The Meaning Behind ‘Rez Dogs’ Star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai’s Red Face Paint At The Emmys

“Reservation Dogs” star D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai didn’t need words to make a statement about the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women on the red carpet of the Primetime Emmys on Sunday.
The Canadian actor, who is of Oji-Cree descent, wore a red handprint over his mouth as he arrived at the event, where he was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Woon-A-Tai’s crimson face paint was worn in recognition of the silent epidemic of violence against Native American and Indigenous women across North America.
According to the The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Native women are up to 10 times more likely to be murdered or sexually assaulted than the national average.
The handprint also symbolizes “the silence of the media and law enforcement in the midst of this crisis,” according to the nonprofit Native Hope.
Following the award show, the Emmy nominee told Deadline why he felt like his statement was long overdue.
“This epidemic has been ignored for far too long and has devastated the lives of countless Indigenous people,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment to make this statement, and when I received the Emmy nomination, I felt an obligation to use the opportunity to spark these conversations.”
Woon-A-Tai’s nomination helped make for a historic year for Indigenous representation on the small screen.
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When Emmy nominations were announced in July, stars Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis became the first Native American women to earn acting nods from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
And after years of being overlooked, the critically beloved “Reservation Dogs” finally got its flowers, competing in the Best Comedy Series category.