Indigenous representation was ‘paramount’ in new thriller that takes place on an outpost of the Navajo Nation in 1971

Jessica Matten believes the world should know more about the achievements and accomplishments Indigenous actors have made in the arts, making it a personal mission to educate those who don’t.

Born in Edmonton, the Red River Metis-Cree actress stars alongside the ageless Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon in “Dark Winds,” a new thriller that premieres Sunday on AMC. Based on the bestselling novels by Tony Hillerman, the drama is set on an outpost of the Navajo Nation in 1971. That’s where detectives Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Gordon) attempt to solve a series of crimes that seem procedural on the surface but that involve supernatural elements upon deeper investigation.

It was written by five Indigenous writers, had several episodes produced by Graham Roland (from the Chickasaw Nation) and featured a crew that was 85 per cent Native American. Several of the episodes were directed by Chris Eyre (from the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes) as well.

Matten (who plays a police officer on the series), is one of the three Indigenous leads on the show and said she couldn’t believe how much representation was in front of and behind the camera.

“The first day, I was on set, I was teary-eyed,” she told the Star. “I didn’t want to be that actress and cry but it meant a lot to me. I had no idea we had that many IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) doing this.”

Matten pointed out that the show also filmed on Tesuque land, in a casino converted into the first Native-American-owned film and TV studio, Camel Rock Studios.

“There was so much Indigenous support, it’s something that I have never seen before in my 12 years in this business.”

It stretches back even father.

McClarnon has been acting for nearly 40 years with credits that include “Baywatch,” “In Living Color,” “Westworld” and “Fargo.” He said he has never been a part of anything like “Dark Winds” in his entire career.

“I think we are in a very unique time for Native representation. I think the doors are opening a little bit more for us to tell our own stories. I am very fortunate that I lasted long enough in this business to be a part of it and that I stuck with it,” he said.

Matten, who previously starred in Canadian dramas including “Frontier” and “Tribal,” said that she was ready to shine a spotlight on her people outside of what she has done in Canada on networks that include CBC and APTN.

“I’m forever grateful for the platform that Canada has given me, but I find sometimes with Canadian shows, we’re not always able to bridge the gap and go worldwide or international. Hollywood was created in the U.S.A. and is the satellite dish to the entire world. Now that we have the backing of AMC, we’re able to reach a population that perhaps we wouldn’t have necessarily been able to with previous shows I have done.”

Roland said that adhering to authenticity was of “paramount” importance to all the producers involved in the project. Robert Redford acquired the rights to Hillerman’s books in 1986 and teamed up with “A Song of Ice and Fire” writer George R.R. Martin (whose novels were later adapted into the “Game of Thrones” HBO series) to get “Dark Winds” made.

“I had a consultant who was a Navajo police officer in the 1970s and retired to become a Navajo medicine man through the entire writing of the pilot. We had language and cultural consultants to ensure we were getting all the details right,” Roland said.

Roland said that Matten was a perfect fit for the role of Sergeant Bernadette Manuelito.

“She had a gravitas that surprised me. When you see her in that uniform, I was really taken by her presence. She was probably one of the very few Navajo tribal police officers. It was very important to me that we write her in a role that made her as formidable as her male counterparts,” he said.

“When I first met Jessica, I was like ‘where the heck did this young, beautiful, strong woman come from?’ I hadn’t seen her in anything. I wasn’t familiar with Canadian productions,” McClarnon admitted.

The role isn’t a stretch. Matten previously played Sam Woodburn, an Indigenous female police chief on “Tribal.” The actress said she is very specific about the roles that she chooses.

“I took pieces of Sam and definitely apply that to Bernadette on ‘Dark Winds.’ I have worked extensively for the last 20 years in a lot of Indigenous communities across Canada. I work a lot in suicide prevention and addiction counselling. I know the direct impacts our onscreen portrayals have on our communities.”

As for playing cops? Matten said that it is a personal choice.

“My family member, Jennifer McPherson, was murdered by a serial killer and my family, to this day still seeks justice. The only way that I can help is to create a true impact through the film and television industry,” she said.

Roland said that the pressure of working on a series with so much significance was not lost on him either.

“At the time we were developing ‘Dark Winds’ there was nothing like it on the air. There were no Native-led ensembles. I felt the weight of getting it right. Beyond my personal connection, I felt we were doing something that hadn’t been done before, something that needed to be done, and that it was time to get it done.”

With National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Matten said shows like “Dark Winds” are part of the reconciliation process.

“The last residential school closed in 1996. I was alive at that time. You were alive at that time. Healing is not linear. Healing takes a lot of time. I reflect back to Crazy Horse’s prophecy. He said that the seventh generation of my people are going to come to earth and help be a part of the change. That we will all meet under the sacred tree and that it will be through the arts. I did the calculations and that’s 2024. We are the seventh generation. We are in the midst of healing.”

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