Ha Weh Wa Zha Zhe Ni Ka Shi
My name is John F. Maker, ¾ Osage, Headright owner and landowner. And I am running for a seat on your Osage Congress. I have served you for two terms and I bring experience, knowledge, and wisdom. I am asking again for your trust to represent you and your families for another term. I have served you honorably with dignity and loyalty the past eight years. We have achieved many accomplishments during my service. Some of these are three new casinos with hotels to enhance our gaming revenue. We have built three new dance arbors to strengthen our culture and satisfy the needs of our growing Osage dances, the In Lon Ska. One of our accomplishments I’m very proud to have been a part of was the purchase of the 43,000-acre Bluestem Ranch to recover some of our Osage lands. We have many challenges facing us as Osage people. I can tell you I am up to the challenge to stand with you for whatever we face in the future.
For some of you who don’t know me here are some things about me. I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. My parents are the late Lloyd and Virginia Maker. My Paternal Grand parents are full blood original allottees, Ross Maker and Emma Marie Hoover Maker. My Maternal Grandparents are Arlan (Buck) Harding and Marguerite Penn Harding. My three Osage Great Grandfathers were Ta Hah Ga Heh, Charles Mi Chet She, and Albert Penn. I also had a Great uncle who was an Osage statesman, Edgar McCarthy who served in the Osage government and was married to Aunt Nettie Blackdog.
I was raised in Hominy, Oklahoma and went to school in Hominy all my years and graduated from high school there. I excelled in sports mainly football and was recruited to go to Haskell to play on the football team and receive an education. I did attend Haskell, now Indian Nations University, and lived there in Lawrence Kansas for two years.
My next adventure was joining the United States Army. I completed my training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, which is the home of the Army Infantry. I was selected to attend the U.S. Army Instructor School, which was an honor. After being a member of the instructor cadre for two years, my next assignment was West Germany for two years. Upon returning stateside I finished my military career at Ft. Hood, Texas.
I am active in all areas of Osage culture. I am a member of the Hominy District Committee, the Native American church, was an Osage Language teacher and worked for Osage language Department.
My greatest honor is being on the Osage Nation Congress. I ask for your trust and support for another term of office. I promise you that I will always put the welfare of the Osage people first, obey my oath of office and abide by the Osage Constitution and laws of the Osage Nation.
By
John Maker
Original Publish Date: 2020-04-16 00:00:00
