December 8, 1926
The Daily Journal Capital
Microfilm Roll: MN00271
On this day in Osage country, Chief Paul Red Eagle made a speech to welcome big oil tycoons to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In the late 19th century, oil was discovered in the Osage Nation. The oil business boomed throughout the first half of the 20th century, and the Osages received headrights, or payments, from the federal government making them the richest tribe in the world.
According to the article, Chief Paul Red Eagle traveled to Tulsa in full tribal regalia to welcome the men of the oil industry. The Chief gave his welcome in Osage language which was then interpreted by a Skiatook banker named A. W. Lucas. The Chief’s speech was riddled with clever sarcasm as he addressed the men perhaps making it a not-so-warm welcome. Chief Red Eagle states:
Osage tribe of Indians welcome oil men—all kinds oil men here—big bosses, rich owners, and those who work for a living…Osage like white man—like oil man—they are good spenders, good fellows; I like roustabouts [or general laborers] best…White-collar fellows try to make love our girls; want to marry them’ roustabouts don’t…Long time ago, Big White Chief at Washington move Osages on our land; looked all over country to find land no good, give it [to] Osages. Oil man come along, bore oil, find oil, and fool big White Chief Washington—now Osages got more money than any tribe in the world…You welcome here—you welcome Osage Nation. Come up we give you big pow-wow, dib dance; fine girls, bob hair, use lip-stick and powder just like white sister—no give up blanket though. All men brothers; Osage love his brothers…Osage love Great Spirit—Osages adopt into tribe honest white men—no oil men ever seen adopted.
Perhaps to one who does not know the history of the Osage this speech might sound disrespectful. However, Chief Red Eagle was responding to years of oppression done unto him and his people. For example, the Osages have been forcefully evacuated from their homelands several times by whites. The last relocation took place in the late 1800s, when the Osages were forced from their lands in Kansas to their new home in Oklahoma, on land the U.S. government thought was useless. Furthermore, once oil was discovered on their land in Oklahoma, they were frequently tyrannized by whites. For instance, often times whites would trick Osages, whether men or women, into marriage with the hopes of becoming the beneficiaries of their head rights. Additionally, the 1920s marked the decade of the “reign of terror,” a period when whites murdered several Osage tribal members to gain their headrights. Therefore, Chief Red Eagle was not ready to bestow the rich, white oil men with a blanket, a gift of honor and respect, because he himself did not feel respected.
Morgan M. Guzman
“Osage Chief Makes Speech to Oil Men.” The Daily Journal-Capital. December 8, 1926, p. 1. Microfilm roll number MN00271. Sequoyah National Research Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Source File(s)
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