Lily Gladstone, a Blackfeet actress from Mountlake Terrace, is on the verge of making Oscars history as the first Indigenous woman to win best actress. Her journey from the Blackfeet Reservation to Hollywood has been marked by perseverance, luck, and pride. Gladstone's former teachers and classmates recall her talent and character, while she remains committed to representing and uplifting Indigenous communities. Regardless of the outcome, her success is seen as a win for everyone, sparking important discussions about Native history and serving as an inspiration to students.
Lily Gladstone made history as the first Indigenous SAG Award winner for Female Actor in a Leading Role, with Emma Stone graciously applauding her win despite being a fellow nominee in the same category. The two actresses have formed a close friendship during this year's awards season, referring to each other as "Infinity Stones." Lily emphasized the importance of storytelling and bringing visibility to social issues in her powerful acceptance speech at the 2024 SAG Awards.
Lily Gladstone made history by becoming the first Indigenous performer to win a SAG Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role. In her emotional acceptance speech, she emphasized the importance of compassion and storytelling, urging everyone to bravely keep feeling and humanizing people. This win follows her previous groundbreaking achievements, including being the first Native American woman to win a Golden Globe and the first Native American to be nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars.
Lily Gladstone, the first Indigenous person to win a Golden Globe for best actress, is having a profound impact on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana, where efforts to revitalize the endangered Blackfoot language are gaining momentum. Gladstone's success and embrace of her heritage and language are inspiring the community, with plans for Academy Awards watch parties and formal honors from the tribe's business council. Her achievements are seen as a victory for Indigenous representation and a validation of the ongoing language revitalization efforts on the reservation.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" star Lily Gladstone criticized "Yellowstone" for its portrayal of the American West, calling it "delusional" and "deplorable," despite having auditioned for the show several times. The Golden Globe-winning actress, who is of Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, praised her film for focusing on Indigenous characters and their struggles. Meanwhile, "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan defended the show against criticism, arguing that it addresses important issues such as the displacement of Native Americans and corporate greed.
"Killers of the Flower Moon" star Lily Gladstone criticized "Yellowstone" for its portrayal of the American West, calling it "delusional" and "deplorable," despite having auditioned for the show several times. Gladstone, the first Indigenous person to win a Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture drama, praised her film for focusing on Indigenous characters and their story. "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan defended the show against criticism, arguing that it addresses issues such as the displacement of Native Americans and corporate greed.
Alaqua Cox, star of Marvel's Echo, embraces the pressure of leading a show as an Indigenous and deaf actress, while avoiding social media criticism. Despite some backlash labeling the series as "woke," Cox believes it's important to change perspectives and hopes for more diversity in lead roles. As a new mom, she's excited for her son to grow up in a generation of inclusion and diversity, and is considering various acting opportunities for her future.
Sydney Freeland, the first openly transgender director in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, brings her unique perspective to the historic series "Echo," featuring the first deaf, disabled, and Indigenous lead character. The show explores Indigenous culture and community on a fictional Oklahoma reservation, breaking new ground in representation and storytelling. Freeland's personal approach to Native and deaf representation, along with her creative freedom, has allowed her to bring a fresh and authentic perspective to the MCU, making a significant impact on the industry.
Alaqua Cox, star of Marvel's "Hawkeye," discusses her journey to becoming an actor and her role as Maya Lopez in the upcoming spinoff series "Echo," which features a predominantly Indigenous cast and crew. Cox emphasizes the importance of authentic representation for Indigenous and deaf communities in the entertainment industry and shares her experiences working on set, including the challenges and accommodations made for her as a deaf actor. She also expresses her desire for diverse acting roles beyond Marvel and reflects on her unexpected career path.
Lily Gladstone made history at the 2024 Golden Globes as the first Indigenous person to win the Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. She began her acceptance speech with a few lines in Blackfeet language, expressing gratitude for her heritage and emphasizing the importance of Indigenous representation on screen. Gladstone highlighted the significance of her win and dedicated it to every Indigenous child with a dream, while also honoring her Blackfeet heritage on the red carpet.
Lily Gladstone made history at the Golden Globes by becoming the first female actor who identifies as indigenous to win the best performance by a female actor in a dramatic motion picture for her role in "Killers of the Flower Moon." She expressed gratitude for her Blackfeet Nation community and honored her mother for her efforts in preserving their language. Gladstone's win marks a significant moment for indigenous representation in the entertainment industry.
Lily Gladstone makes history as the first Indigenous woman to win the Golden Globe for best actress in a motion picture – drama for her role in "Killers of the Flower Moon," delivering her victory speech partly in the Blackfeet language. She dedicated her win to Indigenous and Native children, expressing gratitude for the representation in storytelling. Gladstone's win comes as "Killers of the Flower Moon" received seven nominations at the Golden Globes.
Lily Gladstone, the first Indigenous nominee for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama at the Golden Globes, paid tribute to her Blackfeet heritage by wearing earrings from Blackfeet designer Lenise Omeaso and a white strapless Valentino gown with a black opera coat. She shared a touching message upon her nomination, highlighting the Osage Nation and the importance of indigenous representation in the film industry. Gladstone has also championed indigenous designers on previous red carpet outings, showcasing a mix of major fashion labels and indigenous design.
MIT's First Nations Launch team, consisting of an all-Indigenous group of students, participated in the 2023 First Nations Launch, an international NASA-Artemis Student Challenge focused on Indigenous representation in aerospace engineering. The team designed, built, and launched an 8-foot rocket made from scratch, ultimately receiving second place in the competition. The team's approach incorporates Indigenous values such as efficiency and respectful purpose. They are now preparing for the 2024 challenge and are actively engaged in outreach efforts to inspire Indigenous youth in STEM fields while maintaining their cultural ties.
Marvel's upcoming series "Echo" will be the first to simultaneously debut on Disney+ and Hulu, have a TV-MA rating, and feature a deaf and Native American superhero as the central character. Director Sydney Freeland emphasized the importance of representation and authenticity, reimagining the character's Indigeneity as a member of the Choctaw tribe and collaborating with the tribe for input. The series explores trauma and its consequences on a street-level, with a focus on family. Marvel supported the creative choices, including the use of American Sign Language and realistic fight sequences. The show premieres on January 10.
