In the 1920s, a series of suspicious deaths and outright murders took place in the Osage Indian tribe.  U.S. authorities were called in to investigate this "Reign of Terror” executed by non-tribe members whose goal was to gain the oil royalty headrights of tribe members.  On Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m., Dr. Lindsey Smith will explore this bleak period in Osage history when she discusses the novel “Mean Spirit” by Linda Hogan, the second book in the Stillwater Public Library’s “Let’s Talk About It” series.

“Hogan uses this particular historic moment in Osage history as the basis for ‘Mean Spirit,’” said Smith.  “She does a compelling job of capturing the sense of fear and violence in the Osage people’s lives.”

The novel chronicles the lives of the Graycloud family and their suffering at the hands of greedy businessmen, law enforcement and government officials.

“This book is a gripping read,” said Smith.  “Hogan uses the historical backdrop to tell a riveting mystery story.  She uses a detective type plot, so anyone with an interest in mysteries will find a story that they did not expect to see in the book.”

Smith presentation will include the early twentieth century history behind the book, the politics of the tribe at that time and the politics of the state.  She will describe the effects of non-tribe newcomers coming into the Nation, the consequences of this historic time in Oklahoma statehood and Osage culture.

“The book provides an excellent rendering Osage culture,” said Smith.  “At the same time, some of Hogan’s descriptions are those most widely criticized in the book, including the creative license she takes when portraying Osage religious believes.”

Hogan, a member of the Chickasaw Tribe, is the Writer in Residence for The Chickasaw Nation. “Mean Spirit,” published in 1990, was the winner of the Oklahoma Book Award, the Mountains and Plains Book Award, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Copies of “Mean Spirit” can be picked up at the Stillwater Public Library.  Books in the series are provided by the Oklahoma Humanities Council with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and the Inasmuch Foundation.  Reading the book is encouraged but not required to participate.

“Even if people do not have time to read the book, anyone who is interested in history or Native American studies will enjoy the presentation and discussions,” said Smith.

Smith, an associate professor in OSU’s English Department, is the faculty associate for Community Engagement through the Arts and Science Dean’s Office.  She earned her doctorate in English from the University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill.  Her research focus is on    American Indian and global indigenous studies.

Smith will lead a 3 p.m. scholar discussion at the Edmond Low Library on the same day.  Both programs are free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be provided at each program.

For more information, visit the Stillwater Public Library web site at library.stillwater.org, or call 405-372-3633, or the OSU Library website at www.library.okstate.edu or call 405-744-7331.

Partners for “Native American Writers of the Plains” include Friends of Stillwater Public Library and City of Stillwater. Partners from OSU include Friends of OSU Library, Division of Institutional Diversity, Center for Oklahoma Studies, American Indian Studies, American Indians in Psychology Department of History, Department of English, Learning And Student Success Opportunity Center, Native American Faculty/Staff Association, and Native American Student Association.  Stillwater Public Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU.

The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.). The OSU Edmon Low Library is located in the heart of the OSU campus. Community parking on the OSU campus is available for a fee in the Student Union or Monroe Street Parking Garages.