Tribal Tongues Take the Stage

Amid the new and reviewed movies of 2023, the historical film “Killers of the Flower Moon” was spotlighted at the 81st Golden Globes on Jan. 7. Actress Lily Gladstone made the night memorable as the first Native woman to be considered for — and win — the title of Best Female Actor in a Drama Motion Picture. Furthermore, she/they are the first Indigenous actor to win a Golden Globe award. Adapted from David Brann’s novel with the same name, the film is directed by Martin Scorsese and based on real events from Oklahoma’s “Reign of Terror” from 1921 to 1926. The term refers to the unsolved deaths and possible murders of members of the Osage Nation following the discovery of rich oil resources on their tribal lands. Starring Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the film is an important commentary on colonialism and the ongoing neglect of crimes against Indigenous peoples (Teen Vogue). Gladstone plays the role of an Osage woman, Mollie Kyle, based on the real Mollie Burkhardt. Attendees applauded Gladstone’s accomplishment as best actress in a drama and the heartfelt speech she/they gave after receiving the trophy, where she/they express her/their gratitude in the Blackfeet language (Gladstone uses “she” and “they” pronouns to connect with her/their Native heritage and resist colonial gender structures). She/they explain that she/they were lucky enough to learn the language as a child, emphasizing the importance of representation in both film and real life. 

Originally, “Killers of the Flower Moon” was written from the perspective of Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Tom White, whom DiCaprio was meant to play. In a later rendition of the script, however, DiCaprio’s role was changed to Ernest Burkhardt, the white husband of Mollie (Lily Gladstone) who takes part in his uncle’s plan to kill her for her oil fortune. Scorsese states he made this change because he realized he was writing from an outside perspective: the gaze of white characters (Variety). A few Osage viewers thought the film, now centered on Mollie and Ernest’s relationship, still tread too far using a white perspective. They wanted more criticism of Ernest’s crimes from a film that is supposed to highlight Native struggle and violent outcomes of greed and entitlement (Osage News). Additionally, others commented on how overdue this award was to an Indigenous actor, given that the past 80 Golden Globes have been presented on their land. Advanced Placement U.S. History and U.S. History teacher Colette Dunn-Kottke, who has Algonquin blood and relatives from the Delaware Tribe, recognizes how the message of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is impactful regardless of plot details.

“Non-Native people might be more shocked by [the injustices displayed in the film] than Natives who have personal prior experience with extreme prejudice,” Dunn-Kottke said. “Awareness sometimes happens more powerfully — or spreads more quickly — when shock and storytelling are involved.”

Nonetheless, many members of the Osage Nation commend Gladstone for her/their portrayal of Burkhardt and acknowledge the amount of labor involved in the film leading up to the historical win. In her/their backstage interview on the Golden Globes YouTube channel, Gladstone stated that she/they were impacted by the beautiful Osage culture; she/they listened to Osage perspectives and participated in traditions such as dances to drumbeat. With a Nez Perce and Blackfeet father and a white mother, Gladstone grew up on the Blackfeet reservation in Browning, Montana until she/they were 11 years old. In her/their acceptance speech, she/they dedicate her/their win to “every little rez kid out there.” Gladstone’s efforts to both represent herself/theirself and the Osage community with nuance can have positive effects on a large scale. Junior Violet Wu says younger generations seeing characters they relate to can affect their well-being. 

“I can confidently say it makes a huge impact to see representation,” Wu said. “[Many forms of entertainment and media] provide comfort and role models, and also heavily influence growth. A child struggling with their own issues [could] not only never see themself as being part of a white America’s story or as a positive character, but potentially be misrepresented and told they are inherently wrong or should not exist. [As a result,] serious harm will be done to the child that is nearly impossible to unlearn.”

 Gladstone has blazed a trail of Native representation behind her/them, playing roles in productions such as the show “Reservation Dogs” and the independent film “Certain Women.” Bringing Mollie Burkhardt to life in this 2023 film felt significant to many as the film recognizes Native actors to accurately highlight historical injustices against their community. This contrasts racist depictions of Indigenous folk in older U.S. movies, mainly Western films prominent in the 1930s. Referencing how these older films would reverse a white actor’s speech to simulate Native speech, Gladstone reclaims her/their tongues and rallies for representation. “Killers of the Flower Moon” received 10 Golden Globe nominations in total, and on Jan. 20, Gladstone became the second Indigenous and first Native American individual to be nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award after Yalitza Aparicio. In addition to her/their onscreen accomplishments, Gladstone has spoken out about important issues. At events such as Variety’s advocacy event “Power of Women,” she/they shared her/their appreciation for Native women’s organizations and raising awareness for the ongoing murdered and missing Indigenous women’s crisis. Senior Kayla Law recognizes Gladstone’s contributions to entertainment as well as Native causes.

“It is incredible [that] she spoke her native language onstage, which was beautiful and empowering in its own way,” Law said. “She gets to be who she wants to be while also getting to be successful. Gladstone probably has the biggest platform of any Native woman in America right now. It is really up to her what she wants to do with [it], but I think it is amazing [that she focuses on advocacy]. The fact that she is so directly related to [the issue] makes people notice it more because this is a Native person speaking out about an individual experience that they are facing.” Much like a lighthouse, Gladstone’s presence as an Indigenous actress highlights generational oceans of Native community and creative talent. Her/their outspokenness on Indigenous mental health and safety show that the entertainment industry is not only a source of leisure but has the power to bring new perspectives, stories and conversations over very pressing topics (National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center). Her/their deep connections to NIWRC and the Osage Nation helped her/them make history for their community, highlighting the amount of love and joy involved in telling this story. To celebrate her/their win, Gladstone says that she/they will hug her/their mom, call her/their family and answer texts from cousins.