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Jim Gray (The former Chief)

@JimGraytweetz

May 20, 2023 • 20 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X

I was fortunate enough to get a private screening of the film, Killers of the Flower Moon earlier this month. Having been marginally released from my NDA with the premiere of the film today at Cannes, I have a few thoughts.

My connection to this story is from multiple perspectives 1) being a direct descendent and namesake to Henry Roan (James Roan) is one reason me and my siblings were allowed to see it in advance. His murder in this film led the FBI to charge Hale for ordering his murder.

2) As the former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, (2002-2010) I had legitimate concerns that the movie industry might miss the point of the story beyond the violence, and I was fairly outspoken about it when the bidding war for the movie was going on in 2017.

3) I was also adamant that our Nation speak up and engage proactively with the filmmakers and encourage them to let us help them make this film. To his credit, Scorsese did come and meet privately with descendants like me and others to hear our concerns.

Literally, the script was rewritten during the shutdown caused by the pandemic in 2020. This led to major changes in casting as well. These changes brought the Osage closer to the heart of the story than about the birth of the FBI.

The Chief appointed representatives to consult with the filmmakers and offered up the reservation to shoot the film on location, use our language speakers, hire our folks in front and behind the camera. Cultural consultants we're brought to bring the Osage way of life to the film

The dignity and care for the Osage perspective was genuine and honest throughout the process and the Osage responded with the kind of passion and enthusiasm that met this historic moment.

For those of us who were watching from the sidelines while our best and brightest among us auditioned, sewed, catered, painted, acted and advised the filmmakers, it's going to be hard not to feel our presence in helping to tell

this painful, violent story to an international audience. It's not just my family's story, or my Tribal Nation's story, it's a story of America. Meaning, it's your story too. But in the hands of a Martin Scorsese and his team combined with an A list cast, the excitement and

and anxiety was at an all-time high for the Osage people. But at the end of the day, many of you will only see a movie but for us, it's more, much more and that's why this movie will hit us deeper than the rest. But as an Osage with deep connections, I want to thank David Grann

and the Late Charles Red Corn for giving Apple and Scorsese the canvas to paint this story with his vision. It was 100 years ago when John Ramsey murdered my Great-Grandfather Henry Roan and watching his murder on the screen was difficult to watch knowing my late mother lost her

mother and her brother in a car accident shortly thereafter and she was an orphan by the end of that decade. She hardly talked about it for years but when she did, she told me I was named after her baby brother James and her grandpa Henry Roan so we will never forget him.

Years later as Chief, I focused on settling our Trust claims against the United States for mismanagement of our Mineral Estate (Reservation) and creating a new federal law that recognized our inherent sovereign right to change our form of government recognize thousands of Osages

that were left off the rolls for generations. I did all of this to show the world we may have been victims then but we don't live like victims today. Our people accomplished this two years before my Mom passed away in 2008.

How was the movie? It was excellent. Scorsese even captured some of our humor. The performances across the board were Oscar worthy, I mean it. I've never seen a movie like this before. No White Savior, nothing needed to be made up. The violence is real and the music of the Osage

language was beautifully spoken by all of the actors especially the non-Osage actors. At some point I stopped worrying about the subtitles. But the ending. Oh man, you will not forget the ending. But you're going to have to see the film for that. My lips are sealed.