Dozens auditioned in Billings, Montana, for six Indian roles in a pilot based on the Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery series by author Craig Johnson.

The series follows a sheriff who works on a fictional reservation in Wyoming. The sheriff's best friend is Henry Standing Bear, a character based on Marcus Red Thunder, a Montana man who is an audition consultant for the project.

“Henry Standing Bear is based off of me and my life,” Red Thunder told The Billings Gazette. “The nature of growing up, reservation life and the values — my humor.”

Another round of auditions will be held in New Mexico, where portions of the pilot will be filmed for A&E.

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Actors audition for A&E TV series based on Wyoming author's books (The Billings Gazette 3/9)

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A&E casts for six Indian roles for Sheriff Walt Longmire mystery (3/8)