Actress and professional athlete Kali Reis is returning home to Rhode Island for a special recognition.
HBO True Detective’s Reis received a Community Hero Award.
“My full name is Mequinonoag which means many feathers and many talents, by my mother,” said Reis. “That must have had a magical crystal or piece of Wampum or something that saw my future.”
Surrounded by her tribe, the East Providence native and Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe member returned to Rhode Island to receive the state’s honor.
The award is for her support and advocacy on behalf of “Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls,” a grassroots movement.
“Just to bring awareness to missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, our people, our women, our children, our men,” said Reis. “Our relatives are targeted and they’re being kidnapped and murdered at stagnant rates, especially our women, are 10 times more likely to face violence in their lifetime.”
Reis stars in HBO’s True Detective: Night Country.
She is also the first Indigenous woman fighter to become a world boxing champion.
The inscription on her community hero award reads, “She needed a hero, so she became one.”
As her name illustrates, she has many talents, all used to lift the voice of the voiceless.
“I am very happy to be back in Rhode Island. Trust me I’m very proud to be from Rhode Island, little state big attitude,” said Reis. “I’m just very happy to be back home as a hero.”
Reid will be in a film called “Asphalt City,” starring Sean Penn and Ty Sheridan, that opens Friday.
