Indian Country celebrates historic day for Native film

Across the country, Native leaders and organizations congratulated Lily Gladstone on becoming the first Native woman to win a Golden Globe

Indigenous people continued this week to celebrate Lily Gladstone’s historic win Sunday.

While she received a standing ovation at the Golden Globes ceremony Sunday night, a room of Osage elders, young men and women, and Two-Spirit people gave a standing ovation at a Golden Globes watch party held at the Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

“With excitement and gratitude, we congratulate Lily Gladstone on her historic Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – drama,” the Osage Nation said in a Facebook post Monday. “Lily has become a beloved part of our community, inspiring our youth to reach new heights and transforming Native representation in film.”

Natives shared their feelings across social media, including Facebook, Instagram, X and Tiktok.

Vincent Schilling has worked as an Indigenous journalist and film critic for 17 years. Monday, he tweeted, “I am incredibly proud to announce for the first time in my career, that Lily Gladstone, a Native American actress has won a golden globe. #HERSTORY.”

Other Indigenous actors celebrating the win included Tatanka Means, who plays John Wren, an Osage FBIA agent in “Killers of the Flower Moon”: “Congratulations to Lily Gladstone on her historic win tonight at the Golden Globes! beyond happy for our Queen.” And Dallas Goldtooth, famous for his role in “Reservation Dogs,” which also featured Gladstone, said: Winner! @lily_gladstone!!!!!!!!! yesssss!!! You deserve it all!! congrats sister!!”

The Cherokee Nation tweeted Sunday night, “On Behalf of the Cherokee Nation, congrats to Lily Gladstone for Golden Globes Best Actress for her role in Killers of the Flower Moon.”

The Muscogee Nation shared a similar celebratory statement: “Congratulations Lily Gladstone on your historic win for #IndianCountry at the #GoldenGlobes.”

In a recent People’s article, Gladstone is quoted saying she prefers she/they pronouns. ICT will use she/they interchangeably to refer to Gladstone.

Gladstone is from the Blackfeet Reservation in northwestern Montana, and they also come from Kainai (Blood), Amskapi Piikani (Blackfeet) and Niimiipuu (Nez Perce) tribal nations.

A Blackfoot confederacy member, Terril Tailfeathers, tweeted, “I want to congratulate Lily Gladstone on her win this evening. It makes many of us from the Blackfoot confederacy proud to hear our language being spoken and to see our people being represented. You inspire us all. Good job.”

In a Monday ICT interview, Osage singer and songwriter Marca Cassity brought attention to not only what the win means for Indigenous people, but what it means for Two-Spirit people as well.

Gladstone made statements in a New York Times article about how they identify with a “middle-gender” and use she/they pronouns as a means of decolonizing gender.

Reacting to Gladstone’s win, actress-producer Jennifer Podemski told CBC News, “It’s one step towards reclamation of languages [and] of space, but also it’s one step towards amplifying the beauty and diversity of Indigenous people.”

Gladstone said she shared the award with the actresses who played her sisters in the film (Cara Jade Myers, Janae Collins and Jillian Dion) and gave a shout-out to her Alberta-born co-star, veteran Indigenous actress Tantoo Cardinal, who plays their mother.

Native nonprofit IllumiNative, which focuses on media representation of Indigenous people, congratulated Gladstone on Facebook:

“Beyond mere accolades, Lily’s performance stands as a powerful force combating the erasure of Native peoples, culture, and communities. Heartfelt congratulations, Lily. We are incredibly proud of you!”