It turns out Red Feather in American Primeval is based on the actor’s real life ancestor

The very gripping and very harrowing new Netflix show American Primeval is legit based on real events. The show is based on the terrible true story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The creator Peter Berg has explained that although some characters in the show – like Jim Bridger and Brigham Young – are real people, some characters are inspired by several different stories. It turns out that Red Feather from American Primeval wasn’t a real person, but elements of his character were inspired by the actor Derek Hinkey’s real ancestor.

Who even is Red Feather from American Primeval?

Red Feather is a Shoshone warrior. He leads a breakaway group of Crow fighters called the Wolf Clan. The character is portrayed by Derek Hinkey, who also starred in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1.

Was Red Feather a real person?

(Image via Netflix)

Sort of yes and no. So, there wasn’t a real Shoshone person called Red Feather who correlates exactly to the character in American Primeval. The show’s storyline with the Wolf Clan is inspired by real uprisings, but isn’t based on any one particular group of people. However, the actor Derek Hinkey has explained he took inspiration from his very real ancestor.

Derek Hinkey told the Hollywood Reporter, “Red Feather is based on my family. I’m a direct descendant of War Chief Numaga, son of Chief Winnemucca, son of Chief Truckee, leaders of the longest, deadliest Indian wars in U.S. history. Numaga was who he’s really based off of, and Numaga was called a war chief by the people, but he prayed for peace.

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“He was taught at a young age that when people come across and they’re light-skinned, you take care of them. But with all the conflicts going on, he couldn’t, so he went into ceremony at Pyramid Lake, and he prayed for three to four days. When he woke up, he told the people, we have to go to war. But when they come, they’re going to come like sand in a whirlwind.”

Derek also revealed he used a book on his family’s history to help him get into the mindset of the character. He said, “Everywhere I go, I take my book on my grandpa, Sand in a Whirlwind: [The Paiute Indian War of 1860]. That’s what I draw from, especially for a character like this, to remind me that there’s that genetic memory, there’s that power inside.”

Who was Chief Numaga and how does he connect to American Primeval?

A drawing of Numaga from the 1860s

So, Numaga was a leader of Paiute people during the Paiute War in Nevada in 1860. That’s seven years before season one of American Primeval is set. He strongly advocated for peace and initially voted against going to war with the United States colonialists, but eventually led warriors into battle. Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock people fought the United States soldiers for land near Pyramid Lake, in what’s now Nevada. After about 90 United States soldiers and 30 Native American soldiers died, both sides agreed to a ceasefire.

Red Feather has a very different ending to Numaga’s real death

Spoilers ahead. You have been warned.

Red Feather has a very dramatic and tragic death in American Primeval. When the Mormons attack the Shoshone, he gets seriously injured and died in his son Young Elk’s arms. Numaga lived to be about 41 and died of tuberculosis.

American Primeval is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Featured images of Red Feather via Netflix.