Scott George, a regular at Natchez Powwows, will perform live at Sunday’s Oscars

Scott George is pictured here with Lily Gladstone. She was nominated for Best Actress for her role as Mollie Burkhart in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

NATCHEZ, Miss. – A Native American song by Osage
member Scott George, a regular performer at Natchez Powwow, is nominated for an
Oscar in the category of Best Original Song, according to the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences.

The song titled, “Wahzhazhe: A Song for My People,” is
featured in Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” It was composed by
George and is performed in the closing dance scene of the film by Osage tribal
singers.

Winners of the 2024 Oscars will be announced on Sunday,
March 10, during the 96th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre at
Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. George and the Osage Singers will perform
“Wahzhazhe” live at the ceremony, according to the academy website.

Dr. Charles Borum, chairman of the Natchez Powwow, shared
the news of George’s nomination in a Facebook post, dated March 3, 2024.

“My friend Scott George has sung many times at the drum
at Natchez Powwow … along with the Bighorse brothers and other great singers,”
Borum wrote.

Scott George, third from left wearing white hat, is performing with the Bighorse brothers at a Natchez Powwow. They are all Osage.

The 2024 Natchez Powwow is set for Saturday and Sunday,
March 23 and 24, at 319 N. Broadway St. George, a resident of Hominy, Okla.,
will not be attending this year, according to Borum.

“George and the other Osage singers have been in Natchez
multiple times, and we hope to have them return soon,” he said. “It’s exciting
for me to see people I know being recognized. George is one of the best singers
I sat at the dances with.”

Scott George, center holding white cap, is joined by the Bighorse brothers at a Natchez Powwow. They are all Osage.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is a 2023 movie that is
based on David Grann’s 2017 nonfiction book of the same name. It tells the
horrific story of the Osage murders.

The movie shows how the Osage people became wealthy after
oil was discovered on their land in the early 20th century, “only to be
exploited and murdered by their duplicitous white neighbors,” reported RTL
Today.

The news outlet noted the Osage people played a
significant role in the making of the movie. Various scenes were also shot in
their heartland.

According to A.frame, the digital magazine of the
academy, other nominees competing in the Original Song category include:

“The Fire Inside” from Flamin’ Hot with music and lyric
by Diane Warren; “I’m Just Ken” from  Barbie with music and lyric by Mark
Ronson and Andrew Wyatt; “It Never Went Away” from American Symphony with music
and lyric by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson; And “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie
with music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

Natchez resident David Kelley, who was officially
recognized in 2023 as a member of the Osage Nation, said George’s nomination is
an important accomplishment for the great Osage Nation and Native Americans in
general.

“Since the first invasion of the Europeans on the Native
American homeland, the Indian people have been thought of as less than human,”
Kelley said. “Even in today’s society, where I believe a conscious effort is
being made to overcome racism, there is still a great deficiency in the
recognition of the Indian people and the respect for our customs and
traditions.”

Kelley said the nomination shines a small spotlight on an
artist and great talented man.

“Hopefully, it will in some way begin to change the way
this society views the Indian people,” he said.

As for the movie, Kelley said it is a well-made depiction
of a great tragedy that was inflicted upon the Osage people.

“It is a story of the greed and murderous spirit of the
people trusted with the well-being of the Osage,” he explained. “Our story is
worthy of tears. But, through it all the Osage people remain strong. We have
not let this wrong-doing change our spirit. God is in control of all things and
we are still alive, well and prosperous today.”

See more at: https://listenupyall.com/2024/03/07/scott-george-a-regular-at-natchez-powwows-will-perform-live-at-sundays-oscars/