From the archives: The Osage murders and 'Killers of the Flower Moon'

In the early 20th century, an oil rush in the Osage Nation, located in Oklahoma, produced a torrent of oil revenues for the Native American tribe, making them the richest people per capita in the world. But their wealth invited greed, exploitation and murder on the part of white "guardians" who came to control the Osage's money, and would lead to the first major investigation by the FBI. In this "Sunday Morning" story originally broadcast April 30, 2017, correspondent Lee Cowan talks with David Grann, author of "Killers of the Flower Moon," about the reign of terror against the Osage.

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[ogggggggggggggggggg]

As a member of the Osage tribe who's great grandmother was mentioned in the KOTFM book and whose uncle was in the film, I'm honored that he made this film. Sure it was long and may not be as remembered as Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, but my people needed their story told.

[miguelsoliz]

I am a Native American and studied native history, this was just another horrible act done to Native Americans. This is what is happening to native Hawaiians. There land is valuable and people want it and will do horribly things to acquire it.

[d_c_C]

I’m so glad this story is being told on the big screen! It’s so important for audiences to not just read but to SEE the horrific violence done to the native Americans. You can’t white wash the truth and you can’t keep it hidden forever.

[brenda]

This story needs to be told for all to see the atrocities the Native Osage people had to endure because of greed.

[teamcougars]

Disgusting how we weren’t taught about this in school … I’m 54 graduated in 1987 and I am just now learning about this 😢I want to see the movie now.

[TB-ypun]

Absolutely one of the best historical books ever written! This story needs to be shared in every classroom in America!

[liveslisa]

Sickening. Such greed and inhumanity.

[ivanfranco]

As a Native American i am just happy this story is being told!

[elliewegman]

I have just finished reading the book... It is well-researched, well written and shocking. Well worth a read.

[JoeMama-tltr]

One of the most evil people ever were the ones who harmed the Osage. It was all for greed and destroyed families while the government invited the abuse

[sherryzimmerman]

Thank You Thank You for telling this story…I taught High School for 33 years and loved it…..but my Best Work came the next 13 years as I worked as a Court Appointed Advocate for neglected and abused children in Pierce County Juvenile Court, Washington State…..and my focus became Native American Children …..I had the privilege of working to reunite children with a number of their tribes across the nation…..ie Puyallup, Squaxin, Standing Rock…….my hope is for a truth and reconciliation and an Indigenous Day recognizing the First People of this country…..the LAND cries out for it…..Thank You for this engaging piece and this moment in time….

[meequon]

The original novel written about this history by a Native American woman Linda Hogan called Mean Spirit in 1990 was nominated for a Pulitzer prize in 1991, worth a read also from a native person's perspective.

[CallMeErie]

More of these kinds of stories need to be told. Silence and whitewashing allow the majority culture to feel superior, while dehumanizing others.

[tamaramartin]

Many years ago, i worked with a professor whose grandmother was a victim of the Reign of Terror. Denny had grown up believing she died of kidney disease, then he heard it was suicide. He couldn't accept that she would do that -- she was found lying next to her baby daughter, Denny's mother -- so he set out to find the truth. Quite a story, a horrible, terrible story.

[katecoffee]

I spent a lot of time in this area as a child. To some it may seem a bleak landscape but I found magic in it. I didn’t learn about the horrors until I was well into adulthood. I still visit this area and still feel the magic but, now, with a touch of sadness and shame.

[lukodaian]

Beautifully done CBS .thanks for sharing history

[Coco]

Lily Gladstone who plays Mollie Burkhart in the film adaptation is definitely getting a lot of major awards for her role.

[Bun]

When I was working on a TV show back in summer '21, a lot of us had heard about Scorsese's latest being filmed in OK and possibly Kentucky. But I never expected it to be a story such as *this.* If you're not on a particular film shoot nor have friends working on it you genuinely don't know what's being produced. But oh my god, this is a terrifying film I'll be seeing in theaters. As a white person in my early 30s I am so sickened by how we treated Natives and still treat them to this day. I'm very blessed to have been brought to several pow-wows when I was a child. Not only were they fun, I think overall it was a great lesson in decency and learning tolerance at a young age. You can tell David is a good person, despite all the horrific hardships of the Osage the truth he found out had to be revealed. That he still hurts from this writing and research journey says so much. Thank you CBS Sunday Morning for another excellent topic coverage.

[contessachristabella]

I remember reading or hearing about this. So glad their story is finally being shown on the big screen for everyone to see.

[cherylrleigh]

"Killers" is an artistic masterpiece, and the tragic events that unfolded among the Osage people parallel the experiences of African Americans in the Oklahoma Greenwood District, known as Black Wall Street, who similarly acquired oil-rich lands.