Travelling the Powwow Highway with Wes Studi

The legendary Wes Studi joins Joel for an exchange about his sweeping career from "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Reservation Dogs" and everything in between. Wes is a Tsalagi (Cherokee) screen veteran and the first Indigenous actor to receive an Academy Award for his lifetime achievements. Wes tells Joel about a chance error that led to choosing his showbiz name, his first time wearing tights, his experience as a young soldier in Viet Nam before he got involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM), and his recollection of a mountaintop fight scene with his late friend and fellow trailblazing Indigenous actor, Russell Means.

Wes lets you in on his thoughts about acting as a business as well as an art and shares his advice for aspiring actors: looks will only get you so far – acting is hard work and you still have to deliver! Wes and Joel discuss National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the meaning of apologies, and what has happened with the phrase "telling our own stories" over the last 15 years. 

Transcript available [here]

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Actors and Ancestors is created, hosted, and produced by Joel D. Montgrand. Audio editing and production support from Daniella Barreto.

Thank you to our fellow podcasters at Reel Indigenous for helping us make this episode happen, Stephanie Joyce for her tape sync work in Santa Fe, and to the Indigenous Screen Office for sponsoring this show.

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