90s rez life: where the party ends and reality bites hard.
23 minSeason 2 • Episode 13
LatestFrank tries to rescue Lucy from working the streets. Silas wants Sadie back.
The Rez was a first nations, Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1996 to 1998. Most of the characters were based on W.P. Kinsella's short story collection Dance Me Outside, which had been made into a film by director Bruce McDonald. McDonald and Norman Jewison were executive producers of the series, which chronicled life in a First Nations community. The series was filmed in the Parry Sound region at Harrison's Landing in Carling Township. All episodes run around 23 Minutes.
Acting
Jennifer Podemski and Tamara Podemski steal every scene.
Writing
Sharp rez wit that never flinches from the hard stuff.
Direction
Bruce McDonald's punk energy meets quiet observational storytelling.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Based on W.P. Kinsella's stories, but the series actively reclaimed narratives from a problematic white author by centering Indigenous writers and actors in the writers' room.
Elaine Miles (Mad Etta) improvised most of her scenes; the directors learned to just let the camera roll. Her casting came after she drove the actual crew bus to set.
CA
