It depends on the specific story and the available historical and cultural evidence. Some parts might be based on real events, while others could be embellished or fictionalized.
The Osage Murders were a series of brutal killings in the Osage Nation in the 1920s. White settlers, driven by greed for the Osage's oil wealth, targeted Osage people. They used various methods like poison and shootings. It was a dark time of exploitation and murder that was initially overlooked by the authorities due to racism and the power of the white perpetrators.
Often, Osage family novels tend to have a strong connection to the land. The natural environment of the Osage territory is deeply ingrained in the stories. For example, the prairies and rivers play important roles in the family's way of life.