In chapter two of The Truth About Stories titled “You’re Not the Indian I had in Mind,” Thomas King discusses the stereotypes and preconceived notions about Indigenous identity. He details how Indigenous people are often cast in a specific, narrow mold - often created by historical misconceptions and pop culture. What King is articulating in this chapter is that Indigenous identity is often limited to specific roles and expectations. An Indigenous person must look, speak, or behave a certain way or else their identity is questioned. These reflections intrigued me and made me think deeper about what we see in mainstream media and how that impacts our views on Indigenous life.

While progress has been made representing Indigenous lives in mainstream media recently, typically it is the representation of these stereotypes being perpetuated. In the television series Reservation Dogs, these narrow molds and stereotypes are challenged. The show's complex characters challenge the typical expectation of what an Indigenous person should look or act like, providing a more authentic perspective of modern Indigenous life. I think this show invites non-Indigenous people to have a more respectful understanding of Indigenous life and Indigenous communities today. Reservation Dogs challenges the "Indian in mind" by presenting Indigenous people as more complex individuals—a representation that is long overdue in mainstream media. This representation supports King’s call to break past the limitations of narrow molds and stereotypes of Indigenous people, and allow them to tell their own stories.