'Yellowstone’s' Gil Birmingham Told Me Why Rainwater’s Friendship With Mo Is So Important For Indigenous Representation

Cinema Blend

Along with the Dutton family working to save their ranch on Yellowstone, the people of Broken Rock Reservation are also trying to preserve and protect their land. Leading them are Chief Thomas Rainwater and his right-hand man, Mo, who are played by Gil Birmingham and Mo Brings Plenty, respectively. So, when I had the chance to speak with the Rainwater actor about the final episodes of Yellowstone’s fifth season, I asked him about his friendship with Mo. In response, he told me why he loves it and why it’s important for Indigenous representation on TV.

Transcript

00:00Well, I knew Mo about 10 years before we started working on it, so I always knew him as a genuine and a spiritual, you know, human being.

00:08And we were just so, so grateful to be able to work together because oftentimes Native characters will be cast in a show and they're by themselves and you're left with somebody that the studio has said, well, they, they look like a legitimate, legitimate consultant.

00:23And they may be, or may not be, you can't possibly be that versed in 575 tribes that exist here.

00:31So, we got a, that was a wonderful thing that we had to support each other. And like I said, Taylor's absolutely open to any of the real authentic portrayals and presentations.

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