RITA: Can you make sure it's level?
(GRUNTS)
Is it straight?
- Hmm. - BEAR: Yeah, it looks fine.
Looks straight. Can I go now?
You think you can throw a party in our house and no one's gonna find out?
You're staying.
-(EXHALES) - Besides, I invited all your friends.
Cheese, Willie Jack, Elora.
(GROANS)
You and Elora okay?
Eh.
Just some old shit she hasn't apologized for yet.
-(EXHALES) - It's pretty weird.
I'm sure you guys will be fine.
Well, if she does it again, we're done.
(CHUCKLES)
If you say so.
But trust me, that's not how family works.
Hmm.
"NARDS."
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(GROANS)
(SIGHS DEEPLY)
WILLIE JACK: Wake up, pup.
They start handing out gift cards or what?
What gift cards?
I don't know. Sonics.
- Right, Cheese? - Yeah.
- 15 bucks. - 15 bu...
Twofer Tuesdays.
We're going there after.
This is my first time hearin' about this.
WILLIE JACK: It's the only reason why we came here, Bear.
Elora.
Where do you want to sit?
Oh.
Come on, it's okay.
(SCOFFS) She has her own friends, fawk.
(WILLIE JACK SMACKS LIPS)
I'm not getting lice. Fuck.
Hi, welcome!
Thank you, everyone, for coming.
- Use this. - I don't need that.
Then why did we buy it, then?
(EXHALES) Okay.
- Welcome. -(FEEDBACK SQUEALING)
Eesh.
- Yo, fawk. - RITA: Okay.
Oh, my God.
Welcome, everyone.
Thank you so much for coming to our annual youth summit,
"Native American Reclamation and Decolonization Symposium."
-(CLAPPING) - NARDS!
(CHUCKLING)
I would like to bring up Elder Fixico
to start us off with an opening ceremony.
(APPLAUSE)
Oh, no, no, no.
- Use the mic. - No.
Would everyone please stand?
Take hands.
We stand here as the first people to walk on this land.
The greedy whites took our lands.
(RITA CLEARS THROAT)
FIXICO: (CLEARS THROAT) Well, maybe another time.
We must honor the four directions.
Let us face the East,
where our relative here is from as well,
and greet our Grandfather Sun.
Let us face the South,
and honor our southern relatives
Mexico and Central and South America.
Let us face the North.
(KIDS MUTTERING)
Just pick a way. Pick a way.
- Uh... I'm not sure... -(WHISPERS) It's this way.
I hope you're as excited as I am today
to welcome two outstanding role models.
I've been DMing them for the past two years,
and I'm excited for the opportunity
to have them on our reservation.
MissM8tri@rch and Augusto Firekeeper. (SPEAKS MUSCOGEE)
Aho!
Hau. Hau. Anpetu waste, my young relatives.
MissM8tri@rch imaciapiyelo.
I am a PhD student at Dartmouth.
An auntie, a beader,
a... a sister and a friend.
But before we get started today, I want to take a moment
to acknowledge the traditional caretakers of this land,
the Caddo, the Osage, and the Muscogee, of course.
But before them were our Neanderthal relatives,
so acknowledge them.
And before that, even,
the Dinosaur Nation, Dinosaur Oyate, you know?
- Before that, the Star People. - AUGUSTO: Mm.
Also, our reptilian relatives,
- above and below Earth. - Mm.
Yeah. And the people who will come after us
and take care of this land once we are gone,
because, someday, we will die.
So just blessings everywhere.
Uh... (SPEAKING LAKOTA)
...for having me in your sacred space today.
Before I say anything, I want to say some things.
Name is Augusto Firekeeper.
Now, it's not traditional for me
to talk about my accomplishments,
but what I can say is I'm a actor,
model, poet,
hatmaker.
Good one, at that.
Normally, I couldn't say this about myself.
But others have said it, so I'll say it.
- I'm a young elder. - Mm.
I carry knowledge beyond my years and experience.
Aho.
Aho! (SPEAKS MUSCOGEE) ...in the back, there, aunties.
Keep it together.
He's not single.
We've got some great sessions planned today...
Uh, also, you got to stay till the end to get your gift card.
- Thank you so much. -(SOFT GROANS)
- Oh, man... -(GROANS) Seriously?
These notebooks are your new journals.
Give them a Native name.
Decolonize them.
(SPEAKING MUSCOGEE)
(SOFT LAUGHTER)
(LAUGHTER)
That is beautiful.
To start things off today,
I want everybody to think of a happy memory in your life.
(SMACKS LIPS)
What if you've never been happy?
Write about how you've never been happy.
(CLICKS TONGUE) Shit. White Steve, you got to write mine.
It can be anything.
A time you went to your favorite restaurant,
or a time you did something that you were proud of.
I will give you all ten minutes
to write it down.
-(GRUNTING) - Oh, shit.
(BOYS HOOTING)
You one of us now, man.
(HOOTING)
Aho, yeah!
(LIVELY CHATTER)
WHITE STEVE: And that was the happiest day of my life.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
BONE DOG THUG: I made the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
(LAUGHTER)
Painting relaxes me.
Art is a wonderful creative outlet.
Thank you for sharing, nephew.
That was, that was beautiful.
All right. Who else hasn't gone?
What about you?
I didn't know we had to read 'em out loud.
That's okay. We're all friends here.
As if. Fawk.
(SNORTS) Yeah.
- These are my enemies. - MISSM8TRI@RCH: No.
That is a colonized way of thinking, sister.
We never had enemies amongst our own back in the day.
We could fight, yes, but...
mostly we just made love, ate berries.
Sometimes the deer would even
eat out of our palms. It was beautiful.
These are your people.
Go ahead.
(SIGHS)
(CLEARS THROAT)
"One time, when I was little,
"my brother taught me how to ride a bike
"in the alley behind my dad's house.
"We was out there forever
"when I looked up and realized
"the fucker had let go of the bike.
"I was pissed until I realized
"I was actually riding it on my own.
"It was scary, but, like, in a good way.
"I knew he was gonna catch me if I fell."
Or... whatever.
That was beautiful.
There is nothing like the feeling of being free
and safe at the same time.
Okay, we're gonna have a little fun here.
It's called the potato dance.
Uh, you guys.
AUGUSTO: Now, the potato is a symbol
- of trust. - Fuck.
AUGUSTO: So when I start the song, I want
you and your partner to hold that potato trust
in between your third eyes to keep it from falling.
Let's do this.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(SIGHS)
(SMACKS LIPS) All right. We doing this or what?
-(POWWOW SINGING PLAYING) - Fuck it.
(SIGHS) Please, bro, don't fuck this shit up.
It takes two, fucker.
- Stay on beat, come on.
- One, two. - That's what I'm doing.
- You ever see Squids Games? - Shh.
- Stop moving. - I'm dancing.
- You have to dance. -(ELORA SIGHS)
You smell so good.
- Ugh. All right, I... - What?
We could've won that. Hey. No.
I want that.
Yo, what the fuck are you doing, man? Stay on beat.
I'm on beat, bitch.
Like, what the fuck you think we're doing?
- Shut up, shut up, I got to focus. - What do you mean?
- You're the one that fucking... - Shut up, shut up,
just shut the fuck up.
(GRUNTS) Cheese!
Elora!
AUGUSTO: Doing good.
All right, let's get a little lower now.
Go low. Oh, shit.
WILLIE JACK: Hey...
You're losing rhythm, White Steve.
What even is rhythm? I'm trying.
KIDS: Oh...
BEAR (WHISPERS): Go low, go low.
- What the fuck? - Oh, shit.
AUGUSTO: All right, we got our winners here. Congratulations.
- Oh, shit. -(APPLAUSE)
(EXCITED CHATTER)
WILLIE JACK: We would've won.
Jackie's got a flat-ass forehead.
Hey. Everyone here's having a good time but you.
(CLAPPING, WHOOPING)
(LAUGHTER, CHATTER)
-(INDISTINCT CHATTER) -(DISHES CLANKING)
Hey, Bear. They gave me an extra fry bread.
Do you want it?
Yeah.
What up?
Brothers. What's good?
Chillin'.
See you growing that topknot.
I'm growing it out a little.
AUGUSTO: Man.
Well, it makes my spirit happy
seeing that I can inspire young Natives
such as yourself to grow their hair.
I just met you today.
What about you? When are you gonna grow that manhood out?
Can I?
So, where you from?
I'm from the Lakota Oyate in Pine Ridge.
Oh.
- That's cool. - Mm-hmm.
My uncle's that.
Well, what's it like there?
Well, actually, I am from the Bay Area.
Oh.
City Indian. Cool.
That's cool.
That's awesome, actually.
My body grew up in the Bay Area,
but my spirit lives with my ancestors.
Oh...
I'm going home soon, to make a documentary
about the youth that don't have a fighting chance.
Oh, for real?
MISSM8TRI@RCH: Mm-hmm.
- Bear makes documentaries all the time. - Oh?
Yeah, we go spray-painting
and we walk around, make actual art.
- Mm. - Fight.
Fuckin' go steal shit.
I would love to put that in my documentary.
Yeah.
You're not eating?
Can't.
Why not?
That bitch knows I work here.
Probably put medicine on the beans.
For what?
I snagged her man.
And her son.
(LOUD THUMP)
Not at the same time.
It was, like, days apart.
MISSM8TRI@RCH: My young ones, you do not
have to go through hard things in life alone.
Sometimes, when things seem impossible,
that is when you can rely on your own people
to keep you on the red road.
Go ahead and start guiding your partners.
Okay.
- Okay. - Ready?
- Yeah, you ready? - Oh.
ELORA: Okay.
Do... Go forward.
Yeah, like two big steps. Yep. Big steps.
- Shit. - Yeah.
Right.
Right another step.
Yeah, okay. Forward, like, two steps.
Okay, and then one step to your... left.
Going, keep going, keep going,
keep going, keep going... Uh, stop.
Uh, one step to your left.
Yup. Another one. Little one.
Turn your body left.
Go straight.
Go straight, go straight, go straight. Stop.
Now reach in your pocket and grab some change.
What do you need the money for?
Just put it in and start pressing buttons.
All right, keep straight.
Yup.
I said, keep straight.
This is straight.
Bro, that's fucking sideways.
Why do you have to say it like that?
Like what? I'm just saying, move forward.
Okay, forward. You could say it with a little bit of respect.
Respect? Okay.
Go forward another step and then right.
Yeah, respect.
Like, you never thought the shit you do affects people?
Okay. I can respect that.
I just... I hope that you can respect that I'm trying, also.
Okay, two steps to your right.
I can because I'm gonna be the bigger man. Fuck.
(ELORA LAUGHS SOFTLY)
Okay, um,
and then two steps to your right.
(SODA CLUNKS DOWN)
Hear that? Grab.
BONE DOG THUG: What are you doing?
Okay, now take five long steps forward.
So, are we good?
I don't know yet, man.
WILLIE JACK: Yeah, yeah, keep going.
Mvto.
Aho. Our young relatives,
Bear and Elora Danan have crossed the sacred finish line!
(APPLAUSE)
Their trust is strong today.
Okay, you two young matriarchs come forward.
- Fuck that. - No fuckin' way.
Nervousness is Creator's way of letting you know
you're about to break through.
Come.
(VOCALIZING)
I want you to stand like this.
I need you to put your arms out like this,
like Jesus did for you,
and be ready to catch your sister here.
Fuck. She's not my sister.
- This bitch is gonna drop me. - WILLIE JACK: No.
I want my Sonics. Fuck. I'm not gonna fuck this up.
All right, on the count of three,
I want you to put your full faith
in your sister, Willie Jack.
Wanji, nunpa,
yamni.
-(LOUD GASPING) - That's for jumping my bro, sister.
What's your fucking problem?
I don't know. You better go get your brother
to put those training wheels back on.
Willie Jack, that was fucked up.
What'd I do?
Her brother died.
ELORA: Yeah, like Daniel.
The fuck, man? I didn't know that.
I'm so proud of you young ones.
Just being here today is an act of decolonization.
Um, what-what exactly do you mean
- when you say "decolonization"? - Well,
decolonization is the undoing of colonialism.
Well, I-I know the definition,
um, but I was asking, uh,
how are the things we did today supposed to do anything?
Well, uh, I like to think...
- Allow me to speak for you, sister. - Mm-hmm.
AUGUSTO: We here as Indigenous people are braiding together
the hairs of our ancestral ways.
That is decolonization.
Yeah, that doesn't make any sense.
Yes. Exactly.
Keep thinking for yourself
- and asking questions. - Yup.
I'm so glad that I was able to give you that gift today.
You're welcome, little brother. Shall we close out?
(COUGHING)
AUGUSTO: Listen.
-(COUGHING) - Youth of this space.
Yes, the space here,
but also the space with the suns and the stars.
This land is your land.
This land is their land,
our ancestor's land.
- Powerful. - Mm-hmm.
We are not dead. We are still here.
Not like our ancestors.
But some of their dreams were made.
BOTH: We... are still... here.
(SOUNDING WAR CRY)
(ULULATING)
(SOUNDS WAR CRY)
I'm about to not be here.
(POUNDS ON FLOOR) You...
are still...
here.
(RATTLING)
(CLAPPING)
AUGUSTO: Aho.
Follow me
at AugustoFireKeeper exclamation point.
And me at "Miss Matriarch."
That's at M-A-8... riarch.
The other spelling was taken.
(GOURD RATTLING)
(LAUGHING)
(APPLAUSE IN OTHER ROOM)
(JACKIE SNIFFLES)
(SNIFFLES)
Hey.
Sorry...
about before.
I didn't know you lost a brother.
That's fucked up.
No wonder why you act solid all the time.
I mean, it's cool he taught you how to ride a bike
and stuff.
(JACKIE SIGHS)
Watch your fucking back.
(FOOTSTEPS RETREATING)
Well, fuck you, too, then.
How many tater tots do you think are in a large?
I don't know. Like, 25, 20 or some shit.
Hmm.
- Hey. - Hey, Elora.
Y'all seen Jackie? She's my ride.
BOTH: No.
Jinx.
She must've took off.
(SIGHS) I don't blame her. That was fucked up.
What was fucked up?
Willie Jack... dropping her and talking shit on her dead brother.
It's fucked.
Are you serious right now?
I mean, come on, bro.
Willie Jack didn't even know.
And you're just automatically taking Jackie's side?
What are you talking about, "side"?
No, I... It's all fucked up.
Come on. You can't fault Willie Jack for being loyal.
Not like you know anything about that.
-(SCOFFS) - I mean, to be honest, I don't even know
why you came here today.
All you've done is just showed up and act like
everybody's supposed to get along. And I mean,
come on. You never even once said, "I'm sorry, Bear,"
or, "I fucked up," or, "Thanks for fucking being there."
I mean, all you've done is shit on your friends
and expect us to show up for you.
Honestly, you're gonna end up exactly like your grandma...
alone until it's too late.
(SCOFFS)
What a big fucking man.
Seriously, Bear,
you're just living in some kid fucking drama.
Maybe you can't see how sorry I am
because you can't fucking see outside of yourself.
I'm sorry I hurt you.
I am. But fucking hearing all this,
I'm not sorry I left you.
Elora?
Elora!
Don't... talk to me for a while, Bear.
Wow.
(BEAR SIGHS)
That was really awkward for me.
Cheese, fuck off, man.
Okay.
MAN (ON TV): ...jumped across the street and is parked backwards.
-(ELORA LAUGHS) -(PHONE CHIMES)
(RAINING OUTSIDE)
-(PHONE WHOOSHES) - MAN: I may not know
where I keep my keys,
but I know where I parked my car
- Why does it smell like... -(LAUGHS)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
(LAUGHS)
MAN (ON TV): Maybe it was Ted the cat, marking his territory.
WOMAN: And who finished this whole box of cookies?
I'm supposed to serve these to my book club tonight.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)
(PEOPLE SINGING IN DISTANCE)
(SINGING IN MUSCOGEE)
-(SPEAKING MUSCOGEE) -(SINGING CONTINUES)
(SINGING SWELLS)
(SINGING STOPS)
(RAIN FALLING OUTSIDE)
(SOFT, ROLLING THUNDER)
(SIGHS)
Oh, look at what the light did now
Look at what the light did now
Ooh, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do, do
Do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do, do
We'll meet soon as nephews, nieces
Look at what the light did now
Oh, look at what the light did now
Look at what the light did now
Do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do, do...