Warning: This story contains spoilers for “Nothing Left to Lose,” the season finale of1923.
The year 1923 and the first season ofYellowstoneprequel1923 were not kind to Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves).
The priests and nuns who ran the school were determined to “assimilate” Teonna into white American culture.
Cole Brings Plenty and Aminah Nieves in ‘1923’.Paramount+
“These stories need to be shared with millions of people,” she says.
“People kind of like to ignore it, but they can’t ignore it anymore.”
), and what may be on the horizon for her in season 2.
Teonna fights for her life against the man who killed Hank on ‘1923’.Paramount+
AMINAH NIEVES:You want my honest first reaction?
My first reaction was [squeals], “She kisses a boy!”
The entire finale episode is incredible.
Aminah Nieves on ‘1923’.Paramount+
I can’t wait to watch it.
I loved the budding romance between Teonna and Pete.
NIEVES:It was silly.
It was difficult, but Cole and I have such a great relationship.
Honestly, I feel like he’s my little brother in real life.
I feel like we were both like, “Yeah!”
Just like giddy children on set that night.
And Michael Spears, too he was so giddy and enthusiastic as well.
We were all kind of on a high that night.
It made it easy because we’re all family.
It felt good because these are Teonna’s human moments, these are her childlike moments poking through.
And to play that for her was, it was great.
We need a shipper name for Pete and Teonna.
NIEVES: I’d put the “T” before the “P.” [Laughs]
Fair enough.
I was ecstatic, I was happy as heck for him.
When I found out about it, I got all giddy, too.
It was just a great, positive energy between the three of them it was a trifecta of greatness.
Mo, you’re the American Indian Affairs Coordinator forYellowstoneand1923.
Can you tell us a little bit about what your responsibilities are in that role?
And when it comes to language, to verify that we have the proper fluent speakers of the language.
NIEVES:you’re free to always learn more.
And Mo, he’s a storyteller and he shared so much with me.
It was all of us coming together as a collective and continuing to share.
Was there one thing you learned that stuck out to you the most?
NIEVES:Every single piece is gut-wrenching.
So for me, it was just to get the message out in a good way and with accuracy.
It was like, okay, this is on Paramount this is theYellowstoneuniverse.
This means a lot.
Teonna speaks Crow in every episode.
Aminah, were you familiar with the language or did you have to learn it?
NIEVES:I didn’t know the language before coming into it, so I learned it.
We had an incredible Crow elder, Birdie Real Bird, on set with us.
She and Mo were introduced to us about a week before we got to Montana for cowboy camp.
Leenah, myself, and Michael we all had to learn it.
She was an incredible, articulate teacher, and she strives for perfection.
I wasn’t expecting it.
Given everything Teonna went through this season, what was the most challenging scene for you to film?
Both of those scenes, they were very difficult ones to be with.
That was really difficult to sit with and to do.
And on the other side with Hank, feeling that and seeing that happen in real time destroyed me.
And also, she’s doing it again, Teonna’s killing someone else.
It was kind of a lot for her to move through all of those emotions at once.
NIEVES:That was real.
Every storyline, not just ours, but the Dutton storyline, too.
I would witness them just beon, you know?
And she’s currently halfway through her year-long “Road to Healing” listening tour.
BRINGS PLENTY:It is very enlightening to know that we are finally gaining some traction and support.
We are all in this together.
We need to have a place to allow our children to flourish, side by side.
It needs to be about a cultural diversity.
With cultural diversity, we’re able to begin this whole mending and healing process.
In1923, you have the story of Teonna for me, I’ve experienced that as a kid.
I utilized it to become exactly what our ancestors were told they could no longer be.
Mo, did you attend a government-run boarding school?
BRINGS PLENTY:I was in a school that had the boarding school mentality.
I had a nun oh my gosh, I will never forget her.
I had that treatment in many aspects.
NIEVES:It’s an honor to just tell her story.
That was a surreal experience.
You’re feeling so many emotions run through your veins.
I’m thankful because these stories need to be shared with millions of people.
People kind of like to ignore it, but they can’t ignore it anymore.
BRINGS PLENTY:It is inspiring.
Aminah, what do you want to see happen for her in season 2?
I would love for her to have more childlike, honest moments, for her just to be.
But in reality, it’s not over.
We’re still in the 1900s it’s not over.
There are so many things I wish for her.
Most of all, I just wish for a little bit of ease.
