Lily Gladstone Speaks On Using She/They Pronouns To Connect To Indigenous Heritage

LOADING ERROR LOADING Lily Gladstone uses she/they pronouns — and has rather educational reasons for it. The “ Killers of the Flower Moon ” star revealed Sunday in an interview with People that her Indigenous heritage — she has Blackfeet and Nez Perce ancestry — taught her to rethink pronouns at an early age.

“I remember being 9 years old and just being a little disheartened, seeing how often a lot of my boy cousins were misgendered because they wore their hair long,” Gladstone, 37, told the outlet. “It happens to a lot of kids, I think, especially Native boys … getting teased for it.” Advertisement “So I remember back then being like, everybody should just be they,” she said.

Gladstone added that most Indigenous languages use only “they” pronouns and that the gender of Blackfeet members “is implied” in their name. She also noted that even this isn’t binary, however, as Gladstone’s grandfather was named “Iron Woman” despite his gender. “I wouldn’t say that he was nonbinary in gender, but he was given a woman’s name because he kind of carried himself, I guess, the way that women who have that name do,” Gladstone said.

“And there were lots of women historically and still now who are given men’s names,” she continued. “They fulfill more of a man’s role in society as far as being provider, warrior, those sort of things. So, yeah, my pronoun use is partly a way of decolonizing gender for myself.” Gladstone, who was raised on a Blackfeet reservation in Montana until she was 10 years old, said she uses she/they pronouns as "a way of decolonizing gender for myself." Laurent Koffel/Gamma Rapho/Getty Images Advertisement Gladstone, who was raised on a Blackfeet reservation in Montana until she was 10, is already garnering Oscar buzz for her performance in “Flower Moon.” The Martin Scorsese drama chronicles the real life murders of Osage Nation members in 1920s Oklahoma .

While the actor is expected to be nominated for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress (in September last year, Variety announced that she would campaign for the former), she told People that gendering these categories is peculiar — as there obviously aren’t “director ess,” “producer ess” or “cinematographer ess” statues being handed out.

Winning the Academy Award would make Gladstone the first Native American to ever snag a competitive Oscar, regardless. Nominations are set to be announced later this month. Support HuffPost The Stakes Have Never Been Higher At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions.

That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact checked news that is freely accessible to everyone. Our News, Politics and Culture teams invest time and care working on hard hitting investigations and researched analyses, along with quick but robust daily takes. Our Life, Health and Shopping desks provide you with well researched, expert vetted information you need to live your best life, while HuffPost Personal, Voices and Opinion center real stories from real people.

Help keep news free for everyone by giving us as little as $1. Your contribution will go a long way. At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Help keep news free for everyone by giving us as little as $1. Your contribution will go a long way. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. A vibrant democracy is impossible without well informed citizens. This is why HuffPost's journalism is free for everyone, not just those who can afford expensive paywalls.

We cannot do this without your help. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, the very foundations of our democracy are at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a vibrant democracy is impossible without well informed citizens. This is why we keep our journalism free for everyone, even as most other newsrooms have retreated behind expensive paywalls.

Our newsroom continues to bring you hard hitting investigations, well researched analysis and timely takes on one of the most consequential elections in recent history. Reporting on the current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly — and we need your help. Support our newsroom by contributing as little as $1 a month.

Support HuffPost Related Native Americans indigenous peoples pronouns lily gladstone Blackfeet Lily Gladstone Recalls Joining 'Titanic' Mania: 'I Pre Ordered The Double VHS' 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' Has 1 Key Difference From The Book Martin Scorsese Defends Brendan Fraser's 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' Performance Amid Mixed Reviews LEAVE A COMMENT Marco Margaritoff Trends Reporter Suggest a correction Do you have info to share with HuffPost reporters? Here’s how.

Go to Homepage Popular in the Community FROM OUR PARTNER.