Lily Gladstone could make history if she wins an Oscar. She doesn’t take it lightly

“Killers of the Flower Moon” actress Lily Gladstone could become the first Native American actor to win an Oscar in an acting category.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

The movie “Killers Of The Flower Moon,” set in 1920s Oklahoma, shows the systematic murder of Osage people for their oil wealth. If Lily Gladstone wins an Oscar for her portrayal of the real-life Mollie Burkhart, she will be the first Native American actor to be so honored in the acting category. Lily Gladstone spoke about that and what might be next for her with Allison Herrera of APM Reports.

ALLISON HERRERA: I caught up with Lily Gladstone right before she was about to appear on a panel with director Martin Scorsese and Osage Nation principal chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. I introduced myself in Salinan, my native language.

(Speaking Salinan).

And Gladstone did the same in Blackfeet.

LILY GLADSTONE: (Speaking in Blackfoot).

My name is Lily Gladstone, Eagle Woman, and I’m from the Blackfoot Nation.

HERRERA: It’s not lost on Gladstone that she’s portraying an Indigenous woman on the big screen after decades of misrepresentation by Hollywood. She sees this movie, the awards and press around it as a chance to set the record straight and prove that this wasn’t done without buy-in from the Osage people.

GLADSTONE: People learn history by watching movies. You know, our sense of history and culture is largely shaped by what we see on screen, so it just has to be constructed by both parties if it’s a collaboration like this. And, really, there was so much in the film that – you know, it’s credited to Marty and Eric – rightfully so – you know, the writers of what we have. But there’s so much in the story that also just belongs to Osage.

HERRERA: That collaboration Gladstone is talking about between Martin Scorsese, screenwriter Eric Roth and the citizens of the Osage Nation led to presenting Mollie’s character more front and center, instead of it being about the FBI and…