. One more thing about the backwards talk - also seen in "Twin Peaks." The dwarf who talks with Cooper in the Black Lodge speaks backwards. So well done. I can't wait to watch this show and your videos!!! Side note about "Twin Peaks" - there was a Native American police officer character in it named Hawk. He was a badass and pretty much the best officer the police force had. There is also a lot of interaction with supposed Native American spirituality in it (White Lodge/Black Lodge) but I don't know if it was actual Native American spirituality or one that was made up for the show because of the modern Americanisms. With that in mind - would you guys dare an episode by episode watch of "Twin Peaks" for us???
@@eizapez3549 Absolutely. These are absolute atrocities. I am grateful that the filmmakers could convey the horror and terror that it was through the language of film. I can understand that. I can get really excited about great work that conveys hard truths and get really focused on the technicalities of the work itself. I hope that those affected do get justice and can finally release the terror that has been in their families for so long. I am wishing healing and health and triumph for all of those who were harmed.
This was such a well-executed and timely episode of Reservation Dogs. Seeing as only just recently were some children (bodies) returned home from one of the schools. I appreciate your input. Thank you for addressing a question I have always had of how do some indigenous people justify practicing Christianity after all the horrors that so called "Christians" committed against their people? If it were me, I would fight it with all I had and never practice it. What I heard you say, is that some do and some strongly don't. From my perspective of Koda being taken away: I think it was because they couldn't break his spirit and they found that killing it was the only way to do that. It broke my heart watching that happen. I knew it was coming. Evil can't allow any good. Those boarding schools, that so called "Christianity", this Government are evil! Look at them going to other countries still this day. It's once again the systematic destruction of anything other than what they believe. I can't imagine how many ancient stories and how much culture has been lost because of these schools and the monsters that ran them. I apologize for the rant. I feel very strongly about this.
Thank you all for your explanations and comments. I've been watching all your episode breakdowns and have learned so much more! I'm from the middle of Europe and apart from the humour and relatability of the show's characters what I really enjoyed was a glimpse into a life I have no real knowledge of or connection to apart from what I've read and seen. That was so interesting to me and all your comments have added so much more. Thank you! I did, however, know about the schools from the Canadian film "Where the Spirit Lives". I saw it many years ago over here on TV and it has haunted me. Bringing it up in a show like this is the only way. It belongs to the story and needs to be told. Also - I really liked the myth around deer lady. She is a very cool character and should get all the pie she wants!
Loved this episode!! -I have not yet seen more than a "couple of Reservation Dogs" episodes. But will make sure to watch them all, after watching this. Cruelty to children is so hard to understand.
Growing up in Florida a being a young boy in the 70s, I was more exposed to and allied with the civil rights struggle of Blacks. As can be easily understood, my elementary and high-school Native American education was very weak, to say the least. I have been watching Reservation Dogs since it first came out and absolutely love the show and the story the creators and actors are trying to tell. The characters are so fascinating. Having said all that, I learn so much from the Indigenous Talk guys. Thanks for what you all are doing!
I’m a White Oklahoman with friends who survived boarding schools. I’m so happy that this story, like the Tulsa Race Massacre, is being uncovered and presented widely. I definitely think Sterlin Harjo has enough material for a Deer Lady series-she kills bad guys with the killing styles matching how the man was bad. Kind of like “Barry” which is another talented Tulsan (Bill Hader) meets Reservation Dogs. I enjoy your videos because I genuinely want to know and understand as much as I’m allowed to about various Native cultures. Thank you for putting your experiential and educated perspectives out for all of us. And if only my White tears and apologies could fix anything but they can’t. We can only do better and that takes knowing and understanding. Thank you for your brilliant and kind, sensitive explanations to bring this understanding.
It was hard as a non native to watch but as someone who has tried to educate themselves on what happened, I knew right away they were headed to a residential school. The whole episode had me in tears. I'm glad they wrote this episode. It's so important for non native people to be told these stories because honestly a lot of people I talk to about it, don't know.
As a non native, the scene where the human wolf talks about the pictures, it gave me the impression that typical North American history class would/could never express the horrors that really went on. Also, his regrets in life did not include the horrible atrocities he inflicted on the children. He got to live out his days as if nothing ever happened. That felt like the final push for Deer Lady.
Love the breakdown and additional perspectives both on the episode and culture. Thank you! Do you all think there was any meaning to her antler breaking?
My thought on why Deer Lady ordered 2whole pies is she knew someone was coming to share them with. And/or she was remembering being hungry, having no control over what she could eat and having bland tasteless food at the boarding school.
I liked that both pies were completely eaten, when they left the restaurant!!! 👍🏿
Yes, I thought the same. As if to say no one was going to tell her what or how to eat again. She likes pie and was going to eat it all
Deer don’t eat eggs and bacon 😊
@@geoffreybudge3027 idk about bacon but they deffo do eat eggs, there's a whole casual geographic vid dedicated to this, v worth a watch
As an indigenous Maori from New Zealand, I can totally relate to this particular episode. Tamariki being forcefully taken from their homes and adopted into white families, the loss of land, language and culture, the State abuse. These are the true pillars of colonisation in all its violence and racism. These stories need to be told. Absolutely exceptional and heart wrenching episode.
Tautoko, the fact that this happened to our kaumatua generation is crazy to me and the lasting effects its hade on Maori (and all indigenous) family's. this reminded me of the movie Rabbit proof fence i watched as a kid, heart breaking and eye opening
Kia ora, I'm Māori too. Currently learning Māori language as an adult. It's not just language learning, but processing grief and generational trauma too. It's not easy at times but thankfully we have each other to support and encourage and to be able to share our stories with.
This episode was just so devastating but it's so important that these stories are told. Within our indigenous cultures we have so much wisdom around healing and well-being and things we can turn to to heal ourselves. Mauri ora 🤍
Tautoko. This episode cuts. I love this show. Mihi Aroha ❤
The Australian stolen generation basically had the same experiences. I recommend "Rabbit-Proof Fence" (2002)
I'm Irish, and for me this episode crossed wires with our history of the Industrial schools, the Magdalene laundries, the mother-and-baby homes, the mass graves found in Tuam... Wherever there has been colonialism, there has been cruelty, and hopefully there will be knowledge and solidarity... Peace...
In most cultures if one is helpless, someone will take advantage. It's inexplicable to me ...
I'm Irish/Native... your comment is valid af.
The same can be said about the language loss. Sure, Irish is taught in our schools by now, but there are only about 40,000 to 80,000 native Irish speakers left, and less than 40% of all Irish are fluent in the language.
I watched a movie many years ago called the Magdelene Sisters and it was devastating. I'll never forget it. ❤
Wowww, so much to take in! Thanks for giving us a starting point to continue our own study!
-sincerely, a native woman.
This episode is a MASTER PIECE. I have never seen such an accurate portrayal of trauma and in that way it is universal. The use of the "giibberish" is an artistic perfection. It shook me to the core. Everyone should see this episode and know this awful history of our nation. It is the way in which trauma is remembered, visions, details, sounds...and only ion remembering the trauma can it be healed.
Well said!
i recommend watching Rabbit proof fence, a heart breaking and eye opening film from 2002
it shows the same thing happening to a family of aboriginal sisters and is based off a true story, it's a great history lesson of colonisation and a great reminder that this has happened to all indigenous cultures
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Bear) played this episode to perfection. Didn't over act, which he easily could have, especially as the young actor that he is. Also noteable, the two main characters here, Bear and Deer Lady (Kaniehtiio Horn), are played by Native Canadian actors. The Native story is world-wide. Thank you, Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi for bringing these stories to a wider audience.
I grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado and when I was in Elementary school one of our teachers told us about how the “state home” there had been an Indian boarding school and how the children were taken away from their families, had their hair cut and weren’t allowed to speak their language. I was only about 10 at the time and it left a strong impression upon me about the evils of racism and colonialism. It is important to teach children about even the ugly history of the US so we can recognize prejudice, hate and evil acts, even when it’s dressed up, thumping a bible and waving a flag.
As a non Native but as a Family of Holocaust survivors I understand the horrors the Native people in boarding schools had to deal with. I was very sad and heartbroken. I was cheering for Deer Lady to take her revenge out on this man. I felt she was a spirit guide rather then seeing her as a real living person.
When I saw the kids in the back of the truck with the slats the first thing I thought of was the cattlecars taking people to the camps.
The dread feeling of humans being shuffled around like livestock. How modern day we have the sex traffic and women slaves around the world.
People being taken to a place where they are not sure where they are going. No matter what lifetime we are in this is happening around us everyday.
Not so fun fact, Hitler was actually inspired by the way the US government treated natives 💔
Amazing❤
I think "horror story" is the right way to describe the whole boarding school experience.
I'm a non Native who grew up in rural Australia during the ending years of the Stolen Generations. Indigenous Australians were forced to endure a very similar nightmare as Native Americans, and Natives across the globe. This episode was so beautifully done and needed to be done!
I love Deer Lady. I love Reservation Dogs and I especially loved this episode, as hard as it was to watch. I wanted Deer Lady to get revenge on the "human wolf" that made her and her friend so miserable. I'm not Native, but I am a survivor of abuse. What she did to that man, she did for all victims of abuse.
I am a 58 year old mostly white woman who grew up in utah while the Intermountain Indian Schools were operating and many LDS families had Native children living with them. I intuitively knew this was horrific and wrong. That these children had been taken from their families and culture.
This episode was so Necessary and Important. It was a hard watch. The truth often is. But ultimately i found it to be cathartic, but still deeply sad. Some things can never be resolved.
I think Intermountain was closed around 1980. 😢
I dont want Res Dogs to ever end.
Unfortunately most of the people who need to see this won't. What is the saying " Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it."
What the "Americans did to the Natives can easily happen to them at any moment. Chinese companies have been buying up farmland in the heartland of the U S that our government pays farmers not to use. Why are they doing this? Is it because China has no farmland of their own? Is our soil better than theirs? Do they really need all that much food? Not really. It's simple. Those who control the food, control the world.
I’m 49, non-Native & an educator. I have NEVER heard of Native Boarding Schools until this particular episode. I was floored when I watched the episode & did some research after.
I first found out in "A Good Day to Die" from 2010 at a film festival. Heartbreaking.
I learned during the 3rd season of “Anne With an E.”
I learned about the schools in North America when researching the Irish Catholic institutions, whose horrific history included unknown numbers of children's deaths. Yes, I was also surprised to even imagine these situations existed, and NOBODY CARED! All of that history must become known, so it cannot be repeated.
Same. ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’ is pretty close tho.
Dude. That’s actually kinda of a shocker. My super conservative teachers in AZ told me about them. I can’t believe there are so many people who don’t know about this.
Young brothers! I was taken away from my family as an infant. There are no adoption papers or any kind of paper trail. I found out at the age of 36 that I was “adopted “. I will complete my 70th year of life in December. I found out through DNA testing that I’m 53% Indigenous. It sucks not knowing where I’m from or where I belong. Thank you for this review. God bless.
Blaze
Never doubt brother. The native community is small. And even though that’s a tragedy. It might benefit you. Show your pictures, spread the word among your tribe if you can. You might just find them.
@@viridianacortes9642 Thank you for the words of encouragement! May our Creator bless you. Have a great evening. God bless.
Blaze
The rows of beds at the school, and then the rows of graves lined up in the same way really got to me.
I was so reluctant to watch this episode when I heard ahead of time what it was going to be about. But I love the actress who plays dear lady she is fantastic in Letterkenny
Did anyone else notice that Big's grandmother is possibly one of the children at the school? In the first episode that we see dear lady she tells Big that she knew his grandmother when they were little.
Oh! That’s right. 😮
The pies are a Twin Peaks nod, since the setting is a diner. Specifically, the cherry pie, the favorite of Dale Cooper, a character who also seeks out bad folks as part of his identity as an investigator. As for the apple pie, I assume its sweetness is representative of Bear, who eats this specific pie.
I think deer eat sweet fruits, so naturally, Deer Lady would want them. Twin Peaks is a good connection too. Reminds me of the Netflix show, Sweet Tooth.
I am of Cohuiltecan heritage and went through the lack of native or Spanish language teaching as my papi wanted us to be more american than mexican in order to have an advantage in our lives. He couldn't change the way I look and I am proud to bear the face of our ancestors. I returned to Mexico to live as I thought it should be and my daughter still lives there having found herself more comfortable there with our people than trying to live here with racism of the "you people" being thrown in our face.I knew John Trudell and as another brother of native Mexican heritage I always respected him and all the brothers when they shared their wisdom with us. Give thanks for breaking this episode down so well and helping us process the emotions it invoked. 🙏
My dad was the same way as your father. He never talked or wanted to tell anyone of his indigenous side. He could barely tell people he was Mexican. We grew up in the US only speaking English. My mom spoke mainly Spanish, she had Apache grandparents on her mom's side but her father was Mexican. She was only taught Spanish, but my dad would push her to speak English as well. I always felt like he was ashamed of being Mexican. I know he would say the same thing, it benefits us to assimilate to this culture, but I feel now it robbed us of our native Mexican and Indigenous traditions we would have learned had we been told more about them.
My dad being a Mayan Indian and mother Spanish Guatemalan , Seeing the different in generational trauma after the civil war was interesting. This episode had me emotional due to seeing how Mayans were treated during the war in Guatemala.
Thank you for discussing this, as a German / Non-Native it also reminded me about the Holocaust as mentioned here in the threads, and I guess other refugees coming to Europe / Germany, seeing it through their eyes, perspective, not understanding the language. It's a really impressive series, and I can't wait until season 3 is ready to be seen in Germany. The way it is terrifying, education, entertaining, soul touching, uplifting all at the same really speaks of the quality of it. Thank you for sharing your perspectives.
When I saw the warning in the beginning of the episode, I immediately teared up. I read the book "Good Morning, Monster: A Therapist Shares Five Heroic Stories of Emotional Recovery", and one of the stories is about an indigenous person, Danny. His experiences in "boarding schools" are very similar/worse than this episode. (I am not Native, but Polish. My dad is a refugee, born in a displacement camp in Germany.) (Edited to say that we (me, my siblings, my cousins) were not taught Polish for the reasons discussed here.)
On rewatch this time I noticed that in the previous episode Maximus and Bear talked about poetry and Bucky sharing poetry. Maximus explained that poetry's about what's unsaid between the lines. When Bear encounters Deer Lady she's reading poetry.
You asked about non-native perspectives on this episode. My ancestors came here mainly around 1850 and pretty much came straight to chicago. One line came around 1910. I grew up Catholic. I heard about the boarding schools a few years ago. But this was so heart wrenching because it was the child’s perspective. You can few the horror - great commentary on this being shot like a horror movie - the children are experiencing and it is probably as close as we will get to understanding what they went through. I’m grateful for the episode because it made me think about what happened in a more authentic way then just understanding it happened. A lot of crying, horror, pain, and really a lot of shame that people can do such a thing to children. So glad I found your channels on RUclips. I really enjoy your perspectives and stories.
This broke my heart 💔 when I realized what the subject of the episode was going to be . I loved how well done this episode was . I cried a lot but at least we know now and we showed our ancestors and elders and the creator that we will never let anyone else again forget , 🦋😔💙. I love this channel. Great vibes. Thank you gentlemen
I cried like a baby. So good, so honest.
Thank you for taking a moment to write a comment. This episode was so heavy yet so important. It was great to see this story being told in this way. 🙏🏽
Gut wrenching. Absolutely. I'm not Native, so I hope I am not overstepping here ... but this episode really got to me emotionally.
Great review, my father was a survivor of boarding school, only a few will talk about those days, he was a great man, but broken in many ways.
Another excellent review and analysis. My uncles went to Chilocco, but never spoke about it. Grandma told me the story about why they went or I wouldn’t have known.
I thought of several things in addition to your points. First, a deer generally doesn’t kill a wolf, so I think juxtaposing how Deer Lady attacking a wolf with a deer attacking a wolf would make a deer afraid to go into an encounter that might kill the deer. Thus, she is afraid on two levels, from the trauma and as a deer spirit.
She clearly knew where he was. She didn’t need directions. I think she had been putting it off out of fear and the antler breaking was the spirit world reminding her of her obligation.
Secondly, I’m Cherokee, not Kiowa, but I thought of clan revenge. Koda became her family and her clan. In the gay world we talk of the logical family we form from friends when our biological families are abusive or cannot meet us in the way we deserve. Koda is her logical family and clan.
When he is killed, as his clan member, she can kill the killer for even an accidental death, so that Koda’s spirit can leave this world, where it is trapped. The killer’s spirit takes Koda’s spirit’s place trapped on earth.
Thus, it might be the spirit of Koda (tsigesv) who broke her antler, calling to her to avenge his death, which she was afraid to do.
Finally, we tend to think that our interactions with our ancestors and the spirits is one way from them to us. I don’t think that is the case. From spirit plates to other aspects, we give and benefit our ancestors and spirits. It’s a two-way street.
So I think the spirits sent Bear to Deer Lady to help give her the resolve necessary to stalk and chase the apex predator of her logical family/clan member, since his family would be unable to do it. She was the only entity who could do it. That’s why the line about how Bear reminds her of Koda is important, as well as talking about how when she crosses paths with someone, it is usually for a reason. We and Bear assume it is about what she has to do with Bear, but it’s actually about what Bear can do for her. With Bear with her, she is able to confront her own fears and do her job.
Bear naturally thinks about how the two of them meeting is because he is somehow deficient, which is usually why a man meets Deer Lady, but she needed him and his new spiritual gift to overcome her own fear of the wolf. So she reassures him that he’s not his father, he is not the deficient man his father is. He is different.
Finally, I don’t think Bear would have intersected with Deer Lady at all were it not for his choosing the spiritual path in the previous episode. His choice made him available for the spirits to use in a way that he’ll never understand.
So, I think that sometimes our ancestors and the spirits sometimes help us and sometimes, unbeknownst to us, we help them. We don’t have to understand how or why.
So many good points in your analysis! Thank you! That is good! We totally forgot about Bear's spiritual aspect. The way spirits have an influence on the story this episode. I definitely agree about Koda becoming Deer Lady's family, her clan.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and understanding of the episode.
Such thoughtful and well realized additional information! Thank you!
I really like your perspective!
In addition, I'd like to point out a wolf isn't really an apex predator, it can't do anything against a bear, is afraid of humans, and I think is at a disadventage against pumas, lynx and wolverines, especially alone. But as you pointed out, the deer lady is... well, a deer. And not any deer, a doe. Does don't have antlers or any natural weapons, her main defense strategy is running away, she's ultimately a prey and not one that could fight back against a predator such as a wolf. So it could be weird that such a spirit of revenge and retribution would be associated to such a vulnerable creature, unless the image of the doe is first and foremost a deception to lure in predators. It seems to be her usual routine, appearing inoffensive and vulnerable so those who would take adventage on her feel overconfident and the others are spared, but with the wolf it's different from the other cases because he's old and won't do anything now, but he has already shawn her his fangs when she was a human girl so the judgement is already passed before she meets him again.
One interesting observation I saw on Reddit was that in nature the wolf always comes out on top of the deer, but when Deerlady met Bear she finds the strength to confront the wolf.
Never thought of it that way- the deer and the bear confront the wolf
Fabulous discussion; thank you! I've watched this episode twice, but would never have picked up on things like the change in aspect ratio and the horror-movie styling and the camera angles, all choices that deepen the storytelling without my even realizing it. As a non-native, I did know about boarding school atrocities, so my stomach definitely clenched when that warning popped up. Can't imagine how much harder that would hit when you have a personal connection. Gah, love Res Dogs, loved this episode, and thrilled that I've discovered your channel. I'm going to watch all your recaps now!
The gibberish reminded me of the myth that made us play the Beatles records backwards to hear “Paul is dead” - it made the nuns sound like they were the demons.
This episode was an absolute masterpiece. I absolutely loved that the nuns were speaking gibberish. I’m from Regina, about 30 min from where the last residential school in Canada was closed (1994) and of course we were taught nothing about them and the horrors done. This episode should be mandatory in all schools when talking about colonialism and Canadian studies.
I'm indigenous Mexican also an Immigrant and its sad that a lot of our native languages Are lost, not spoken or acknowledged because of when Spanish colonizers came they forced us to speak there language A lot of people don't know this. But Spanish is not Mexico's native tongue.
It's colonizers language. Mexico still deals with colorism and racism to this day between native Mexicans, afro Mexican and white mexicans A lot of people don't know this, but most of the people in Mexico are natives or mixed we are everywhere, but the rich white Mexicans in power don't want anybody to acknowledge this and want to keep everybody blinded.
And in denial of their blood and roots.
I recently just heard the words spoken out loud that Mexicans are as indigenous as Dine and Lakota and everyone else. Then an old map rose up from a page to affirm this. The text said whites and Spanish took your lands. Today white extremists scream at Mexicans to go home. They tell First peoples the same. So it was great when natives said, fine, I will pitch a teepee in your back yard. Mexicans need to say fine, will rebuild my casa in your front yard. This is their home. I am learning cultures so I can blend and do things their way, whatever country I am in. I do not plan to gentrify and will just start learning languages like a mad woman. Lol. Mexicans were also here first.
My grandmother taught my mother who taught me how to count to 5 in Rarumari (white people call us Taruhamara or something like that) but, that was all she could remember of the People's language before being forced to speak in Spanish. I'm sorry you lost your connection to the elders of your people.
Even white Mexicans have a little bit of native. They are in denial.
This episode was so heartbreaking. I knew where they were going as a non-native. But it's because I've researched MMIW after reading Flowers of the Killer Moon. It horrific and disturbing.
The Deer Lady is my favorite episode of the whole series. It was preformed to perfection and I love that she got the revenge she needed. Great show!
I'm so happy to see you all back on RUclips!!! I miss your videos on "patricksanavajo" channel.. I'mma 65 year old retired Hispanic/DNA showing Indigenous roots/ NM and Colorado... I've been watching Rez Dogs from the get go!!
One thought about the pie flavors too was that both cherry and apple are promoted as the most “American” of pies. By ordering both (in anticipation of Bear joining her), Deer Lady turns that pie “patriotism” on its head.
As a person that has Indigenous ancestors from both Northern part of North American area as well as Southern Mexico. This episode got to me, even though I only have heard stories about my ancestors. My mother was born in 1935 and she had Apache grandparents, she passed away and didn't like to talk about her families history so I don't know much about my ancestors. These stories are not taught in schools, so watching this made me feel sad for my ancestors that were persecuted and driven off their lands, just for being different...
This episode definitely made me cry. 😢💔
I'm English, my wife is Canadian and her grandfather was Ojibwe. When I first visited Canada we went to the human rights museum in Winnipeg. I can tell you I left there with a heavey heart , it never fails to amaze me how evil people can be to each other ,but I also know that there are good honest people all over this world and for my part I am happy to call any of these people my brothers and sister's . Res Dogs is one of the best programs I've watched for a long time. The characters were all fantastic, but William knifeman and of coarse his horse were just hilarious.
This episode really opened my eyes to how the native populations and the black slaves brought to America had so much in common in a way I'd never internalized. Removal/destruction of community and being treated "lesser than". Powerful.
Loved the breakdown, keep up the good work!
“they can’t destroy our spirit.” sheesh that’s super powerful to hear
YESSS was waiting to hear y’all talk about this ep. It truly deserves awards and I’m hoping this will inspire non natives to seek education and understanding just to see more about residential schools. Cuz it’s not like they’re taught in US curriculum. Also felt the same when Ian expressed what life could’ve been like without the schools. The family we’d still may have the languages and cultures that could still be thriving. Excited to see y’all chat it up for ep 4 next.
It's because of the schools that my great grandmother on my dad's side was forced to go to is the reason why I don't know my Meskwaki culture and traditions, I am currently trying to find out the information I need to know for my ancestors.
As Deer Lady is standing behind the old man, right before she kills him, we see a print on the wall over her right shoulder of a wolf standing on a hill overlooking a village. It’s a cold Winter night and you can see the steam of his hot breath in the frigid air. This print was prevalent in white middle and working class homes through the 40s and 50s. My parents had one and I had it professionally framed and it is hanging in my home. As a child I was fascinated by this image. As an adult I wonder why this print was so popular all those years ago. Another thing for Patrick to ponder upon 😉 .
Even though Koda was killed, you can see two fishing rods sticking out of the truck 😢♥
Im all caucasian and I knew right away, as soon as the young girl was running barefoot in the snow, that it would be about boarding schools and be very, appropriately, hellacious. The gibberish was genius and took me into an understanding of terror. Amazing directing and writing. I am glad you are all doing this show. Thank you.
As a 1/8th with no connection to indigenous elders, I’m so grateful for you being here-that you and your lineage survived and are Showing Up.
You are good neighbors.
Everyone who is watching this video, wear an orange shirt on September 30th. It's to remember the lost children.
Thank you for this heads up. Everyone should spread the word!
I'm Non-Native, and I didn't know that Native American children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools. The abuse they suffered is horrifying. I came to this channel to learn more and gain perspective, and I think Reservation Dogs is a treasure.
This was such a heavy episode. I wanted to listen to a review and breakdown as soon as I finished watching it. I am so thankful for this show and the actors. Thank you for this review. Keep them coming!
I love this series. And I love you Patrick for giving a voice and visibility to Native Americans.
This episode blew my mind! Horrible history tucked away. Heartbreaking! I appreciate your coverage of the Res Dogs Episodes. A tough episode that needed to happen. Love U guys!!!
So someone on the subreddit they said that as Deer Lady drives off at the end, they saw fishing poles sticking out of the truck- I couldn’t see them myself.
But they also thought that Deer Lady’s antlers breaking at the sink in the beginning meant that she was nearing the end of her time, and she went after the Human Wolf as her final kill, and that now she could join Koda and go fishing in the spirit world.
But I’d need to see the fishing poles in the truck to confirm this, so idk.
I zoomed into that scene and you can see 2 lines that look like fishing poles sticking out of the truck! unless I'm seeing things lol, I didn't see that until your comment!
Deer Lady's antlers breaking signaling the end of her time? the end of her personal redemption journey? perhaps! I like that.
Thanks for the interpretation!!
That’s sounds about right 👋
I think even without the poles this tracks with the broken antlers and her decision to kill the wolf and visit Koda’s grave.
Thanks for these observations. Added some dimension for me on this episode, which was great.
Reservation Dogs was going into some very deep territory and it gave me more perspective on what my Mom's Grandmother went through while she was in the boarding school when she was a little girl. My mom told me only what she knew when I was a child (only what her Grandmother would tell her). There were reasons that my Great-Grandmother would never smile and none of her Grandchildren could ever remember if she ever did smile. It is quite a shame that the Reservation Dogs series ended with just the 3rd season. There is so much more I feel that could have been covered with the show. Even more so, we all really needed to see Adam Beach make an appearance.
I told the story of boarding school at my high school's indigenous student organization. I studied Indigenous American studies. The boarding school topic was 6 weeks. I cried when i brought in the speakers because My great grandparents was the last generation. My great uncle on my grandma's family was the last principal at Phoenix Indian School. Seeing this episode with my husband was hard for me. I cried and he saw me how much pain I go through as an indigenous woman. He said that it will never happen again.
When Deer Lady orders the whole pies at the diner, maybe she knew Bear was going to be there and they were going to interact with each other. Just my thought. Love your discussions.
Good thought. It's like she knew she would meet bear so she ordered extra. Although we couldn't understand why a FULL pie? Why not just a slice lol. I guess one could say she had a "big appetite"? because after she would be getting vengeance. Hmm.
I thought she ordered them because she is actually a deer... and what deer wouldn't eat a whole berry or apple pie?
@@IndigenousTalkOfficialI saw this as a sort of allowed indulgence. I think this speaks to both being abused as a child (not having enough to eat) and as a woman (having your diet policed). And maybe this is superficial, but deer eat fruit :)
@@SaltJamie yes! And defiance maybe too. Breaking the rules.
Non Native, but the son of an Armenian genocide survivor. I’m first generation American and was not taught to speak Armenian. Due to redlining my father couldn’t buy a house in Westchester, NY. He had to buy land and build his home.
Many parallels, horrific genecide, prejudice, loss of culture.
I loved your insightful review of Reservation Dogs. It brought to me a deeper understanding of what I had watched.
I appreciate you guys.
This episode alone should get Reservation Dogs an Emmy. So much to unpack... I grew up Catholic, and seeing what Catholics and other Christians did to Native American children sickened me. They abuse their power, as seen by the still constant trickle of the past 3 decades, at least, since the child sex abuse scandal was broken in the Boston Archdiocese of the Catholic Church. The reverse gibberish spoken language reminded me of Twin Peaks, and added to the strong horror film vibe of this episode. Lots of horror film tropes in this episode, and well used. I would love to find out by anyone who knows if there was some significance to the breaking of the antler that Deer Lady was trying to wash clean, it seems like you guys, being Navajo, think there may be, but it's not part of Dine culture. I read the autobiography of the Lakota Sioux Henry Standing Bear last year, thanks to a French Canadian former-Catholic friend of mine who grew up in Lincoln Nebraska, and it felt so sanitized compared to the reality, especially his description of attending the boarding school in Pennsylvania... what's the Native American corollary to Uncle Tom? The scene where Deer Lady meets the deer in the woods who transformed her gave me a super strong Harry Potter vibe, from the scene lighting in the dark woods, to the fact that a doe was the patronus of both Lily Potter and Severus Snape. I cried ugly tears at the end when I saw Koda's last name was Littlebird. It reminded me of "it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" from Harper Lee's incredible novel, and that birds, especially little birds, are innocent, and don't deserve to have senseless violence visited upon them. I need to find out why bird feathers are sacred in Native American culture, and why it is generally illegal for anyone other than licensed authorities and Native Americans to possess bird feathers. I *totally* caught the honey bunny Pulp Fiction diner reference when I first saw it, even said so to my Lincoln Nebraska friend! Like I said, *so* much to unpack, if I watched it again, I'm sure I could write even more, but I'll leave it here. You guys are doing a fantastic job with Indigenous Talk, keep up the great work, and I hope that Jacob is OK, missed him this week :)
As a non- Native woman with Native friends and a Native grandson, I found this episode of the school horrifying and extremely sad. I’ve heard the stories since I was young but to see it acted out was beyond gut wrenching. I’ve watched all the episodes and love the writing and acting. Deer Lady makes a lot of sense to me and that particular episode helped understand her back story.
Some additional thoughts about the pies: she was literally forced to eat unfamiliar food by the nuns in residential school. For Deer Lady to have complete freedom to eat a dessert, in the flavor of her choosing, in the quantity that she chooses, it is an exercise of her liberation.
This is such a great observation. I know some people who've been in starvation situations will binge eat years and years later. That may not be the message with Deer Lady but either way she probably wouldn't have ordered herself two pies if she hadn't had that trauma in her past.
Whoa. The Algorithm brought me here. This was such a fascinating convo. Thanks for putting this out here. I've missed critical reviews, cultural context with insightful interpretations, and well written and performed stories. Rad.
Thank you guys for this video, the insights, and education. What happened has to be told.
Elias, You made a GREAT point in talking about the Deer Lady the moment she killed the human wolf. It was her before (and maybe why) she became Deer Lady. that also gives insight into the wehn she shed a tear at the door and how her countenance changed as she was walking back to the truck. She had to become that girl again to get back to the raw terror she knew had happened and take her power back as that girl. then you could watch her countenance change when she was walking back to the truck. She walked into the house as that girl but back to the truck much more whole than when she arrived.
This episode scared the crap out of me. playing audio in reverse is classic demonic reference...like playing records backwards and summoning the devil.
There were boarding schools in my home state of Michigan until 1983. So crazy. Just a year before I was born. I didn't know that til after I watched this episode. Because only Canada openly covers the topic.
My grandma refused to talk about her experience and she passed away a long time ago.
(Sault Tribe Chippewa)
My aunt and father both were Forced into boarding school. My aunt said she liked it. My father is very bitter about this. Don't ask unless you want a Vietnam war. He was sent to a place close to Muskogee boarding schooling
Yá át tééh, I really enjoyed the Native breakdown on this episode, I being Navajo have heard the stories from my Mother and my Aunties about there experiences being in the boarding school in Ganada, AZ. Even though this topic is hard to discuss, you guys provided insight and humor. Subbed and Liked
A couple of things, in the beginning she is cleaning the antler and it breaks. She then sees the old man at the table looking at pictures. I believe the antler is giving her an assignment of sorts. If you pause it when she is stabbing him, you can see the antler is broken. Also, she tells Bear not to worry, that he is not his Dad. But his Dad has not been seen in over a week. Did Deer Lady kill him, was it a foreshadow in Bears life. And the wooden sign at the entrance of the mans house has his name, which is the same name the nun called him while leaning on the fence.
Great review and great topic. Talked about with sensitivity
I enjoyed every second of this conversation. Well done.
Thank you for breaking down the episode about the history, the culture and talk about how well the series is and telling a great story.
Thank you for your perspective on this episode. I fell in love with Reservation Dogs after watching the first episode. I lost track of the number of times it made me laugh and made me cry. This episode in particular had me in tears throughout. What a tragically beautiful work of Art. It was a pleasure listening to you discuss it.
As soon as saw the girl running I knew. Not documented indigenous.. stolen African heritage. Gave me slave catcher vibes and tears for the ancestors. This episode was amazing!
Non Native here - when Deer Lady was standing over the old man as he was talking about how he was a bad person/etc… that reminded me of a Catholic confession. And Deer Lady heard it. Before he met his Maker.
Gotta say this is a great show. I’m so happy to have seen it. Happier that most involved are Native.
I attended a lecture a year ago about the “schools” and I was horrified when I finally learned about it.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. As a kid- growing up in 70's DETROIT- I had a personal perspective of "The Peculiar Institution". I learned about The Holocaust and I learned about The Japanese Internment camps. I NEVER learned about THIS. I had No idea. (Thanksgiving?!??!!! 🤦🏾♀️)
You guys are outstanding. So much to offer this discussion as film nerds, funny guys, and Native people.
I also wanted to uncover the pie metaphor. Couple ideas: she’s still a kid at heart but she does what the eff she wants now so she eats pie for dinner. Orders two whole ones just cuz she can!
But I agree with what you said about the cherries being shown in a gory way that makes the viewer think about blood. In Judeo Xtian teaching, the apple represented knowledge (ala Adam and Eve). She gets to eat the blood of her enemies and Bear gets the knowledge that Deer Lady is real?
Not even sure he ever took a bite though. Just spitballing.
I knew right away even though I’m non-native, what was happening with terrible history and uncertain life for these kids. So heavy but I was able to watch. So Bear reminded her of her childhood friend. And then at the end the gravestone for her friend. The DEER IN THE WOOD, saving spirit WOW! I was wishing for a lighter episode after. They knocked it out the park. And psychic deer lady, even though murderous, is the great equalizer.
Koda is a modern short form for the Native American name Dakota, which translates to "ally," "friend," and "little bear.
As a non native person I am so glad the information about the residential schools is coming out. The history of Catholic school abuse of children in their care is rising to the surface in the last 50 years in so many ways and places. The Native experience may be the worst (but Africa & South American stories are very bad too). Absolute power is always a bad thing.
16:38 When the Wolf talks about his past alcohol abuse: There is a phenomenon in domestic abuse where abusers are especially resistant to seeking treatment for alcohol abuse because they like the excuse it provides. It gives them a way to separate themselves from their violent behavior because, “It wasn’t really me. I was drunk. I wouldn’t have hit you if I was sober.” As if the abuser is their Drunk Self, and their Drunk Self is somehow a separate person that their Sober Self isn’t responsible for.
The Wolf is acting like the version of himself that drank and did bad things doesn’t exist now that he doesn’t drink anymore, so he should get to leave his culpability in the past along with his drinking. Which isn’t how sobriety works, but it’s how abusers like to wield it.
Thanks for breaking down one of the best episodes of the series so far. It really gives a perspective to news articles for example about massgraves with 215 children in Kamloops.
I am so glad you gentlemen made this powerful analysis...I will share it my children and grandchildren...the resistance continues.
Righteous Indignation
Peace
I learned about this in history class during my junior year. Cutting their hair, stripping of their native ways. It was just terrible. I may not be native american I'm black but this episode was really sad and educational at the same time
Reservation Dogs Season 3 Episode 3 Deer Lady - deserves an Emmy for sure.
As for a spin off? CSI:Deer Lady...
I am enjoying this series and am glad you collaborated on this.
Like natives, Hawaiians also went through the boarding schools where Hawaiians couldn't soak hawaiian nor dance hula. Thanks to King David Kalākaua, he brought the hula back.
This is a blessing beyond words to me, thank you so much for sharing this amazing gift, you all are wonderful & i love you!!💗👏🏼💯💖✌🏼
I grew up in Chicago. I did not hear about the Indian boarding schools till moving to Arizona in 2016 and went to the Heard Museum. I was just horrified!
Thanks for this education. I love Reservation Dogs
Totally agree that Deer Lady confronting the Wolf was the “girl” in her and less Deer Lady. The viewer has generally known her as a supernatural legend who seeks out those doing wrong, but this time it is personal. Her tear and small expression of emotion show how very difficult it is to confront one’s abuser, even for the strong in spirit. It can bring out the hurt child in even the toughest of people. For the Wolf, the things he says show that he knows his time is coming soon and the truth can no longer be denied.
My grandmother was so young she couldn't really remember but her brother was 8 years older than her and he told her and later me about what they went through as children. A Baptist couple "adopted" them and raised them "white". The couple were not necessarily cruel more like indifferent. They were expected to work hard on the farm even as children.
Oh my grandmother was born in 1903 so this shit was happening in the 20th century not just in the 1800s!
Hi guys... I'm half British and half Dayak Kenyan, which is a river tribe on the Mahakam river in the Borneo Indonesian rain forest. My parents married in Borneo and divorced 3 yrs later. My older brother and I moved to the UK when I was 4 yrs old in 1991. This episode was so powerful to me... because I went straight to an "old style" Catholic Boarding School here in the UK at the age of 4. I can not compare my experience to the tragic and harrowing experiences of the Indigenous kids of that generation but I could feel the similarities of what they were feeling at certain points... The biggest thing was that bizarre/ scary feeling of being in a new culture, environment, clothes, regimented schedules for pray and education... Not knowing the English language was a big one and one I really connected within this episode, because learning to read my teachers/ peers body language was massive to get by and fit in. Corporal punishment was on its way out(well, it was supposed to be) but we still experienced it in 1991-92... i.e hit with a wooden spoon or a thick cork insole on the back of the legs or the palm of your hands. We also had to stand in front of a grandfather clock for 1hr + . These were punishments for being a "bad" student... i.e doing badly in studies, losing sports matches with other schools, untidy dormitories and uniform. The main reason I mention the last passage of the strict handing outs from this school is that I remember there was an undercurrent of togetherness with all the pupils... we had each others backs. We never told on each other, we'd signal each other when teachers were about... and most of all, in break times we'd make each other laugh. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done if the other kids didn't help me through that time! And that is where this episode comes in... because Coda Littlebird represents/ reminds me of that bond I created with other kids in that place, who had been there longer than me and helped me get through all those brand new experiences that I was feeling and seeing. I'm 36 now and I still remember that anxiety and fear of coming to England and then going to that school. My experience was a drop in the ocean compared to these Indigenous kids, but the feelings the episode conveyed through the screen was masterful to say the least and to be able to bring back those memories for me was emotional but cathartic. Like the "deer lady", you never forget those types of trauma's but it's a part of who you are... let's choose to remember the smile of the "Coda's" that have helped us through our own journey's. Terima kasih banyak sekali! ✌🙏
Top notch site meaningful discussion
This site is so excellent. Glad I found it.
You guys are so insightful! I love this commentary and breakdown. I've been wanting to watch this Reservation Dogs ever since it was announced and, truth be told, this video came up for me with auto-play after an FX video showing each RD character in one scene. But, now, I am really excited to watch the show and now watch your episode about it.
I wanted to make a comment on the pies. I still haven't seen this episode, but as for things I noticed while watching your video, the pies to me represent different sides of America. America as it wants to be known is the apple pie (as American as Apple Pie). However, the cherry pie is from "Twin Peaks," which is a TV show and movie about the darker side of America. If you haven't seen it, "Twin Peaks" is about an FBI agent coming into a small town called Twin Peaks to solve a murder of the Homecoming Queen and he often orders a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie. In the series & movie, Twin Peaks the town presents itself as a small town with well-manicured lawns and a well-adjusted, generous Homecoming Queen but it is full of serial killers and child abuse. With that in mind, it strengthens your reading about the cherry pie associated with death. It also shows Deer Lady's association with justice because the character that eats cherry pie in "Twin Peaks" is the justice figure that comes in to solve the murder. Then, the fact she chooses to eat the cherry pie over the apple pie (I didn't see the episode - did she eat the apple pie at all? I'm assuming not), it shows she is choosing to interact with the darker side of America. She is going after serial killer bloody justice in a small town.
As for her ordering the whole pie, I think it is a really important detail. The fact she orders the whole pie suggests, like you said, that she is getting all of it but also that she gets to determine what amount she gets. She is now deciding which slice she takes - of America as it presents or America as it has been all along with blood and gore that needs justice and accountability - and how much. *She* now gets to decide the size of her pie slice and if/how she interacts with it, which she does by eating it. So she decides the amount of bloody justice she will take for American sins. I don't know if she finishes her pie slice or if she takes the pies with her, but I think those details would show more about her character.
One more thing about the backwards talk - also seen in "Twin Peaks." The dwarf who talks with Cooper in the Black Lodge speaks backwards.
So well done. I can't wait to watch this show and your videos!!!
Side note about "Twin Peaks" - there was a Native American police officer character in it named Hawk. He was a badass and pretty much the best officer the police force had. There is also a lot of interaction with supposed Native American spirituality in it (White Lodge/Black Lodge) but I don't know if it was actual Native American spirituality or one that was made up for the show because of the modern Americanisms. With that in mind - would you guys dare an episode by episode watch of "Twin Peaks" for us???
This was the hardest episode to watch for too many reasons. There are not enough thoughts and prayers to make for all the trauma and lives lost.
@@eizapez3549 Absolutely. These are absolute atrocities. I am grateful that the filmmakers could convey the horror and terror that it was through the language of film. I can understand that. I can get really excited about great work that conveys hard truths and get really focused on the technicalities of the work itself. I hope that those affected do get justice and can finally release the terror that has been in their families for so long. I am wishing healing and health and triumph for all of those who were harmed.
I have been waiting for this!
I just remembered there's a portrayal of the Canadian versions of this on the Netflix Anne with an E.
This was such a well-executed and timely episode of Reservation Dogs. Seeing as only just recently were some children (bodies) returned home from one of the schools.
I appreciate your input. Thank you for addressing a question I have always had of how do some indigenous people justify practicing Christianity after all the horrors that so called "Christians" committed against their people?
If it were me, I would fight it with all I had and never practice it. What I heard you say, is that some do and some strongly don't.
From my perspective of Koda being taken away: I think it was because they couldn't break his spirit and they found that killing it was the only way to do that. It broke my heart watching that happen. I knew it was coming. Evil can't allow any good. Those boarding schools, that so called "Christianity", this Government are evil! Look at them going to other countries still this day. It's once again the systematic destruction of anything other than what they believe.
I can't imagine how many ancient stories and how much culture has been lost because of these schools and the monsters that ran them.
I apologize for the rant. I feel very strongly about this.
Thank you all for your explanations and comments. I've been watching all your episode breakdowns and have learned so much more! I'm from the middle of Europe and apart from the humour and relatability of the show's characters what I really enjoyed was a glimpse into a life I have no real knowledge of or connection to apart from what I've read and seen. That was so interesting to me and all your comments have added so much more. Thank you! I did, however, know about the schools from the Canadian film "Where the Spirit Lives". I saw it many years ago over here on TV and it has haunted me. Bringing it up in a show like this is the only way. It belongs to the story and needs to be told. Also - I really liked the myth around deer lady. She is a very cool character and should get all the pie she wants!
Loved this episode!! -I have not yet seen more than a "couple of Reservation Dogs" episodes. But will make sure to watch them all, after watching this. Cruelty to children is so hard to understand.
Growing up in Florida a being a young boy in the 70s, I was more exposed to and allied with the civil rights struggle of Blacks. As can be easily understood, my elementary and high-school Native American education was very weak, to say the least. I have been watching Reservation Dogs since it first came out and absolutely love the show and the story the creators and actors are trying to tell. The characters are so fascinating. Having said all that, I learn so much from the Indigenous Talk guys. Thanks for what you all are doing!
I’m a White Oklahoman with friends who survived boarding schools. I’m so happy that this story, like the Tulsa Race Massacre, is being uncovered and presented widely.
I definitely think Sterlin Harjo has enough material for a Deer Lady series-she kills bad guys with the killing styles matching how the man was bad. Kind of like “Barry” which is another talented Tulsan (Bill Hader) meets Reservation Dogs.
I enjoy your videos because I genuinely want to know and understand as much as I’m allowed to about various Native cultures. Thank you for putting your experiential and educated perspectives out for all of us.
And if only my White tears and apologies could fix anything but they can’t. We can only do better and that takes knowing and understanding. Thank you for your brilliant and kind, sensitive explanations to bring this understanding.
I got the impression that the old man 1. Knew who she was and 2. Knew why she was there.
It was hard as a non native to watch but as someone who has tried to educate themselves on what happened, I knew right away they were headed to a residential school. The whole episode had me in tears. I'm glad they wrote this episode. It's so important for non native people to be told these stories because honestly a lot of people I talk to about it, don't know.
As a non native, the scene where the human wolf talks about the pictures, it gave me the impression that typical North American history class would/could never express the horrors that really went on. Also, his regrets in life did not include the horrible atrocities he inflicted on the children. He got to live out his days as if nothing ever happened. That felt like the final push for Deer Lady.
Love the breakdown and additional perspectives both on the episode and culture. Thank you!
Do you all think there was any meaning to her antler breaking?