Billie Ponca: Osage Elder talks Killers of the Flower Moon - Epi. 266, Host Dr. Mark Sublette

I took the Art Dealer Diaries on a little road trip this week to
northeastern Oklahoma, in the heart of Osage Country, to get an
inside look at this blockbuster movie by Martin Scorsese called
Killers of the Flower Moon. The book was by David Grann and the
story is a tragic one for the Osage people. 

The Osage call it the reign of terror. It took place from 1921 to
1926, and at least 25 Osage were murdered by this cadre of white
opportunists trying to cash in on the oil boom, which was partly
taking place in the Osage Nation. The Osage themselves owned the
mineral rights, and those allotments were handed out to the
members. 

We were very fortunate to speak to an Osage woman who grew up in
the area, Billie Ponca, and we had a discussion at Water Bird
Gallery.  She spoke about what it's like to be an Osage
woman today and about the real-life events that inspired the
film, which she was part of. Her home was one of the backdrops in
the movie and she was asked to be an extra in some of the scenes
as well.

Billie liked the movie. She saw it in Tulsa when they had a
special opening, not only for the Osage people, but the stars
showed up for this screening as well, which was a big deal and
something that usually doesn't happen. 

It was very interesting to get her take on what it's like to live
in a house in Fairfax now, the movie, and the process of how the
movie was created. It was delightful she was delightful.
Hopefully, this podcast will add this additional layer of depth
when you see the movie and help communicate the story and theme
from a Native perspective.