This is a story of historical injustice most people dont know.
CHIEF GEOFFREY STANDING BEAR: I like the word process that you use.
Thats the word I use.
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear at the ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ New York premiereDia Dipasupil/Getty Images
She opened doors for David, who very respectfully interviewed elders who had kept documents and had good stories.
In those days, our people were speaking it regularly, though its an endangered language now.
We are working hard to carry it on.
Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart, Lily Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’Apple TV+
We were concerned until the day, several years ago, that Marty Scorsese came to my office.
He said it with conviction.
That collaboration resulted in this movie.
It went on for years, it was not just one event at one dinner, one conversation.
She talked about driving the new blue Duesenberg vehicle, the new Buick Roadster, all the perks.
It was just like someone talking about the land of Oz, all unbelievable to me.
They became very insulated among each other.
When that generation would get together at ceremonies or traditional dinners, they would talk exclusively in Osage.
They would verify that these were private conversations.
CHIEF GEOFFREY: It wasnt really a deep dark secret.
People knew about it.
We didnt talk about it.
We didnt talk about it in our household.
Its a true story.
David Granns book shows that, and Marty Scorseses movie puts people and relationships into that story.
And what about her children?
I bet Ive heard people say that from that district over there that they believed Mollie actually loved Ernest.
All the way until when she finally said, enough is enough and divorced him.
She finally stood up at the end, and divorced him.
CHIEF GEOFFREY: Well, no ones asked me that.
But I noticed those Osage, which are now the majority, did not have a headright.
They were treated with less respect.
That no Osage could go into.
It was well understood, and you talk about the pricing.
There was an Osage price until not too long ago.
And that system just was insidious.
Im number 4910, and after that, your ending card has your parents role number on it.
That is proven by Davids book.
The movie itself brings it to life as if you were there today.
CHIEF GEOFFREY: And theres a lot more detail, like the land partition laws.
And the money, your money as Osage, was held by the federal government.
DEADLINE:The result?
And that policy still exists in so much continued federal government control.
And if you make a run at remove it, they threaten you.
Theyll say well, well just make it taxable.
So we know about these threats that if we are to seek true independence, there are negative consequences.
Instead of supporting us, we find resistance.
That procedural was why studios chased David Granns book.
How relieved were you for the tribe you represent to not be fodder for another white savior movie?
And he said, Im going to tell the story of trust and betrayal.
DEADLINE:How did he break that down?
And I just said, wow, that is a brilliant way to approach this complicated story.
When you saw the film, what was your reaction?
And Yancy Red Corn, who plays Chief Bonnicastle in the movie.
And several ladies who helped Julie OKeefe with costumes.
Brandy Lemon, a member of our Osage legislature and Chad Renfro, my ambassador to the movie.
We all were all in a private screening room.
We watched that movie and when it was over, several people said, wow.
For us, it was a wow moment.
We began to discuss among ourselves right there, spontaneously.
No one said, Hey, now talk about it.
But we began to talk about it.
I know a lot of the ladies said that scoundrel, basically Leonardo DiCaprios character Ernest.
I said, well, you have to look at it.
In my view, he was weak when he arrived.
He had been injured in World War I.
His uncle took him in and was able to offer him this refuge and a life.
And the women said, the chief, no, there isnosympathy for this character.
I was conflicted but I thought Id best stay out of that discussion.
And I heard Lily Gladstone talk about four months of working with our language people here.
Same with Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and all the others.
And Marty will tell you, thats because he didnt want people to read the movie.
He wanted people to watch the movie, Ive heard him say.
In those scenes, you could tell what theyre talking about.
And I was involved with my people before that.
DEADLINE:How has that gone?
CHIEF GEOFFREY: We purchased 43,000 acres from Ted Turner, his companies for example.
We have built a cattle herd, 2000 head of cattle.
We have 250 head of bison.
We have, as a result of the pandemic, invested in a 40,000-square-foot greenhouse, meat processing plant.
We are building our nation.
Now, what this movie and book does …
I believe it has gotten a healthy discussion going.
We are committing ourselves more to this.
Language, culture, land.
Thats beyond my lifetime, but I think this movie has that historic an effect.
It is not a story told by Hollywood about us.
Its us telling Hollywood.
How do you process such a stunning thing?
CHIEF GEOFFREY: History is full of tragedy and horrible actions and were seeing that today.
CHIEF GEOFFREY: You think of the Aztec Codex or the Mayan writings and how few survived.
And I said, what do you mean?
And Marty, with his commitment to social justice .. .Im just honored to be part of it.
