<p>Martin Scorsese's new film<em> Killers of the Flower Moon</em>&nbsp;recounts how the Osage nation of Native Americans gained significant oil wealth in the early 20th century and the murderous plot by outsiders to seize it.</p>

<p>Ahead of the movie's US release, AFP looks at the real-life story behind the film, which was adapted from US author David Grann's 2017 book of the same name.</p>

<h2>- Who are the Osage? -</h2>

<p>The Osage, a Native American nation which grew out of the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, was forcibly relocated by the US government in the late 19th century westward to a reservation in what would later become the central state of Oklahoma.</p>

<p>As the new proprietors of the land, the nation in 1906 negotiated a rare agreement with the federal government giving Osage members exclusive mineral rights which could not be transferred or sold, only inherited.</p>

<p>Not long after, prospectors discovered that the Osage Reservation lied on an enormous oil reserve.</p>

<p>With demand for oil skyrocketing, the Osage quickly gained wealth.</p>

<p>In 1923 alone, according to Grann, the nation earned the equivalent of more than $400 million in today's money.</p>

<p>White settlers flocked to the area to take advantage of the black gold windfall.</p>

<p>They set up businesses, married members of the tribe or became managers of the Osage members' fortunes.</p>

<p>In 1921, Congress passed a racist law requiring Native Americans to have a guardian of the oil wealth appointed until they proved their "competency."</p>

<h2>- What was the Reign of Terror? -&nbsp;</h2>

<p>From 1921 to 1925, a series of murders and suspicious deaths struck the Osage Nation, who have dubbed the period the <em>Reign of Terror.</em></p>

<p>Mollie Kyle Burkhart's family was particularly hard-hit. Her sister Anna Kyle Brown was shot in the head in 1921, and their mother Lizzie died a few months later of suspected poisoning.</p>

<p>Rita Smith, another of Mollie's sisters, and her husband Bill died after a bomb exploded in their home in 1923.</p>

<p>Their distant cousin, Henry Roan, was also found shot in the head the same year.</p>

<p>The Osage nation-states on its website that at least 60 people were killed during this period, but that there were potentially even more murders, as some suspicious deaths were never investigated.</p>

<h2>- Federal investigation -</h2>

<p>With the death toll mounting, US authorities relaunched an investigation in 1925 under the auspices of the Bureau of Investigation, a forerunner of today's FBI.</p>

<p>After months of investigation, the federal officials uncovered an intra-family plot.</p>

<p>Burkhart's husband Ernest, a white settler, and his uncle William Hale, a wealthy white rancher, had orchestrated the murders in order to take control of their oil rights.</p>

<p>Ernest Burkhart and Hale, after attempting to cover up the crimes, were convicted of murder and received life sentences in 1926 and 1929.</p>

<p>Grann alleges in his book that other murders, which went without convictions due to a lack of evidence, are almost all attributed to people from outside the nation seeking to seize Osage oil rights.</p>

<h2>- Today -</h2>

<p>Around a quarter of the shares of the reservation's oil rights are held today by non-Osages. Most of the oil has since dried up, however, and royalty checks now amount to only a few thousand dollars.</p>

<p>The Osage Nation is nonetheless pushing for federal legislation that would allow the non-Osages' shares to be gifted or sold back to the nation.</p>

<p>The murders of the 1920s left an indelible mark on the memory of the Osage community, which was heavily involved in the making of Scorsese's film.</p>

<p>Alongside stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the film features Osage actors, props made by Osage craftworkers and involved work with Osage language experts.</p>


Martin Scorsese's new film Killers of the Flower Moon recounts how the Osage nation of Native Americans gained significant oil wealth in the early 20th century and the murderous plot by outsiders to seize it.

Martin Scorsese's new film Killers of the Flower Moon recounts how the Osage nation of Native Americans gained significant oil wealth in the early 20th century and the murderous plot by outsiders to seize it. Ahead of the movie's US release, AFP looks at the real-life story behind the film, which was adapted from US author David Grann's 2017 book of the same name. - Who are the Osage? - The Osage, a Native American nation which grew out of the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, was forcibly relocated by the US government in the late 19th century westward to a reservation in what would later become the central state of Oklahoma. As the new proprietors of the land, the nation in 1906 negotiated a rare agreement with the federal government giving Osage members exclusive mineral rights which could not be transferred or sold, only inherited. Not long after, prospectors discovered that the Osage Reservation lied on an enormous oil reserve. With demand for oil skyrocketing, the Osage quickly gained wealth. In 1923 alone, according to Grann, the nation earned the equivalent of more than $400 million in today's money. White settlers flocked to the area to take advantage of the black gold windfall. They set up businesses, married members of the tribe or became managers of the Osage members' fortunes. In 1921, Congress passed a racist law requiring Native Americans to have a guardian of the oil wealth appointed until they proved their "competency." - What was the Reign of Terror? - From 1921 to 1925, a series of murders and suspicious deaths struck the Osage Nation, who have dubbed the period the Reign of Terror. Mollie Kyle Burkhart's family was particularly hard-hit. Her sister Anna Kyle Brown was shot in the head in 1921, and their mother Lizzie died a few months later of suspected poisoning. Rita Smith, another of Mollie's sisters, and her husband Bill died after a bomb exploded in their home in 1923. Their distant cousin, Henry Roan, was also found shot in the head the same year. The Osage nation-states on its website that at least 60 people were killed during this period, but that there were potentially even more murders, as some suspicious deaths were never investigated. - Federal investigation - With the death toll mounting, US authorities relaunched an investigation in 1925 under the auspices of the Bureau of Investigation, a forerunner of today's FBI. After months of investigation, the federal officials uncovered an intra-family plot. Burkhart's husband Ernest, a white settler, and his uncle William Hale, a wealthy white rancher, had orchestrated the murders in order to take control of their oil rights. Ernest Burkhart and Hale, after attempting to cover up the crimes, were convicted of murder and received life sentences in 1926 and 1929. Grann alleges in his book that other murders, which went without convictions due to a lack of evidence, are almost all attributed to people from outside the nation seeking to seize Osage oil rights. - Today - Around a quarter of the shares of the reservation's oil rights are held today by non-Osages. Most of the oil has since dried up, however, and royalty checks now amount to only a few thousand dollars. The Osage Nation is nonetheless pushing for federal legislation that would allow the non-Osages' shares to be gifted or sold back to the nation. The murders of the 1920s left an indelible mark on the memory of the Osage community, which was heavily involved in the making of Scorsese's film. Alongside stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the film features Osage actors, props made by Osage craftworkers and involved work with Osage language experts.

Martin Scorsese Flower Moon epic based on real Native American past

<p>People in different parts of the world were treated to the wonderful sight of the stunning Strawberry Moon which glistened in the night sky over the weekend.<br />
<br />
The Strawberry Moon was captured by people rising above the Empire State Building, behind Stonehenge and at various other places. The netizens shared beautiful pictures of the moon, which appeared pink in colour and shined radiantly in the night sky.<br />
<br />
The moon's honey colour is caused by pollution and dust in the atmosphere of the Earth which distorts the light of the natural satellite.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's why this full moon is called ‘Strawberry Moon’</strong></h2>

<p>The name ‘Strawberry Moon’ has nothing to do with the colour of the full moon in the month of June, but it is related to ancient traditions. Interestingly, this full moon also has other names like Red Moon, Honey Moon, Flower Moon, Hot Moon, Hoe Moon and Planting Moon.<br />
<br />
As per NASA, the Maine Farmers' Almanac started publishing full moons' Native American names in the 1930s. The June full moon was linked to Native American tribes like the Algonquin.<br />
<br />
“The Maine Farmer's Almanac first published Indian names for the full Moons in the 1930's. According to this almanac, the full Moon in June or the last full Moon of Spring is known as the Strawberry Moon, a name universal to just about every Algonquin tribe,” explained NASA.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/earths-fake-moon-this-quasi-moon-circled-earth-since-at-least-100-bc-and-will-continue-to-do-so-598396">Earth's fake Moon? This 'quasi-moon' has circled Earth since at least 100 BC, and will continue to do so</a></p>

<p>The moon was given the name “Strawberry Moon” as strawberry plants bloomed in North America. The full moon was a reminder to collect and harvest the ripe strawberries of the region.<br />
<br />
Explaining its other names as Mead Moon or Honey Moon, NASA stated, “Mead is a drink created by fermenting honey mixed with water, sometimes with fruits, spices, grains, or hops.”<br />
<br />
"The tradition of calling the first month of marriage the ‘honeymoon’ dates back to at least the 1500's and may be tied to this full Moon, either because of the custom of marrying in June or because the "Honey Moon" is the "sweetest" Moon of the year,” it added.<br />
<br />
“Some writings suggest that the time around the Summer solstice at the end of June was when honey was ripe and ready to be harvested from hives or from the wild, which made this the ‘sweetest' Moon,” NASA further stated.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Dubai's upcoming 'big thing' could be a moon replica worth billions</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dubais-upcoming-big-thing-could-be-a-moon-replica-worth-billions-595233/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Full house for stargazers as Mars and Venus appear in parts of sky</strong></h2>

<p>The stargazers also had the opportunity to see Mars and Venus in the night as they appeared in the western parts. Venus, which was positioned at a distance of 67 million miles (109 million kilometres) from Earth, was spotted like a luminous white speck, around 22 degrees above the horizon.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Mars which has recently traversed the sparkling Beehive Cluster, was visible at around 28 degrees above the horizon. The people are the next going to witness a full moon on July 3 when the Buck Moon will shine in the night sky.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>
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People in different parts of the world were treated to the wonderful sight of the stunning Strawberry Moon which glistened in the night sky over the weekend. The Strawberry Moon was captured by people rising above the Empire State Building, behind Stonehenge and at various other places.

People in different parts of the world were treated to the wonderful sight of the stunning Strawberry Moon which glistened in the night sky over the weekend. The Strawberry Moon was captured by people rising above the Empire State Building, behind Stonehenge and at various other places. The netizens shared beautiful pictures of the moon, which appeared pink in colour and shined radiantly in the night sky. The moon's honey colour is caused by pollution and dust in the atmosphere of the Earth which distorts the light of the natural satellite. Here's why this full moon is called ‘Strawberry Moon’ The name ‘Strawberry Moon’ has nothing to do with the colour of the full moon in the month of June, but it is related to ancient traditions. Interestingly, this full moon also has other names like Red Moon, Honey Moon, Flower Moon, Hot Moon, Hoe Moon and Planting Moon. As per NASA, the Maine Farmers' Almanac started publishing full moons' Native American names in the 1930s. The June full moon was linked to Native American tribes like the Algonquin. “The Maine Farmer's Almanac first published Indian names for the full Moons in the 1930's. According to this almanac, the full Moon in June or the last full Moon of Spring is known as the Strawberry Moon, a name universal to just about every Algonquin tribe,” explained NASA. ALSO READ | Earth's fake Moon? This 'quasi-moon' has circled Earth since at least 100 BC, and will continue to do so The moon was given the name “Strawberry Moon” as strawberry plants bloomed in North America. The full moon was a reminder to collect and harvest the ripe strawberries of the region. Explaining its other names as Mead Moon or Honey Moon, NASA stated, “Mead is a drink created by fermenting honey mixed with water, sometimes with fruits, spices, grains, or hops.” "The tradition of calling the first month of marriage the ‘honeymoon’ dates back to at least the 1500's and may be tied to this full Moon, either because of the custom of marrying in June or because the "Honey Moon" is the "sweetest" Moon of the year,” it added. “Some writings suggest that the time around the Summer solstice at the end of June was when honey was ripe and ready to be harvested from hives or from the wild, which made this the ‘sweetest' Moon,” NASA further stated. WATCH | Dubai's upcoming 'big thing' could be a moon replica worth billions Full house for stargazers as Mars and Venus appear in parts of sky The stargazers also had the opportunity to see Mars and Venus in the night as they appeared in the western parts. Venus, which was positioned at a distance of 67 million miles (109 million kilometres) from Earth, was spotted like a luminous white speck, around 22 degrees above the horizon. Meanwhile, Mars which has recently traversed the sparkling Beehive Cluster, was visible at around 28 degrees above the horizon. The people are the next going to witness a full moon on July 3 when the Buck Moon will shine in the night sky. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Strawberry Moon' illuminates night sky. Here's how this full moon got its name

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Flower Moon, News on Flower Moon, stories on Flower Moon, articles on Flower Moon, Flower Moon stories at Wion, Flower Moon news, Flower Moon latest news

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Martin Scorsese Flower Moon epic based on real Native American past

'Strawberry Moon' illuminates night sky. Here's how this full moon got its name

In Pics: Watch amazing Flower Moon lunar eclipse around the world