
09/26/2025
Today we remember Graham Greene — a man whose spirit walked tall, whose voice carried the strength of our ancestors into the halls of Hollywood, and whose presence on screen opened doors that had been shut too long for our people. Born in Ohsweken, Six Nations territory, he journeyed from odd jobs and humble stages to the bright lights of the world, never forgetting where he came from, never forgetting who he was.
When he stepped into the role of Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, he did more than act — he carved a path. He showed the world that our stories are not relics, not shadows, but living, breathing truths carried in the dignity of our languages, our humor, our grief, and our resilience. From Thunderheart to Wind River, from Longmire to Reservation Dogs, he kept building that bridge, brick by brick, for every Indigenous actor who would come after.
But beyond the lights and cameras, he was remembered as a man of morals, of character, of deep laughter and quiet strength. He carried his people with him. And now, as his spirit travels on, we give thanks that he did not just play roles — he made space for nations to be seen.
Let us honor him not only with our words, but with our actions: by telling our stories boldly, by holding our languages close, by encouraging our children to dream without boundaries. Graham Greene’s legacy is not just in awards or stars on the walk of fame. It is in the fire he tended, the fire we now carry forward.
Journey well, brother. Your work here is done. The ancestors welcome you home.
—Kanipawit Maskwa
John Gonzalez