Martin Scorsese, known for various genres, is trying his hand at a Western with “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The movie is based on David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book ‘Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and The Birth of the FBI’. about the Osage murders, a series of shocking events in 1920s Oklahoma. These murders occurred after oil was found on Osage tribal land. Killers of the Flower Moon holds significant relevance to the ongoing challenges and hardships faced by Native American communities in the USA. Tomorrow.events anticipates that without systemic change, substantial progress in rectifying historical injustices is unlikely in the near future. Meaningful transformation hinges on vital policy reforms concerning land rights, resource management, healthcare, education, and economic development. Sustained efforts to preserve indigenous culture require strong support to yield meaningful impact.
Killers of the Flower Moon – Release Date
“Killers of the Flower Moon” had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023. Initially, Paramount planned to distribute the film alone, but due to budgetary concerns, they partnered with Apple, which acquired the film. It is scheduled to release in North American theaters on October 20, 2023, and will also be available in IMAX.
Killers of the Flower Moon – Cast and Filming
Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone lead the cast, with Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, and Brendan Fraser in supporting roles. This film marks the tenth collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro and the sixth with DiCaprio. DiCaprio takes on the role of Ernest Burkhart, William Hale’s nephew, torn between loyalty to his Osage wife and powerful uncle. De Niro portrays the sinister William Hale, suspected of orchestrating hits on wealthy Osage tribe members. Jesse Plemons plays FBI agent Tom White. Brendan Fraser stars as lawyer W.S. Hamilton, and John Lithgow portrays Prosecutor Leaward, determined to convict Hale of murder.
Scorsese, keen on collaboration with the Osage Nation, cast indigenous actors for Osage roles and filmed on their land, with tribal consent. He closely collaborated with Osage Tribe’s film ambassador Chad Renfro. The Chief of the Osage Nation, Geoffrey Standing Bear, acts as a consultant for the film. Chief Standing Bear emphasized the significance of this partnership, acknowledging the historical suffering of his people and expressing trust in Scorsese and his team, stating that this trust will not be let down.
Osage Nation’s Tragic History
Originally located in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, the Osage Nation was forcibly relocated by the U.S. government in the 19th century. They secured a treaty in 1865 to purchase reservation land in northern Oklahoma, which later revealed significant oil deposits. In 1906, the Osage Allotment Act was passed, reserving subsurface mineral rights for the Osage people. The reservation turned out to hold some of the nation’s largest oil reserves, sparking the Oklahoma oil boom. While mineral royalties were held in trust, lease proceeds were paid to the tribe and distributed equally among tribal members as headrights. At its zenith, headrights were worth millions of dollars each, making Osage tribal members the world’s wealthiest per capita. However, in 1921, Congress instituted a system where white guardians were appointed to manage the funds of “incompetent” Osage individuals, often those who were full-blooded rather than mixed-race members.
The Reign of Terror
Local whites quickly targeted the wealthy Osage, with dishonest lawyers, bankers, and businessmen siphoning money from their oil royalties. William K. Hale, a cattle rancher, styled as the “King of the Osage Hills,” orchestrated a deadly scheme. Taking advantage of a 1906 act allowing non-Osage people to inherit headrights, he had his nephew Ernest Burkhart marry Mollie Kyle, a full-blooded allottee. Hale, Burkhart, John Ramsey, Kelsey Morrison, and others systematically murdered her family, resulting in an estimated 2 dozen to over 60 deaths during 1921–26, known as the Reign of Terror. In March 1923, the Osage Tribal Council sought help from the U.S. government. The Bureau of Investigation, led by J. Edgar Hoover from May 1924, took on the case, making it their first major homicide investigation, with a focus on Roan’s death on the Osage Reservation.
Injustices Across Centuries: Native Nations’ Story
Throughout history, Native American tribal nations have faced numerous instances of injustice. These occurrences predate the Osage murders and persist even today, as you read this. Here are some noteworthy examples:
Trail of Tears (1838 and 1839)
Under Andrew Jackson’s Indian removal policy, the Cherokee nation was compelled to relinquish their lands east of the Mississippi River and relocate to present-day Oklahoma. This arduous journey, known as the “Trail of Tears,” was named for its profoundly tragic consequences on the Cherokee people.
Sand Creek Massacre (1864)
Colonel John Chivington, leading 675 U.S. troops, launched an assault on a tranquil Cheyenne and Arapaho village in Colorado. This brutal attack resulted in the massacre of over 230 Native Americans, among them approximately 150 women, children, and elderly individuals.
The Dawes Act of 1887
This act aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into individual allotments. Consequently, it resulted in significant loss of indigenous territory. Additionally, it permitted white settlers to acquire any “surplus” land. By 1932, these settlers had obtained two-thirds of the original 138,000,000 acres (56,000,000 hectares) that Native Americans had possessed in 1887.
Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)
In South Dakota, near Wounded Knee Creek, the U.S. Army clashed with Lakota Sioux. This conflict led to the deaths of approximately 150-300 individuals, including women and children. It represented the culmination of the U.S. Army’s efforts to control the Plains Indians in the late 19th century.
Indian Boarding Schools (late 19th to mid-20th century)
In the 19th and 20th centuries, government-funded and church-operated Indian Boarding schools were established in the US. In 2022 the Department of Interior agencies were directed to coordinate an investigation into the Federal Indian boarding school system. As a result Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs, presented the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigation Report According to the report, Between 1819 and 1969, the Federal Indian boarding school system included 408 schools. These were spread across 37 states or territories, with 21 in Alaska and 7 in Hawaii.
The report also notes that boarding schools blended children from various tribes, enforced English language use, mandated uniform attire, and imposed military-style routines to sever their ties to their previous lives. These conditions often led to health issues, including higher rates of gall bladder disease and cancer among Native American adults who had attended such schools compared to those who had not.
Termination Era (1950s-1960s)
The 1950s marked the ‘termination era’ in federal Indian policy. During this period, Congress implemented policies to end federal obligations to tribes. This was achieved through three main methods: the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) relocation program, termination of certain tribes, and the extension of state jurisdiction into Indian territory through Public Law 280.
Alcatraz Occupation (1969-1971)
Native American activists seized Alcatraz Island in California. Their aim was to highlight land rights and cultural preservation issues.
Klamath Termination (1954)
In the 20th century, the Klamath were subjected to a significant federal policy shift known as termination. This had broad repercussions, particularly for the Klamath due to their expansive reservation and rich resources. Termination severed the longstanding connections between recognized Indian tribes and the federal government. As a result, all individuals on the Klamath reservation lost their land. In exchange, they received cash payments, which posed difficulties for many to handle.
Standing Rock protests (2016-2017)
The Standing Rock protests occurred at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Activists, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and supporters from indigenous and environmental groups, opposed the pipeline due to environmental and cultural concerns. Consequently, this movement gained global attention, prompting discussions on indigenous rights, environmental protection, and US energy policies.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)
This is an ongoing crisis in the United States and Canada, involving violence and disappearances of indigenous women and girls. The National Institute of Justice found that 84% of Indigenous women experienced violence, with 56% surviving sexual assault (2016). This enduring violence has given rise to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center attributes this crisis to historical trauma from colonization and its ongoing impact. Additionally, the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center states that 96% of American Indian/Alaska Native female victims of sexual violence experience it from a non-Native perpetrator.
The MMIW crisis highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Native American women and girls to violence. It also underscores how certain communities are disproportionately affected by systemic issues in the criminal justice system. An in-depth study on the causes and effects of this crisis is available in this study, ‘A Look at the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis: Investigation of Potential Causes and Effects.’
Inequality Persists: Lessons from Killers of the Flower Moon
Many tribes, despite abundant resources, face poverty, limited access to education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure, worsening the cycle of inequality. Native Americans’ economic marginalization is comparable to that of African Americans in several socioeconomic indicators. According to the 2015-2019 American Community Survey for the American Indian and Alaska Native population, the median household income was $43,825, slightly higher than African American households at $41,935. In comparison, white household income was significantly higher at $68,785 during this period. Moreover, in terms of poverty rate and educational attainment, Native Americans have the highest rates among major racial/ethnic categories, with a poverty rate of 25.4 percent. Only 15 percent Native Americans hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the American Community Survey Brief on Bachelor’s Degree Attainment 2005 – 2019.
Closing the racial wealth gap for Native Americans demands a transformative shift in current and future investments and policies. Despite the data, the nation is still lagging in tackling racial economic disparities. A crucial shift involves a focused analysis and resolute commitment to addressing these disparities rooted in the nation’s history and persisting today. This change hinges on gathering more robust data on the Native American population and prioritizing efforts to alleviate their economic struggles.
Beyond History: Native Struggles in the Present
Today, tribes persistently labor to revive and safeguard their distinct cultural heritage, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to cultural preservation. The Osage investigation highlights legal and political hurdles faced by Native American tribes. Issues of sovereignty, jurisdiction, and representation remain unresolved. Furthermore, indigenous communities grapple with a legal system that frequently falls short in safeguarding their rights. Killers of the Flower Moon vividly portrays how the Osage Nation’s plight reflects a wider pattern of Native American mistreatment. These struggles aren’t confined to history; they persist today. Recognizing this legacy is crucial in advancing justice, equity, and empowerment for Native American tribes throughout the United States.
Future Outlook: Policy Reforms Needed
Despite some progress in acknowledging and confronting these challenges, there remains a substantial amount of work ahead. Tomorrow.events foresees that without meaningful policy reforms to rectify historical injustices, meaningful change may remain elusive even in the present day. This could encompass actions concerning land rights, resource management, healthcare, education, and economic development. While efforts to preserve and rejuvenate indigenous languages, traditions, and cultural practices are expected to persist, their effectiveness could be significantly hindered without adequate support and endorsement.
