Osage Mineral's Council Chairman John Henry Mashunkashey stands during the OMC meeting and states his concerns about the future of the Minerals Estate Feb. 25. Photo by Shannon Shaw/Osage News

By Shannon Shaw
Osage News

The Osage Minerals Council voted six to one to send a resolution to the Osage Nation Congress today that asks the legislative body for their blessing to run its own election in June.

OMC Councilwoman Cynthia Boone was the only No vote, Councilman David Dubler was absent.

“We did have a meeting last week with Congress and the Chief’s office . . . [OMC attorney Kirk] Kicking Bird was on the phone listening in and we went over this in quite detail and we just want to have a very cooperative type resolution,” said Bob Martin, OMC Councilman. “The chief had agreed that he would get the letter out [to the Bureau of Indian Affairs]. Congress will need a resolution for us and we wanted to have our own election and everybody thought that would be a good idea.”

The resolution comes after the BIA declined the OMC’s request to supervise its election and further said that they would only provide technical assistance upon approval from Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray. Gray has said publicly that he will be sending a letter to the BIA to request that they provide the OMC with technical assistance during their election, such as providing a list of Osage shareholders and their shares.

Not all were happy with the OMC’s decision to move forward with the resolution. Osage Shareholder’s Association Secretary Roy St. John, who is also a candidate for Principal Chief, addressed the OMC with the OSA’s concerns that by sending over the resolution to Congress that the OMC was forfeiting their independence.

“As a group we are opposed to [the OMC] aligning itself with the Osage Nation Congress to accomplish this act,” St. John said. “I would hope that you would read [the resolution carefully] before you vote on this resolution and consider some of the wishes of the shareholders.”

Boone agreed with St. John and felt the OMC was making a mistake.

“It appears to me that we’re giving up our independence,” Boone said. “To me we’re either independent or we’re not, and to ask Congress to approve or request any action on this independent agency I think is inappropriate. I don’t see a need for this, is what I’m saying.”

OMC Chairman John Henry Mashunkashey said that the resolution they were voting on today wasn’t what he wanted but that the election was coming and the OMC is having to do what they have to do. He also said that he was very disheartened when the BIA declined to accept the OMC’s request to supervise their election.

“Recently, in my mind and in my heart, I found out that the Minerals Council wasn’t as independent as the [Osage Constitution] has stated,” Mashunkashey said. “In that loss of independence we had a loss of just about everything, to me. I was completely raped of everything I ever thought this Osage Tribe had ever had.”

Chief Gray is to call the Congress into session 10 a.m. Monday to consider the OMC’s resolution as well as the Election Board’s budget, said Archie Mason, Speaker of the Congress.

The Minerals Council is made up of eight seats that are currently held by Mashunkashey, Kenny Bighorse Sr., Bob Martin, Kathryn Red Corn, Jewell Purcell, Cynthia Boone, Talee Red Corn and David Dubler. Currently Kathryn Red Corn, Purcell and Boone are running for re-election. Mashunkashey and Bighorse Sr. have stated they’re not seeking re-election.

For a full list of Minerals Council candidates, visit osagenews.org.

To see a copy of the Minerals Council resolution to the Osage Congress click here:
Osage Minerals Council resolution