Mollie Burkhart was a Native American woman who lived in the early 1900s and became a symbol of strength and resilience in the face of injustice. Her story is one of courage, determination, and perseverance, as she fought for justice for her family and her people. In this article, we will explore the life of Mollie Burkhart and her legacy as a Native American heroine.
Early Life and Marriage
Mollie Burkhart was born in 1886 on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. She was a member of the Osage Nation, a tribe known for their wealth due to the discovery of oil on their land. Mollie was the youngest of four children and was raised by her mother, Lucy, after her father passed away when she was just a child.
In 1898, at the age of 12, Mollie was forced to attend the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, a boarding school for Native American children. The school aimed to assimilate Native American children into white culture, and Mollie was forbidden from speaking her native language and practicing her cultural traditions. Despite these challenges, Mollie excelled academically and graduated from the school in 1905.
After returning to the reservation, Mollie married John “Bigheart” Burkhart, a white man who had come to the reservation to work in the oil industry. Their marriage was met with resistance from both the white and Native American communities, but Mollie and John were determined to be together.
The Reign of Terror
In the early 1920s, the Osage Nation was experiencing a period of great wealth due to the discovery of oil on their land. However, this wealth also brought about a series of mysterious deaths and disappearances of Osage tribal members. Mollie’s sister, Anna Brown, was one of the victims, and her death was initially ruled as a natural cause.
However, Mollie’s other sister, Minnie, became suspicious when her husband, Ernest Burkhart, began to act strangely and received a large sum of money from Anna’s estate. Minnie’s suspicions were confirmed when she discovered that Ernest was conspiring with a white man named William Hale, also known as “King of the Osage Hills.”
Hale had been targeting wealthy Osage tribal members and orchestrating their deaths to gain control of their oil wealth. He had also been bribing local officials to cover up the murders and ensure that he would not be caught. This reign of terror became known as the “Osage Reign of Terror.”
Mollie’s Fight for Justice
Mollie was determined to seek justice for her family and her people. She worked with the Bureau of Investigation (now known as the FBI) to gather evidence against Hale and his accomplices. She also testified in front of a grand jury, despite facing threats and intimidation from Hale and his associates.
In 1926, Hale and his accomplices were finally brought to trial, and Mollie’s testimony played a crucial role in their conviction. Hale was sentenced to life in prison, and his accomplices received varying sentences. This case became known as the “Osage Murders” and was one of the first major cases that the Bureau of Investigation successfully solved.
Legacy and Impact
Mollie’s bravery and determination in seeking justice for her family and her people made her a symbol of strength and resilience. She became known as a Native American heroine and was praised for her role in bringing down the “King of the Osage Hills.”
Descendants of Mollie Burkhart
Mollie and John Burkhart had three children together, and their descendants continue to live on the Osage Indian Reservation today. Mollie’s great-granddaughter, Jean Dennison, is a professor of American Indian Studies and has written extensively about her family’s history and the impact of the Osage Murders.
The Osage Nation
Mollie’s fight for justice also had a significant impact on the Osage Nation. The tribe used the wealth from their oil resources to establish a tribal government and invest in education and healthcare for their people. Today, the Osage Nation is a thriving community with a strong sense of cultural identity and pride.
Conclusion
Mollie Burkhart’s story is one of courage, determination, and perseverance in the face of injustice. Her fight for justice for her family and her people made her a symbol of strength and resilience and continues to inspire generations today. Mollie’s legacy lives on through her descendants and the impact she had on the Osage Nation. She will always be remembered as a Native American heroine who stood up for what was right and fought for justice.