“Hello my friends/family. My name is Eagle Woman. I am black feet. I love you all.”
Those were the words Lily Gladstone spoke on Blackfeet at the beginning of her Golden Globe acceptance speech last night after winning best actress in a motion picture drama for her role in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
Her victory was historic, as she became the first indigenous woman to win that award at the Globes.
“I just spoke a little bit of the Blackfeet language, the beautiful community nation that raised me, that encouraged me to keep going, to keep doing this,” Gladstone continued, before providing historical context about Native representation on screen. “I am very grateful to be able to speak even a little bit of my language, which I do not speak fluently up here. Because in this business, native actors used to say their lines in English and then the sound mixers would play them backwards to get the native languages on camera.”
The 37-year-old actress acknowledged her “historic triumph” and shared the credit with all of her “beautiful sisters in the movie… and my mother.” [and co-star]Cardinal Tantoo, [I’m] standing on all your shoulders.”
Gladstone also dedicated her victory to children who, like her, dream big despite the social obstacles that stand in their way.
“[T]This is for every little rez kid, every little urban kid, every little native kid who has a dream, who sees themselves represented and our stories told by ourselves in our own words, with tremendous allies and tremendous trust with and each. another,” he said.
Gladstone told reporters after the awards presentation that the beginning of his speech was a traditional form of greeting.
“One of the first things they teach us is that you have to say your name, say where you’re from and say hello to everyone, hello friends,” Gladstone said. “So it was one of the most natural things I can do right now.”
During the Golden Globes red carpet, Gladstone and her “Killers of the Flower Moon” co-star Leonardo DiCaprio wore accessories in their outfits that were nods to indigenous people.
“We are in unison with the Osage Nation in this movie,” DiCaprio told “Entertainment Tonight.” “I have my Osage pin on tonight.”
Gladstone told the outlet that her earrings were a Blackfeet design made by Antelope Women Designs’ Blackfeet/Cree artist Lenise Omeasoo.
