Hello everyone, this is Jinsha. In the 25th episode (link), we discussed the movie “Killers of the Flower Moon” and delved into our post-viewing study of the Osage Indian tribe and its history.

In the mid-19th century, the ancestors of the Osage were forced out by white settlers and had to leave their territory in the eastern United States. They moved west to what is now Oklahoma, where they purchased new land from another Native American tribe. At the end of the 19th century, when the federal government sought to seize these lands from the tribes and privatize them, the Osage negotiated with the government and ultimately secured both land and mineral rights. This meant that while the surface land could be taken, any minerals found beneath it would belong to Osage. At the beginning of the 20th century, rich oil resources were discovered on their land. Consequently, by collecting mining rents from oil companies, the Osage people became the wealthiest in the world on a per capita basis. Unfortunately, this wealth also brought disaster to their lives. During the 1920s and 1930s, many Osage people died within a short period, with the causes of death remaining unknown. This series of organized and premeditated murders became the subject of a subsequent U.S. federal investigation. Marking some of the first criminal cases after the establishment of the FBI, this period is known as the “Osage Reign of Terror.”

Our guest in this episode, Raymond RedCorn, is of Osage descent. Born in Pawhuska, an Indian reservation, he is the youngest child in his family. His grandparents lived through that “turbulent era.” We discussed his family history, career choices, the revitalization of Osage culture and language, and how, as an Osage living out of reservation, he maintains his connection to the tribe.

Timeline:

00:00-04:00 Introduction

04:00-08:14 Studie’s Reflections on the Movie

08:15-10:14 Studie’s Childhood Experiences 1

10:14-11:35 Stories about Studie’s Grandparents

11:35-15:00 Tales Heard from Studie’s Grandparents

15:00-16:30 The Osage Reign of Terror

16:31-18:42 Studie’s Father’s Collections

18:43-23:13 Efforts to Preserve the Osage Language

23:13-28:10 Studie’s Journey in Learning the Osage Language

28:10-33:20 Preservation of Osage Traditions

33:20-34:50 Studie’s Connection with the Osage Community While Living Elsewhere

34:50-38:23 The Inlonshka Ceremony

38:23-40:48 The Lack of Osage History in School Curriculums

40:48-43:43 Studie’s Hopes for the Next Generation

43:44-48:00 Studie’s Struggle with Identity

48:00-52:26 Studie’s Role at the Department of Energy

52:26-55:23 The Forward-Thinking Mindset of the Red Corn Family

55:23-Ending Insights from Osage Scholar Jean Dennison and the Movie’s Final Scene

References:

Wazhazhe immersion school：www.osagenation-nsn.gov

US Indian Boarding School History: boardingschoolhealing.org

The TEAACH Act: www.isbe.net

The legislation requiring that schools teach about the contributions of Native Americans: news.illinois.edu.

A Pipe for February: www.goodreads.com

BGM sources:

[Intro] The Sacred Pipe: youtu.be

Tulsa Massacre Newsreel: youtu.be

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) - End scene drums: www.youtube.com

Wahzhazhe Naming Traditions: www.youtube.com