MISSOULA, Mont. – Lily Gladstone, a Blackfeet woman, is making history as the first Native American to ever be nominated for an Academy Award.
As she reflects on her career, she credited her education at the University of Montana, where she got a major in both Acting and Directing, and a minor in Native American Studies.
“I knew I had to go to UM once I did a campus visit. They put you on stage for their methods of teaching in a way a lot of other schools I got opportunities to go at didn’t,” said Gladstone.
Dr. Bernadette Sweeney, the head of Acting and Musical Theater at UM, saw promise in Gladstone early on.
“She had so much dedication to the work she did and still does,” said Sweeney.
“I knew her when she working at Staples coming up as a struggling performer. She talked to me about the difficulty of it, especially in Montana. It’s a part of the job, but it’s a hard part of the job. It can be a lonely road for a young performer.”
Gladstone is putting her major and minor to work in her film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”
In her role, Gladstone portrays real-life Mollie Kyle, a member of the Osage Nation, who tries to save her family and community from the Burkhart family, after oil deposits were discovered across their land.
“It’s time to expand the narrative around the stories being told, and the beauty of the people who can tell those stories,” said Annie Belcourt, the Chair of the Native American Studies Department at UM.
“A lot of themes relating to the struggles that Native Americans have experienced through history are shared in the film. The movie explores feelings that are shared by many.”
While Gladstone is proud of the work she is doing, she said there needs to be more Native artists in mass media sharing their stories.
“I know I’m getting the attention, but it’s something that’s shared,” said Gladstone.
“I happen to be carrying a bright spotlight in the attention I’m getting, but we as a people need more representation in media. We need more attention that isn’t packaged and sold but is true to what real people went through.”
Gladstone, Sweeney, and Belcourt are all waiting for what could be a historic result at the Oscars.
The 96th Academy Awards are on Sunday, premiering on ABC.
