'Beyond exciting' to see Native representation in Emmy nods, Oklahomans say

Sterlin Harjo was talking with his brother Wednesday when he suddenly got about 30 text messages all at once.

"Then, I got more texts after that," said the Tulsa-based writer, director and producer.

Largely overlooked by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in its first two seasons, his trailblazing made-in-Oklahoma series “Reservation Dogs " earned a pair of major Primetime Emmy Award nominations Wednesday for its third and final season, with Harjo's phone blowing up for each announcement.

The celebrated FX series, which streams on Hulu , heads into September's 76th Primetime Emmy Awards nominated for one of the top awards, Outstanding Comedy Series .

Plus, Canadian actor D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai , who is Oji-Cree First Nations, received his first Emmy nomination, for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series, for his starring turn on "Reservation Dogs."

"Obviously, we're very proud to be nominated. I think we should have been nominated before this," Harjo told The Oklahoman by phone from Tulsa.

"It's sort of a game-changer show , so it's not always easy. It takes a minute for people to find it and really kind of realize what it is, I think, sometimes."

What Creative Arts Emmy nominations did 'Reservation Dogs' receive?

"Reservation Dogs" nabbed two additional Emmy nods in the technical, or Creative Arts, categories with Wednesday's nominations announcement .

The coming-of-age comedy is nominated for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour) for director of photography Mark Schwartzbard for the episode "Deer Lady" and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation for the show's sound team for the episode "This Is Where The Plot Thickens. "

Filmed primarily in and around Okmulgee — where the Muscogee Nation is headquartered — "Reservation Dogs" follows the misadventures of four tight-knit Native American teens and their colorful community in the fictional small reservation town of Okern, Oklahoma .

"It's thrilling to see that 'Reservation Dogs' is continuing to have such a global impact," said Muscogee Nation Press Secretary Jason Salsman in a statement to The Oklahoman.

"Our Indigenous communities knew the importance of visibility and the authenticity shown in this series, but to see the excellent work recognized through Emmy nominations and the messages conveyed in this story being appreciated by the outside world, is just extremely gratifying."

“ Reservation Dogs” — co-created and executive produced by Taika Waititi, who is of Maori ancestry, and Harjo , who is Seminole and Muscogee — was the first full-time, scripted network television series to film entirely in Oklahoma. State Film + Music Office Director Jeanette Stanton said it's thrilling to see the Television Academy recognize the show.

“It was an honor hosting the production in Oklahoma, and a true testament to the influence and impact of homegrown talent like series creator Sterlin Harjo, " Stanton said in a statement to The Oklahoman.

How are Indigenous cast and crew breaking through at this year's Emmys?

The first mainstream TV show on which every writer, director and series regular performer was Indigenous, "Reservation Dogs" garnered widespread critical acclaim during its three-season run, which ended in September. Since it debuted in 2021, the groundbreaking series has been been recognized by the Peabody Awards, Golden Globes, American Film Institute and more.

Ahead of Wednesday's 2024 Emmys nominations announcement, though, "Reservation Dogs" had received just a single previous Emmy nod in the Creative Arts categories.

But the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards are marking a watershed year for Indigenous representation. Along with the four nominations for "Reservation Dogs," actresses Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis are now the first Indigenous women nominated in the Emmys' acting categories.

An Academy Award nominee for the Oklahoma-made film "Killers of the Flower Moon" and two-time "Reservation Dogs" guest star, Gladstone is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her turn as a cop in Hulu’s “Under the Bridge." Reis earned a nod in the same category for playing an Alaska state trooper in HBO/Max’s “True Detective: Night Country.”

"It’s beyond exciting to see the historic Native representation among the Emmy nominations this year, including 'Reservation Dogs,' 'True Detective: Night Country,' 'Under the Bridge,' and 'Echo,'" said Crystal Echo Hawk, founder and executive director of the Tulsa-based social and racial justice organization IllumiNative , in an email.

"Each of these series has helped widen audiences’ perceptions of Native communities and showcase the diversity of Native talent and Native stories."

Filmed in Georgia but set in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma , the Disney+ series "Echo" garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi costumes for its second episode, "Lowak," which flashed back to a Choctaw stickball game circa 1200 A.D. The show's Marvel Studios team consulted with the Choctaw Nation in Durant on costumes and other cultural elements.

“The producers and creators of ‘Echo’ were proactive, sensitive and diligent in working with us to ensure they portrayed our culture in an accurate and positive way,” said Seth Fairchild, the Choctaw Nation's executive director of cultural services, in an email. “Working on the show was an exceptional experience, and it’s an incredible thrill to be part of this nomination.”

How do the Emmy nominations for 'Reservation Dogs' mark a 'significant step forward?'

Before Wednesday's nods for Gladstone, Reis and "Reservation Dog" Woon-A-Tai, the only other Indigenous nominee in any Emmys acting category was the late August Schellenberg , the Canadian Mohawk actor who played Sitting Bull in HBO's 2007 telefilm “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, " which was named Outstanding Made for Television Movie.

"It’s encouraging to see these remarkable talents finally get the recognition they deserve, and we’re looking forward to more Native stories and creatives recognized in the entertainment industry," said IllumiNative's Echo Hawk , an enrolled member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma.

"This moment is a significant step forward in our ongoing journey to amplify Native voices and ensure that our stories are told authentically and with the depth they deserve."

The Outstanding Comedy Series nod for “Reservation Dogs" is believed to be the first time an Indigenous-centered title has been a contender for the top prize in the comedy, drama or limited series categories, according to the Los Angeles Times .

"Obviously, we've seen a lot of change in the industry, and I think that people have come around. I think that people want new stories, people want to see different faces, and people don't want to watch the same thing regurgitated over and over," Harjo said by phone from Tulsa, where he was in a virtual writers' room.

"It's been a really good year for Indigenous people, and (I'm) really proud to be a part of that. I've said this from the beginning: The award for me was making the show and getting to put it out there. But this is just the cherry on top."

Although he's now working on a slew of other projects — including a high-profile new FX drama series with Ethan Hawke called "The Sensitive Kind," which he filmed a pilot for in spring in Tulsa — Harjo said he's "left that door open" to one day revisit "Reservation Dogs."

"I hope someday to do it. I don't have any ideas for it ... and I'm making other shows and movies right now — and working with some of those actors from 'Reservation Dogs,'" the Holdenville native said.

"But I think people will go watch it more now, because it's nominated, which is good. I think that people will get a lot out of it, no matter what their background is. So, I'm really excited about more people finding the show."

When are the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards?

FX's new drama series "Shōgun," adapted from James Clavell's novel of the same name, earned a leading 25 nominations for the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards. The network's hit "The Bear," which released its third season last month, dished up 23 nods, setting a record for the most nominations by a comedy series in one year.

The 2024 Emmy Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, Sept. 15 on ABC.

The Television Academy's Creative Arts and Governors Gala ceremonies will take place Sept. 7-8.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Beyond exciting' to see Native representation in Emmy nods, Oklahomans say