Jeff Bowen
This History of the Osage Nation isn’t just a reproduction copy like a Xerox that’s unreadable and so small you need a magnifying glass to read it. It is a fully transcribed and indexed copy of the original old Osage history from 1906 where you can actually comprehend who the Osage of old were. Philip J. Dickerson was to the Osage Nation what Emmet Starr was to the Cherokee; historian and keeper of their tribal culture and traditions. He filled his text with not just their history, but gave names and backgrounds. Even at one point later he began to make an attempt at describing the deceptions of what the Osage dealt with in early times though unsuccessfully; likely with a fear of oppression from, to us unawares. But he spoke of the people, their stature and connections to a civilized world, their origins whether newcomer or an established tribal member; also their intelligence, capabilities and productiveness. This is a history that most never imagined, and for some never wanted in print. This volume will not only help many to find their family connections but from firsthand experience will give you an exacting history from the roots of a people struggling to build their world. At some point Dickerson points out he had difficulties in getting this piece published and that some of the business world there seemed to not want his work completed. He has a great deal of typographical mistakes within the text itself but it also makes you wonder why when he seems to get so much right. There were some forces at odds to the Osage because of their riches so it seems only natural that he wasn’t going to have an easy time promoting the Osage. The opposition likely wanted as little attention as possible and his book wasn’t going to help that. But reading the material will help you understand or almost feel his frustrations. You can almost feel his distractions at times. Maybe even see with your own eyes the sabotage of a written work rather than celebration of a people. Yet Dickerson seemed to fight the good fight.You will enjoy reading this piece of Native American history from the land of where David Grann pursued the truths of an Indian Nation, the Osage. By reading their history the reflection of a peaceful people’s nature and their peaceful homes sprang horrendous crimes, then years later the creation of a novel, Killers of the Flower Moon; along with a movie titled the same as recently as 2023. Through this research you will learn about the sorted tale of an innocent people who at times wished the blessing bestowed upon them had never come. The little flowers that came in May on their prairie lands eventually found its simple beauty labeled with a sad terrible truth, deception and fear. But this book gives a complete understanding of a noble people who at times seem to have been forgotten until they found themselves under a flood of greed from others. This is their story before it got really bad or started to....
