REVIEW ESSAY: William “Spirit” Knifeman

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