By Alena Naiden
Updated: 16 minutes ago Published: 54 minutes ago
Veteran actress Jodie Foster won another accolade this weekend: an Emmy award for her lead role in “True Detective: Night Country,” a limited series set in Alaska. In her acceptance speech, Foster thanked the Iñupiaq people — a recognition that warmed the hearts of many Alaskans.
“They just told us their stories, and they allowed us to listen, and it was just a blessing,” Foster said in her speech, to an audience of nearly 7 million. “It was love, love, love, and when you feel that, something amazing happens. It’s deep and wonderful, and it’s older than this place and this time.”
“For her to acknowledge our people — that was big,” said Patuk Glenn, who is an Utqiaġvik-based media creator. “We want representation. We want people to know we’re still here. We’re not a culture in a museum. We’re still living here.”
The latest season of HBO’s “True Detective” is set in a fictionalized town called Ennis, which according to showrunner Issa Lopez is a collective depiction of Kotzebue, Utqiaġvik and Nome. The show, which premiered last winter, follows two law enforcement agents — played by Kali Reis and Jodie Foster — as they investigate the disappearance of several men from an Arctic research center. The show has received widespread acclaim from critics, became the most-watched season of the “True Detective” series and earned a total of 19 Emmy nominations.
Producers Princess Daazhraii Johnson and Cathy Tagnak Rexford spearheaded the show’s efforts to bring accurate and authentic representation to the screen. They led an Iñupiaq advisory council that was formed in the early days of production.
Rexford said in a Facebook post that Foster uplifting Iñupiat people with her award and voice was an emotional moment for her.
“It was so powerful, so emotional, so affirming that our stories are beautiful and deserve an international stage in film and television,” Rexford said.
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Jamie Sikkattuaq Harcharek, an Iñupiaq language adjunct instructor for Iḷisaġvik College in Utqiaġvik, recently appeared in the Netflix show “Sweet Tooth.” She watched Foster’s speech as it was shared on TikTok.
Harcharek said that Foster mentioning the Inuit people is potentially impactful, especially considering the remote geography and limited opportunities in northern communities.
“We’re not out there as much as other cultures, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that we don’t have access to auditions,” she said. “We are so far from everybody else’s mind, like we don’t even exist in people’s minds.”
Harcharek added she also appreciated that Foster recognized how Iñupiaq culture is full of beauty and love.
“I really love that Jodie Foster mentioned her enjoyment for hearing the different stories. We all come from different backgrounds and our norms could be polar opposite to the rest of the world, but listening and finding connections brings people together,” she said. “For her to mention that it was great for her to hear these different stories and to be around these people that are very much filled with love — that just hit the heart.”
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Publish date : 2024-09-17 14:06:00
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