Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI – David Grann

I’m fascinated with the time period of Reconstruction, post Civil-War until the early 1900’s. It was a crossroad period for America as it tried to figure out what to do with these now free “Americans,” the expansion west and the ongoing dilemma with the Native Americans. I mostly focus on reading about the free “Americans” but with this book, I decided to delve into the plight of the Native Americans. I had read Empire of the Summer Moon and it was fascinating so I decided to give this one a go.

Set in the early 20th century as America was still expanding west, Native Americans were still being continuously misplaced. In Oklahoma the Osage People became victims of America’s greed for land and after a few relocations they decided to settle in a patch of land that was pretty much inhabitable.

The American government agreed BECAUSE the land was just that – not suitable for humans to live.

This land was purchased from the Cherokees so the Osage owned it and lo and behold, a few years later, oil was discovered beneath its soil. As a result, per capita, the Osage Nation became the richest people in the world so of course, the in flux of swindlers arrived. Mainly, the U.S. government. First, believing that this tribe of people were too incompetent to control this quick and enormous flow of money, they assigned guardians to manage each persons’ funds. And of course these guardians swindled and mismanaged many to bankruptcy. Second, what seemed like a good idea since this land was purchased, the U.S. government assigned each tribe member a ‘headright’ meaning that their stake in the land’s wealth could not be sold and only transferred to their offspring. So, once considered taboo, interracial marriage became a quest for wealth as white men and women flocked to the Osage Nation in hopes of securing their claim.

And that’s when the murders began.

Once married, it became common for the “Indian” spouse to die mysteriously. Around 24 were documented but historians in hindsight put that number at well over 100. One by one, “Indians” were found shot or poisoned and as a result their spouse became heirs to their fortunes. Even the children were killed.

As I read American history, much of it is unforgivable. I mostly think of Black people and the trauma that we’ve endured but the plight of the Native American is just as traumatic. I finally dwell on these swindlers, murderers, opportunists and mostly our U.S. government and how it performed with dishonesty and intentions of white superiority; this is what troubles me the most. And even today, the descendants from both sides are still reaping the effects of this travesty.