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

Art Dealer Diaries Podcast

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.