🕊️ “Fly Free Over the Six Nations”: Rex Linn’s Farewell to Graham Greene
In the world of film and television, where roles are played and stories are scripted, real friendships often form in the margins — in the quiet moments between takes, in shared laughter off-camera, in the mutual respect that transcends performance. Such was the bond between Rex Linn and Graham Greene, two actors whose careers spanned decades and genres, but whose connection ran deeper than credits and accolades.
When Graham Greene passed away on September 1, 2025, after a long illness in Toronto, the tributes came swiftly. Fans remembered his iconic roles — Kicking Bird in Dances With Wolves, Spotted Eagle in 1883, and appearances in The Green Mile, Maverick, and Tulsa King. But for Rex Linn, the loss was personal. He didn’t just lose a colleague. He lost a brother.
And in the wake of Greene’s death, Linn shared something intimate: the final text message he received from his friend. It read simply, “Fly free over the Six Nations.” A poetic farewell. A spiritual release. A message layered with cultural meaning and emotional weight.
🎬 A Friendship Forged in Storytelling
Rex Linn and Graham Greene crossed paths in the world of Westerns, where myth and memory often collide. Both men were drawn to stories rooted in heritage, justice, and the rugged complexity of human nature. Greene, an Oneida actor from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, brought depth and dignity to every role he played. Linn, known for his work in CSI: Miami, Young Sheldon, and numerous Westerns, shared Greene’s reverence for storytelling.
Their friendship blossomed not just through shared scenes, but through shared values. Respect. Humor. Loyalty. They appeared together at the 2025 Western Heritage Awards, where Linn hosted a panel featuring Greene and country legends Brooks & Dunn. It was a celebration of legacy — and, unknowingly, one of Greene’s final public appearances.
🧠 The Meaning Behind the Message
“Fly free over the Six Nations.” It’s a line that reads like poetry, but carries the weight of history.
The Six Nations refers to the Haudenosaunee Confederacy — a powerful alliance of Indigenous nations including the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora. Greene’s heritage was deeply rooted in this lineage, and his work often reflected the values and struggles of Indigenous communities.
To “fly free” over this land is to return to spirit. To transcend the physical. To be released from pain and limitation. It’s a farewell not just to a friend, but to the world — a final act of grace.
Linn’s decision to share this message was an act of vulnerability. In doing so, he allowed fans and fellow artists to glimpse the soul of a man often seen through the lens of character. Greene was not just Spotted Eagle or Kicking Bird. He was a friend. A mentor. A brother.
🪶 Greene’s Legacy: More Than Roles
Graham Greene’s career was groundbreaking. As one of the most prominent Indigenous actors in Hollywood, he shattered stereotypes and brought nuance to roles that had long been flattened by cliché. His performance in Dances With Wolves earned him an Academy Award nomination — a rare honor for a Native actor at the time.
But Greene’s impact went beyond the screen. He was a quiet advocate, using his platform to elevate Indigenous voices and challenge the industry’s narrow portrayals. His presence in 1883 as Spotted Eagle was brief, but pivotal. In a three-minute scene with Tim McGraw’s James Dutton, Greene’s character pointed the family toward Paradise Valley — but not without a warning: “In seven generations, my people will rise up and take it back from you.”
That line became a cornerstone of the Yellowstone universe, echoing through its sequels and spin-offs. It was prophecy. It was power. And it was Greene.
💬 Final Words and Their Echo
There’s something sacred about final words. They linger. They imprint. They become part of the story we tell about someone after they’re gone.
Greene’s last message to Linn wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t long. But it was profound. It captured the essence of a man who lived with quiet strength and spiritual depth. It honored his heritage. It acknowledged his journey. And it offered comfort to a grieving friend.
For Linn, that message is now a touchstone — a reminder of the bond they shared, and the legacy Greene leaves behind.
🧘♂️ Grief, Brotherhood, and the Space Between
Grief is a strange companion. It arrives uninvited, stays too long, and speaks in riddles. For Rex Linn, the loss of Graham Greene is not just professional — it’s personal. It’s the absence of a voice, a laugh, a presence.
Calling Greene his “brother” wasn’t metaphor. It was truth. In the world of entertainment, where relationships can be fleeting and transactional, theirs was rooted in something deeper. Shared values. Shared history. Shared humanity.
And in that final text, Greene gave Linn a gift — not just a goodbye, but a blessing.
🕯️ Honoring the Spirit
As Hollywood mourns the loss of Graham Greene, the challenge is not just to remember his roles, but to honor his spirit. That means telling stories that reflect Indigenous realities. That means creating space for actors of all backgrounds to lead, to shape, to speak.
Greene’s legacy is not just in the films he made, but in the doors he opened. In the dignity he brought. In the message he left behind.
“Fly free over the Six Nations.” It’s a call to rise. To remember. To respect.
🕊️ Final Reflections: A Message That Soars
In the end, Graham Greene’s final words to Rex Linn are more than a text. They are a poem. A prayer. A passage.
They remind us that friendship is sacred. That legacy is built not just in public, but in private. That the most powerful goodbyes are often the simplest.
Greene flew free. And in doing so, he left behind a sky full of stories — waiting to be told, waiting to be honored, waiting to rise.
