A member of the Osage Nation, Yancey Red Corn’s family history came full circle when he was cast to play Chief Bonnicastle in the 2023 blockbuster film Killers of the Flower Moon. Based on the book by David Grann and set in Oklahoma, the movie details the murders of Osage members after oil was discovered on Tribal land in the 1920s. Red Corn’s great-grandfather was among those murdered.
Killers was Red Corn’s first film, and he’s since been in an episode of the TV show Reservation Dogs, also filmed in Oklahoma. A native of Norman, Red Corn’s pride in his Osage heritage and his creativity have developed over generations. He began participating in Osage dances at the age of 3. As an Osage name giver, presiding over the ceremony bestowing an individual their Osage name, Red Corn has been speaking in front of crowds since he was young, which prepared him for delivering both his written lines and powerful ad libs.
Red Corn’s mother is an internationally renowned artist. Her larger-than-life Caddo pottery design stands at the entrance of the Okla Homma gallery at First Americans Museum. Among other famous patrons, President and First Lady Obama selected a piece of her work to grace the Oval Office. Red Corn’s sister is a physician and a Caddo artist; she added intricate beading to his suits and blazers for various red carpet events.
Before Killers, Red Corn’s father wrote a historical fiction novel about the Osage murders. A Pipe for February focuses on the experiences of fictitious Osage characters during the 1920s. Red Corn’s father inspired both Grann and film director Martin Scorsese in their tellings of Killers.
Jovial, generous of spirit and much more apt to applaud his family members’ accomplishments than his own, Red Corn shared with MetroFamily how the power of storytelling can help local families understand our collective history and pave the way for a more inclusive future.
What was the most memorable experience during filming of Killers of the Flower Moon?
The first was a scene with Jesse Plemons, and it was the first time I was on set to do lines with Martin Scorsese behind the camera. We did the lines over and over again, with the camera in different angles. I ad libbed some lines, and one of those lines they kept in the movie, which was basically: ‘In the old days, we would fight these people and we would kill them … [Then], I could see my enemy, but this enemy we cannot see. It’s an invisible enemy all around us.’ I am proud they kept lines that show a defiant chief.
When I was done and walking back to my trailer, I saw all the background Osages who were there — including some of my uncles and cousins. It was really emotional. They said they were proud of me and that I sounded like a true chief.
The other was the Round House scene with Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. I could see some of my aunts and cousins in the scene, too, and just like me, some of them had relatives who were murdered during the 20s. I could see them tearing up. It was a very emotional scene. I ad libbed there, too, and when I went out for the next scene, De Niro said ‘that was really great’ and Leo gave me a fist bump and said ‘great speech.’
Was there any sense of vindication for you in being part of this movie that shares the truth of what happened to Osage people?
It doesn’t solve the PTSD and intergenerational trauma. But I was glad to be part of it. I think a lot of the Osages had a sense that people are finally hearing this story. [Growing up], it wasn’t something we talked about. Our grandparents and great-grandparents tried to talk about it, but no one listened. So they insulated themselves and got through with our culture and traditions.
My great-grandfather’s sons tried to get the authorities to investigate but they said it was a natural death. It was a conspiracy with everyone in on it — doctors, morticians, sheriffs, pastors, neighbors — they felt powerless.
What does your Osage heritage mean to you?
It defines me. I was put on an Osage cradleboard when I was born. When I was 3, I started dancing Osage dances, and I’ve danced every year since. My son also started dancing when he was 3, and he’s 24 now. I go to ceremonies, functions and traditional Osage funerals. I am part of this community and we all try to support each other.
My dad was a name giver in our clan, the Peacemaker Clan. We’re the mediators and decision makers. That’s been passed down for hundreds of years. The name giving ceremony is one of the oldest ceremonies we have. My dad passed it to me and I passed it to my son and nephew.
If you want to dance and participate in ceremonies, you have to have an Osage clan name. We take it very seriously; we get to know the person and the family. You tell a speech or story about the family and where the name comes from — all through our oral traditions.
What is it like to see your family’s story come full circle?
My dad wrote A Pipe for February, based on the Osages in the 1920s, which concentrates on the Osages going through it with the murders more in the background. My dad and David [Grann] became good friends, and my dad helped him have more of an understanding for his book.
Scorsese read [A Pipe for February] when writing the script and ended up paying for nonexclusive rights — the opening prologue [in the movie], where they’re speaking in Osage, is verbatim from my dad’s book. My sister participated in that scene as one of the mourners and it was really emotional for her — my dad passed away in 2017. His book was republished last summer; Martin Scorsese wrote a foreword for it and David wrote a blurb on the cover.
Now my son, who’s a screenwriter, has written a script for it to be a TV miniseries, with Scorsese editing it. My son was the only grandchild, and the majority of the time my dad would pick him up from school. My dad was gentle and a good listener and they got along so well — they played the piano together and my son learned how to write from my dad. And my son learned how to be a doer and not wait around on others.
How do you hope the film — and this history — will continue to impact local parents and families?
I wish they would teach this book [Killers of the Flower Moon] in high schools. Everything about the book and movie is about how we don’t want to treat our fellow humans. Even though we come from different cultures and religions, we can all be respectful of each other. The evil humans who were killing the Osage did not see us as human beings. There was a saying that you could get arrested for kicking a dog but not for killing an Osage.
There are so many divisions right now. I hope people will see this movie and see how far people will go if you don’t respect that we are all equal and all human. We have a lot of history we need to learn not to repeat in Oklahoma.
Editor’s note: This article is the first in a series produced in conjunction with First Americans Museum to share the stories of inspirational modern-day and historical First Americans. Find the full series at metrofamilymagazine.com/inspirational-first-americans. Meet more inspirational First Americans at First Americans Museum! Learn about modern storytellers like Yancey Red Corn, as well as athletes, musicians and more. The museum is open Wednesday through Monday, and the third Sunday of each month is free for kids 12 and under.
