Vimeo: Yuna & Nicholas Pike - "On Ghost Ridge"
The critically-acclaimed documentary about the late Elouise Cobell, who was the lead plaintiff in the landmark Indian trust fund lawsuit, is garnering more notice. An original song from 100 Years, One Woman’s Fight for Justice is on the shortlist for an Oscar nomination, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Tuesday. "On Ghost Ridge" was composed by the award-winning Nicholas Pike and was performed by Yuna, a up-and-coming singer from Malaysia. The song shares the history of Ghost Ridge in Montana, where hundreds of Blackfeet people were buried after they were denied food and medicine during the Starvation Winter of 1883-1884. Cobell grew up hearing about the tragedy and it inspired her to take on the federal government with her lawsuit. "Sometimes far across the winter plain / Call my name," Yuna sings. "Softly tears rain run down my cheek / Whispering." "On Ghost Ridge" is one of 91 compositions in the running for Original Song and if it lands among the top five choices, it will be officially nominated for the category. Nominations are being announced on January 24, 2017. The film itself was submitted for consideration in the Documentary Feature category. But it didn't advance to the shortlist. Cobell, who passed away in October 2011, settled the case for $3.4 billion. She was posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom last month. "Through sheer force of will and a belief that the truth will win out, Elouise Cobell overcame the longest odds, reminding us that fighting for what is right is always worth it," President Barack Obama said during the November 22 ceremony.
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