By Gianna Sieke
Ha.we! Let me start by introducing myself. I am Gianna “Gigi” Sieke from the Grayhorse district, daughter of Janese Lasley and Eric Sieke, granddaughter of Raymond Lasley II, and the late Gloria Blanchard Lasley, great-granddaughter of the late Raymond and Peggee Lasley.
Even though I grew up in New Jersey, the Osage Reservation was always my home. Stuck in school, counting the days till I can be in Oklahoma, the place my heartstrings were attached to, I couldn’t wait to dance at the Inlonshka and play with the Osage kids from the year before. I still remember the thrill of seeing the sea of feathers circling like a hurricane and seeing beautiful Osage women and wanting nothing more than to be just like them.
Looking up to the Osage Princesses before me like Dora Williams, Alissa Hamilton, Autumn Williams, Katelynn Pipestem, Jasmine Phetsacksith, and so many others. In the summer of 2018, just before my 8th-grade year, my mom and I moved to the Osage Reservation. Moving has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. Osage language classes and cultural classes were at my doorstep, and I took full advantage of what our Nation has to offer. I wanted to learn as much as possible about our ways, the language, the traditional foods, and why we do things differently than other tribes.
When asked to be the Osage Nation Princess, yours truly was overfilled with joy, jumping off the walls with excitement. I knew that being the Princess was a huge honor, and I couldn’t be happier to represent our Nation. With my grandpa’s approval, excitement started to fill the air. I would become the first Osage Nation Princess to represent our family. The happiness went beyond my family and carried throughout the Grayhorse District.
Since I have been princess, I look back on some of my most memorable moments and one sticks out. The first event I ever went to was the first day of filming for the upcoming film, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” I was asked to perform the Lord’s Prayer for the opening ceremony to bless the production. I walked behind Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and his wife as the crowd parted for us like the sea. Everyone stopped and stared as we were being ushered to the front on top of the hill. I met actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Lily Gladstone, Cara Jade Myers, Janae Collins, Tantoo Cardinal, Jillian Dion, and so many other amazing and talented people.
Everyone was so kind and held much respect for the Osage people. The film was blessed, many in the crowd said it was the first time anyone has ever prayed on the first day of filming.
