Yellowstone star Gil Birmingham discusses the fate of the Broken Rock Reservation after the neo-Western drama concluded with Chief

Thomas Rainwater (Birmingham) and his people reclaiming the Yellowstone Ranch, fulfilling a prophecy dating back to the Dutton family’s

arrival to the valley in 1883. At the end of Yellowstone, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) strikes a deal with Rainwater to sell the land back at its

original price. Now, Dutton’s ranch remains protected and under the stewardship of its original caretakers in a powerful culmination of the family’s tense struggle spanning five thrilling seasons.

In an interview with ScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns, Birmingham opens up about the emotional gravity of his people’s reclamation of the Montana land and its broader implications for the Broken Rock Reservation. Reflecting on the significance of the land returning to its original stewards as a “home that nobody can take away,” Birmingham said the following:

I can now speak to the day that we filmed it, and I felt the same way when I read it, I was just really emotionally overwhelmed. Because I don’t think Thomas Rainwater would have imagined, maybe in his lifetime, that he would have been able to accomplish the gathering of all that land, the 260,000 acres.

There was going to be a piecemeal deal, and it was going to be an uphill battle all the way, not just with John, but the corporate interest that wanted that land, as well, which I don’t think is going to end, even with Rainwater designating it as a wilderness area. But, yeah, it was very, very moving and very touching.

And I think for Rainwater, primarily because his intent was to try and try to acquire land, first of all, as a steward of the responsibility through the law of nature for his people, so they would have a home that couldn’t be pulled away from them. There’s a lot of historical stuff that’s part of it. I use the reference of the reservations when they’re first designed, and how they just got smaller and smaller and smaller.

And the hope for Rainwater was that, “We’re going to find a home that nobody can take away from us, and that we’re going to steward this land, in terms of what we feel our responsibility is, and to keep it as close to the condition it was in before man even came here.”

Birmingham reflects on the profound impact of the land returning to the Broken Rock Reservation as an opportunity for his community to reconnect with their deep-rooted relationship to Mother Earth. However, this will not be without its challenges:

I would think [his people] would be thrilled that the community has gotten the land back. I don’t think they would have imagined that this would have happened in such a large scale. Now, the responsibility is how do you generate enough resources to be able to do that stewardship? Because it’s a sacrifice. It was for the Duttons all those 141 years.

It’s not like, “Yeah, we own it, so we’re protecting it.” It’s all the other outside interests that are trying to destroy it or exploit it. So, I don’t see that element of it going away. But in terms of the intention of Rainwater, I use the example of some of the tribes that I know that have really developed communities for their tribe of schools and hospitals and a community where they can feel safe and comfortable, and know that it’s not going to be taken away from them and, outside of that, maybe the utilization of an educational center.

I know more and more people are finding that the city life is very kind of spiritually draining, and the only thing that they’re missing is their connection to Mother Earth. That’s kind of the whole culture of the Native world. Mother Earth is the one thing that sustains all life, and we’ve been so disconnected from it. That’s why we have the depression and the sadness that most people feel. So, I think that would be a great opportunity for people to come in and maybe learn about what the land and the history of where we all originate

Birmingham shares his excitement about a potential Broken Rock spin-off, reflecting on the possibilities of diving deeper into Rainwater’s journey and his trust in Taylor Sheridan’s creative vision. The actor said:

I think we’re going to buy Dillon, too, so that they’re going to be on our reservation. [Laughs] No, Taylor’s always been very close to the vest about any thoughts that he has about it. I don’t know, maybe that makes it even more exciting, because it lends itself to trust, you know? You trust that Taylor knows the direction he wants to go.

And, yeah, plenty of people have suggested that [a Broken Rock spinoff], and I think it would be a wonderful world of exploring the Rainwater-Mo world, now being the reverse scenario of the keeper of the land, as opposed to the legacy of the Dutton family.

What Broken Rock Getting The Dutton Ranch Means
Fulfilling A 140-Year-Old Promise

The return of the Yellowstone Ranch to the Broken Rock Reservation is a sincere full-circle moment for the series. In Sheridan’s 1883 spin-off, Spotted Eagle told James, the first patriarch of the Dutton family, “In seven generations, my people will rise up and take it back from you.” 140 years later, they took it back. Rainwater’s acquisition of the ranch symbolizes a reversal of history that’s rarely (if ever) seen in real life, with Indigenous stewardship reclaiming the forefront.

Nonetheless, Birmingham does refer to stewardship of the land as a “sacrifice,” echoing Elsa Dutton’s narration at the end of the finale: “Raw land, wild land, free land can never be owned, but some men pay dearly for the privilege of its stewardship.” In doing so, the finale honors the narrative roots of Yellowstone. It also highlights Sheridan’s commitment to exploring the complexities of land ownership and generational responsibility as it pertains to America’s bloodied takeover of the West from its native inhabitants.

However, Yellowstone’s ending leaves numerous unanswered questions that could pave the way for new stories. Chief Rainwater’s political challenges within the Broken Rock Reservation remain unresolved, particularly with Angela Blue Thunder’s earlier attempts to usurp his position. The tribe’s sabotage of the pipeline construction also raises ongoing conflicts with corporate and state powers. These unresolved threads are fertile ground for a potential spin-off centered on Rainwater and the Broken Rock community as a marginalized community now responsible for such a vast and historically significant piece of land.

Our Take On Rainwater’s Role In Yellowstone’s Future
A New Chapter Emerges For Broken Rock

The Yellowstone finale provided a rare and satisfying resolution that offers a profound peek into the land’s future. With the ranch in the hands of Chief Rainwater and the Broken Rock Reservation, Sheridan’s drama honors the history of the American West in a way that does not shy from its troubled past. Birmingham’s performance as Rainwater has been a cornerstone of Yellowstone’s success, offering a nuanced portrayal of a leader carrying the weight of a complex and historic legacy.

The Yellowstone finale closes a chapter in the Dutton family saga with a meaningful dialogue about the enduring connection between people and the land. By placing the Yellowstone Ranch in the hands of the Broken Rock Reservation, Sheridan offers a rare and poignant exploration of justice and hope for Indigenous peoples in a popular franchise. A potential spin-off centered on Chief Rainwater would not only deepen these themes but also provide a unique platform to celebrate Indigenous leadership and storytelling, ensuring that the legacy of Yellowstone continues to resonate for years to come.