Lily Gladstone Praises ‘Star Wars’ Ewoks as a ‘Beacon of Indigenous Resistance’

Growing up, Lily Gladstone had to get creative while seeking out Indigenous representation on-screen.

The Golden Globe winner, who is Siksikaitsitapi and NiMíiPuu, explained to Rolling Stone why fictional characters like Val Kilmer's Madmartigan in Willow (1988) and the Ewoks in 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi spoke to her.

"I was only into Star Wars because I was into the Ewoks. I didn't know this then, but they're such a beacon of Indigenous resistance. And they rocked it. They brought the Empire down, I'm sorry," said Gladstone, who is a self-proclaimed "aspiring Ewok."

An adorable primitive species on the forest moon of Endor, Ewoks helped the Rebel Alliance bring down the Death Star in the Star Wars sequel.

Gladstone continued, "Even though I'm horribly disappointed by J.K. Rowling now, when Harry Potter was out there were a lot of people who felt the conversation about bloodlines and Muggles was a conversation about Native bloodlines. We find ways to connect."

The Killers of the Flower Moon star also noted that "a lot of Natives" like her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio's 1993 breakout film What's Eating Gilbert Grape, as "the family in that film is reminiscent of a lot of families in Indian country," despite being white.

Killers of the Flower Moon is now playing in theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.