By Benny Polacca
Osage News

The Osage Nation Health and Wellness Advisory Board is planning to meet with government officials to discuss legislation which will lengthen its life. It’s slated to sunset at the end of September.

The board was created through a 2007 legislation bill to start developing the structure of the Nation’s Health and Wellness Division. But the bill (ONCA 07-59) states the board will be “disestablished after a period of three years from the effective date.” Former Principal Chief Jim Gray signed the bill on Oct.3 of that year after the Osage Nation Congress passed the bill with a 7-4 vote.

“The board was created as an advisory one,” said Dr. Ron Shaw, the health board’s chairman. He addressed several executive and legislative branch officials who attended the health board’s Aug. 9 meeting. That means the board’s duties which include making decisions on health-related matters are made as recommendations to government officials, he said.

The health board has hired two consultant organizations to work with the board during its tenure, Shaw said. One consultant evaluated the Health and Wellness Division recommendations compiled and the other consultant conducted a feasibility study on whether the Pawhuska Indian Health Service clinic should be compacted.

One recommendation raised in the IHS clinic compacting study is the Nation should create a governing board, “which is required for compacting,” Shaw said.

According to the study, said Shaw, the governing board should “evaluate and improve the quality of health services provided to the community, provide for meaningful financial resources for ongoing operations and capital needs, provide for the selection and retention of qualified staff – to include the special requirements for licensed and credentialed personnel, to plant programs for the health needs of the community.”

This is the board’s first gathering since the July 19 runoff election in which John Red Eagle was elected Principal Chief and Scott BigHorse Assistant Principal Chief.

BigHorse, who attended the meeting, recommended more meetings between the health board and government officials, including Red Eagle, to pursue legislation that could prolong the health board and possibly turn it into the governing board which would pursue further IHS clinic compacting efforts, according to the feasibility study recommendations.

Red Eagle was at a gaming commission meeting held at the same time of the health board gathering.

The health board also plans to meet with Congressional members who sit on the Congressional Committee on Health and Social Services which is scheduled to meet on Sept. 7. The chairman of that committee is Congressman Archie Mason and vice chairwoman is Congresswoman Alice Goodfox.

A car drives past a sign saying, “You are entering the Osage Nation Reservation” in Bartlesville, Okla. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

By Benny Polacca
Osage News

The United States Supreme Court has extended the deadline from August to October for the Osage Nation to file an appeal in the reservation status case.

The Nation now has until Oct. 22 to file an appeal of its lawsuit against the Oklahoma state Tax Commission in which the question of whether the Osage Nation Reservation exists is at issue. If the case’s ultimate outcome determines the reservation does not exist, then the operations of three Osage Million Dollar Elm casinos (Skiatook, Ponca City and the nation’s largest in north Tulsa) could be in jeopardy. Currently, the three casinos in trouble were not built on trust land.

The nine-year-old case originated in federal court in Tulsa but was appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver where the Nation’s request for a case rehearing was denied May 25. The rehearing denial came at a critical juncture in the Nation’s history with the June 7 election occurring less than two weeks later which resulted in four first-time Congresspersons elected to the Second Osage Nation Congress and a July 19 runoff election in which John Red Eagle was elected Principal Chief and Scott BigHorse Assistant Principal Chief.

Now those elected officials of the Nation’s legislative and executive branches are left deciding the next moves in the case before the Oct. 22 deadline, which was extended 60 days from the original Aug. 23 deadline. The initial deadline would have left less than a month for a decision to be reached by the Nation because Red Eagle and BigHorse won’t be sworn into office until Aug. 4.

“I believe it’s a good thing,” Red Eagle said of the deadline extension. “It gives us more time to evaluate the situation.”

The deadline extension was granted by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor who is the high court’s circuit justice for the 10th Circuit which includes Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Gary Pitchlynn, whose Norman-based law firm is on record representing the Nation in this case, said the extension was granted by Sotomayor July 14.

“The Supreme Court designates separate justices for the (13) circuits” and Sotomayor is assigned to the 10th Circuit, said Pitchlynn, whose firm filed the request in an “application for extension of time to file a petition for writ of certiorari” one day earlier.

In the deadline extension request Pitchlynn described the ongoing change in the Nation’s government administration because of the June 7 and July 19 election outcomes and also “because of the potential ramifications of the decision on the incoming government and its people.”

“Both the (legislative and executive branches) desire and need additional time to consider and take appropriate government actions regarding the filing of (an appeal to the Supreme Court), including (the new administration) considering whether or not to file a petition,” Pitchlynn wrote in the deadline extension request.

“We wanted (the Supreme Court) to know that (outgoing Principal Chief) Jim Gray wasn’t the appropriate person to make the decision” on whether to make the appeal, Pitchlynn said.

Congress passes appropriation bill to fund litigation fees related to the reservation status case

News of the deadline extension request approval hit the Internet shortly after Congressman Raymond Red Corn, now the Congressional Second Speaker, wrote his latest Update electronic newsletter July 18 in which he discussed an appropriation bill passed by the Congress with a 5-4 vote, which would fund further litigation in the reservation status case. Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear also discussed the vote on the Osage Shareholders Association blog two days earlier when the $207,000 appropriation bill was passed.

The bill (ONCA 10-57), sponsored by Congressman Eddy Red Eagle, was originally introduced with a request for $100.

Red Corn said in his Update the bill “was filed as a placeholder appropriations bill until the Osage Congress could hear arguments for funding past and future expenditures. That discussion was held in the Congressional Government Operations Committee (July 15). By the Executive branch’s own accounting, $189,000 was spent on attorneys during the appeals process, expenditures made with no prior authorization from Congress. The Executive (branch) sought an additional amount in excess of $300,000 for future expenditures. The Government Operations Committee voted 4-0 (Mason, Boone, Red Eagle, Red Corn) to appropriate the $189,000 already spent, plus $88,000 for future expenditures.”

The now-$207,000 bill became a target of debate during the July 16 Special Session of Congress after Standing Bear introduced an amendment to the bill to only spend the money on a selected list of attorneys who could defend the Nation if the case is appealed to the Supreme Court.

The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Standing Bear, Mark Simms, Alice Goodfox and Daniel Boone voted yes. John Free, Archie Mason, Speaker Jerri Jean Branstetter, Eddy Red Eagle and Red Corn voted against. William “Kugee” Supernaw, Anthony Shackelford and Shannon Edwards were absent that day.

In his July 16 OSA blog entry after the session, Standing Bear wrote: “I submitted an Amendment this afternoon to use the money only for attorneys on a list of the top attorneys in the country, that list provided the Osage Congress in a July 1, 2010 letter from Congress attorneys, the law firm of Crowe Dunlevy. Much debate followed with one group opposed to the Amendment for several reasons, including one Congressman who said it would restrict the Chief from choosing his own attorneys.”

Red Corn replied in the same blog posting that day: “At issue was the ability of this Congress to control, via the budget, the selection of attorneys by the Executive branch. Language to specify the legal firms on whom appropriated money would be spent (in this case, three) was challenged when presented on a floor amendment to the appropriation bill. As has often been argued, if the Congress can make that call, we can also dictate who the Nation’s plumber, electrician, and HVAC contractor is by inserting similar language in each appropriation bill.”

The final vote on ONCA 10-57 was 5-4 with Boone, Goodfox, Simms, and Standing Bear voting against. An emergency clause attached to the bill failed on a 7-2 vote with Standing Bear and Boone voting “no,” meaning the $207,000 cannot be spent for 60 days, Standing Bear reported in his posting.

Government officials to sit down and discuss next moves in the case

Red Eagle said he is planning to sit down with Gray and the attorneys involved to discuss all options in the case because “I think we’ve got to take safeguards.”

For example, “fee into trust land is a big one,” he said of options to protect the Tulsa, Ponca City and Skiatook casinos which are not on trust land. Government officials have said such a process can take more than a year to complete.

The Second Osage Nation Congress meets for the first time July 9 to elect committee members. Chief Jim Gray speaks on the importance of carrying forth with the Nation's suit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Photo by Shannon Shaw/Osage News

By Benny Polacca
Osage News

The Second Osage Nation Congress is meeting this week for its first Special Session since the June 7 election. The Congress selected Jerri Jean Branstetter to be Speaker and it will consider a $100 emergency appropriation bill during this Special Session to fund any legal response to the lawsuit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission regarding the Nation’s reservation status suit.

On July 9, Congressman Eddy Red Eagle filed ONCA 10-57 which is an act to provide an appropriation to the lawsuit fund for $100. The bill was read into record by Red Eagle during this morning’s Special Session and the bill has been referred to the Congressional Committee on Government Operations. A committee meeting to discuss this bill has yet to be announced.

The Second ON Congress met for the first time that day with Principal Chief Jim Gray delivering an executive message in which he mentioned the Osage Nation’s reservation is referred to in the tribe’s 2006 Constitution.

“We’re faced with a issue that’s before us: the question of funding the piece of litigation that will continue to advance the interests of what this constitution says – about what we have all sworn an oath to defend which is the territory of the Osage people,” Gray told the Congress.

In May, the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to rehear the Nation’s case against the Oklahoma state Tax Commission, which left the Executive Branch 90 days to make a decision on whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The nine-year-old case was first filed in 2001 in federal court in Tulsa. The case then went to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals where it ruled in December 2007 that the Nation could proceed against individual members of the Oklahoma Tax Commission. U.S. District Judge James Payne ruled in February of 2009 that Osage Nation employees are not exempt from paying state income taxes and that Osage County is not the Osage Reservation’s boundaries. The Nation asked him to reconsider his “lousy decision,” as Chief Gray put it at the time, but Payne let the ruling stand. The Nation appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals again where they agreed with Payne’s ruling. The Nation asked the 10th Circuit to reconsider their decision in January of this year.

“Before the highest court in the land, we have to respond either by not responding, which is a response within itself, which means the 10th Circuit decision on this issue will stand and you know what the consequences of that is,” Gray said. “We also have an opportunity to appeal to the highest court in the land to have our case heard on its merits, to be considered on all historical facts that support our position, to be given a fair hearing for the sake of our ancestors. I ask you to consider that very carefully.”

Congresswoman Branstetter elected Speaker

Also on July 9, after Chief Gray spoke, the Congress held elections for their Speaker and Second Speaker positions in which all members unanimously elected Branstetter as Speaker and Raymond Red Corn as Second Speaker after each was nominated.

The Congressional Committees were also formed and held their first meetings immediately after the July 9 session.

The third day of the Special Session is slated for Tuesday July 13 at 10 a.m. in the Congressional Chambers.

Congressional Committees and selected leaders

Congressional Committee on Congressional Affairs: Raymond Red Corn (chairman), Jerri Jean Branstetter, John Free, Alice Goodfox, Mark Simms.

Rules and Ethics Committee: Jerri Jean Branstetter (chairwoman), Archie Mason and Eddy Red Eagle.

Congressional Committee on Education: Shannon Edwards (chairwoman), Archie Mason (vice chairman), Daniel Boone (Appropriations Committee representative), John Free and Alice Goodfox.

Congressional Committee on Commerce and Economic Development: Mark Simms (chairman), Anthony Shackelford (vice chairman), Alice Goodfox, Geoffrey Standing Bear, Eddy Red Eagle (Appropriations Committee representative) and Raymond Red Corn.

Congressional Committee on Culture: Anthony Shackelford (chairman), Geoffrey Standing Bear (co-chairman), Mark Simms, William “Kugee” Supernaw (Appropriations Committee representative), Jerri Jean Branstetter

Congressional Committee on Government Operations: Jerri Jean Branstetter (chairwoman), Archie Mason (vice chairman and Appropriations Committee representative), Daniel Boone, Raymond Red Corn, Eddy Red Eagle, William “Kugee” Supernaw.

Congressional Committee on Health and Social Services: Archie Mason (chairman), Alice Goodfox (vice chairwoman), Shannon Edwards, John Free (Appropriations Committee representative) and Raymond Red Corn.

Congressional Committee on Appropriations: Eddy Red Eagle (chairman), Archie Mason (vice chairman), Daniel Boone, John Free and William “Kugee” Supernaw.

Osage Nation Congressman-elect John Free (orange shirt) laughs with Daniel Boone (blue shirt) during a training session for the newly elected congressional members on June 30 in the Congressional Chambers. Both were elected to the Congress during the nations June 7 election. Photo by Benny Polacca/Osage News

By Benny Polacca
Osage News

Six Osage tribal members elected to the Osage Nation Congress in the June 7 election received training June 29-30 in holding the Congressional sessions they will attend after taking the oath of office this month.

The Second ON Congress will be sworn in to office on July 7 with four new members joining the remaining eight, including two Congressmen who were elected for their second terms last month. In order for all the Congress members to have the same lessons in how the Legislative Branch works, Congressional staffers arranged for a seasoned Native American affairs consultant to come to Pawhuska and teach them.

James Mills, president of New York-based Creating Stronger Nations, led two days of training which touched on Roberts Rules of Order as well as lessons in governing ethics since both will be crucial keys for the Congress members to conduct business in the Congressional Chambers. The Osage News visited a portion of the training in which Mills encouraged the Congress members to use real-life examples during their lessons.

William “Kugee” Supernaw, who won a Congressional second term, referred to the tumultuous relationship the First ON Congress had in recent years with the Executive Branch and suggested that Congress consider stronger legislation which defines the roles of the Nation’s boards. Supernaw referred to the Nation’s Gaming Enterprise Board (the Congress declined to confirm two of three board members earlier this year) which he believed did not always seek or follow the advice of the chief executive officer.

“Congress basically sets the legislation that gives the boards their authority, correct?” Mills asked the group. “What is a board’s rule, what should be their job? A board’s job is to set policy… hire and fire the CEO and nobody else. That’s really what a board should be doing, they shouldn’t be getting involved in the day-to-day operations – that’s the kiss of death in most cases.”

“In Congress, your role is to legislate – simply put. It’s not to do all the other things,” Mills said in his lesson. “I see tribal councils all over the country that get involved in the day-to-day operations, just the single government tribal councils and they usually mess things up too. And then I see tribal councils that are really good at being really smart about the ‘taking your hands off approach.’”

In a brainstorming session, Mills asked all the training attendees to think of some recent issues which still need resolutions and asked everyone to come up with solutions for class discussion. One issue raised by Congressman and former Speaker Archie Mason, who participated in the trainings, involved the Nation’s budgets which became a contentious political topic after the budgets were not passed in time for the 2010 fiscal year. The FY 2010 budgets were not passed until this past January due to several debates between the Executive Branch which must prepare and present the budgets to Congress who ultimately approves them.

Mason said one solution he and another Congress member are proposing to prevent another budget standoff is to enforce a stricter deadline. The stricter budget rule shared by Mason would apply to budgets not handed in by a September deadline in which those budgets not turned in on time would only receive the same amount appropriated in the previous year’s budget.

The crowd offered murmurs of approval to the idea and Mills, who has worked in the private hospital sector before, said he’s seen a similar practice. “There are businesses that practice exactly that… when I was a hospital administrator, if someone didn’t submit their budget, last year’s budget was approved. That’s an effective tool.”

Participating in the trainings were first-term Congress members Alice Goodfox, John Free, Daniel Boone, Geoffrey Standing Bear and current Congressmen Raymond Red Corn, Supernaw and Mason. Also present were Kelly Corbin and Donna Buchanan from the Office of Fiscal Performance and Review and Congressional Clerk Alexis Rencountre and Assistant Congressional Clerk Barbara Rice.

Mills said he’s worked with over 300 Native American tribes on issues ranging from rewriting tribal constitutions, tribal ethics, training on other government topics and leadership training. He works with Jenni Monet (Laguna Pueblo) who is marketing director and also owner in Creating Stronger Nations.

Consultant James Mills reads a copy of the Osage Nation Constitution during a training session he led for the six newly elected congressional members on June 30. The six congressional members elected in the June 7 election take the oath of office on July 7. Photo by Chris Jake/Osage News

Principal Chief candidate Tim Tall Chief during an interview with the Osage News. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

By Benny Polacca

Osage News

When Tim Tall Chief started his seven-plus-year post with the Oklahoma State Department of Health as deputy commissioner of health and administration in 2002, the agency needed new team leaders after a multi-jurisdiction investigation uncovered mismanagement of the agency under previous leadership prompting the changes.

“I was the guy in charge of the turnaround,” Tall Chief said of the deputy commissioner position he held until Jan. 1 when he retired and has since focused on the campaign trail in his run for Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. He won the second highest number of votes in the June 7 election and faces a July 19 runoff election against John Red Eagle who is currently assistant principal chief.

“I believe everything I’ve done in my role has prepared me for this point.” Tall Chief was also the health department’s human resources director about 25 years before returning as a deputy commissioner.

Tall Chief was hired as deputy commissioner of health and administration in February 2002 by the agency’s then-Commissioner of Health Leslie Beitsch. His post’s responsibilities included overseeing the agency’s budget and funding, accounting services, human resources, information technology, and building management to name a few. The state health department has an annual budget of $370 million and employs 2,300 people.

Tall Chief’s hiring came less than a year after an Oklahoma Multi-County Grand Jury report was released detailing allegations of wrongdoings within the health department which serves Oklahoma’s 77 counties and involved investigators from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations and the FBI. Several developments involving the agency surfaced in 2000 during the grand jury’s 21-month investigation while Tall Chief was state director of Indian education for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

According to its July 2001 report, the Grand Jury states its “examination of OSDH employment practices has revealed serious deficiencies, and at times blatant disregard for State statutes, regulations and polices and procedures,” which include allegations of department officials hiring unqualified employees, circumventing policies on nepotism, paying employees for non-working hours and misusing state property for personal use. The investigations prompted 302 subpoenas for witnesses and evidence and the grand jury “returned 12 indictments as a result of this investigation composed of 15 defendants and 159 separate counts,” the report stated.

“Some people went to prison, some people died while waiting for trial and some people got terminated,” Tall Chief said. “It took me two years to turn (the department) around and it’s because of the dedicated people committed to it – not just me,” he said adding the department developed a system to trace how its monies are spent during his stay.

While holding leadership positions in Oklahoma’s health and education departments, Tall Chief has also worked as an adjunct faculty member in the University of Oklahoma’s College of Liberal Studies where he has taught a conflict resolution course since 2000 among other past teaching posts which include teaching a health-related course focusing on Native Americans.

“All of those things prepare you for a moment in history: that’s where we are today,” Tall Chief said. He made the decision to run for principal chief a year-and-a-half ago after having a sit-down discussion with his family.

If elected, Tim Tall Chief, 62, will be the second Tall Chief elected as the Nation’s principal chief since the 1906 Act was signed. His father, George Tall Chief, was elected principal chief in 1982 and was re-elected in 1986. Whoever is elected in the July 19 runoff election will be the second Principal Chief to serve the Nation since its government was reformed and new constitution was signed in 2006.

“I am not trying to retrace my father’s footsteps,” Tall Chief said of his decision to run for office. “It’s really about doing what I think is the right thing for the Nation: It’s the motivation.”

Tall Chief is married to Vicki Tall Chief, who is an OU professor in the College of Public Health. They live in Jones, but Tall Chief said he plans on relocating within Osage County if elected. He stays in the Grayhorse District, where he is a committeeman, when visiting the region for tribal and family functions.

He has two adult children: Russ, who is a former Grayhorse District Drumkeeper and is now Director of Arts and Exhibitions for the American Indian Cultural Center & Museum; and Amy, Director of Entertainment for the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casinos venture.

Tall Chief was born in Oklahoma City to George Tall Chief and the late Marion Harmon who both met while students at Central State University in Edmond (now called the University of Central Oklahoma) and is the same institution where Tim Tall Chief would earn his bachelor and master’s degrees.

Harmon had polio and was confined to a wheelchair but still attended classes with Tall Chief’s help everyday since he went to grade school nearby.

“Mom had classes on the fourth floor,” Tall Chief recalls. Everyday he would get called out of class to come help move Harmon’s wheelchair up the university building’s stairs. “She said that’s one of the reasons you got big and strong so early.”

Tall Chief moved into the teaching arena like his parents did and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1971 and a Master’s of Education degree in counseling psychology in 1978.

Tall Chief has taught health courses at OU’s Health Sciences Center with one course focusing on Native Americans and another on public health communication. His other leadership posts include other OUHSC positions including: interim director of the student services office; executive director of the Native American Center of Excellence Consortium; and associate director of the Native American Graduate Program for the College of Public Health.

Tall Chief has also sat on many boards, including the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission after he was appointed by former Gov. Frank Keating and served as its chairman for eight years. He currently serves as vice chairman on the Osage Nation Health and Wellness Advisory Board, which informs the tribal government of health-related advice. If Tall Chief is elected, he said he plans to resign his position on this board to focus on the Executive Branch operations.

New principal chief, new duties

The next principal chief elected July 19 must briskly learn the ins and outs of the Osage Nation’s government operations; finish working on the 2011 Fiscal Year budget; and start working with the Assistant Principal Chief who will also be elected July 19 as well as the Second Osage Nation Congress which takes the oath of office this month.

“I’m going to sit down with each program director and learn about what they do. And workers who are folks down in the trenches also have input,” Tall Chief said of his plans if elected.

Tall Chief says a typical day as Principal Chief would involve arriving at the office “before 8 a.m. and expects to stay after 5 p.m. I intend to be there and seeing folks on a regular basis.”

When it comes to the Nation’s employees, Tall Chief said “I will never ask anyone to work harder than I do,” but he expects “a standard of excellence for myself and employees. Our citizens deserve the best and we need to raise the bar.”

On traveling, Tall Chief acknowledges travel has been a prior issue in the Executive Branch of some government critics, but says he “does not believe in unnecessary travel.” But if he must travel while principal chief, Tall Chief said “if you got the right folks sitting in the right (work) spots, I think necessary travel should not be a problem,” which includes the assistant principal chief.

“The assistant principal chief needs to know everything that I know, if I am away there should not be a bump in the road,” Tall Chief said. “The assistant principal chief needs to have the knowledge and assistance to make decisions.”

With regards to keeping in touch with the Nation’s legislative and judicial branches and the Minerals Council, Tall Chief said he plans to keep “a collegial and productive relationship between all branches of the Nation. If issues begin to surface, I will get up and meet with the other officials – without breaking the (Nation’s) open meeting law.”

On tribal government spending practices, Tall Chief believes all tribal members “need to know how our government spends every dollar,” according to his campaign Web site. If elected, Tall Chief says he plans to ensure accountability by making audits, reviews and reports available to tribal members after the Nation’s revenue generated through its business enterprises has been evaluated.

Tall Chief has the support of Congressman-elect Geoffrey Standing Bear and Congressman Archie Mason who have both sent Tall Chief letters which have been posted to Tall Chief’s campaign Web site.

“Your promise of transparency and accountability in our Osage government is taken seriously and I know you have the experience to implement your pledge,” Standing Bear wrote to Tall Chief. “We are both looking for creative and innovative ways to enhance our new government to better serve the health, education, and housing needs of our Osage people. With other Osages and Members in the Osage Congress we will have to work diligently to achieve our goals.”

Mason, who has worked with Tall Chief on previous projects, wrote: “You have the ethical standards and knowledge necessary to develop large budgetary components and expertise to meet projected and agreed upon timelines. This commitment is extremely crucial to our services rendered, employee perceptions, and all operations of our nation… Implementation and respect of our Osage law, your past experiences with state and federal entities, and knowledge of conflict resolution is vital.”

Principal Chief candidate Tim Tall Chief poses for the Osage News during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka dances. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Principal Chief candidate Tim Tall Chief. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Principal Chief candidate Tim Chief walks in with the Grayhorse District during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Here are photos of dancers who participated in the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka dances June 24-27.

Town Crier Caesar Williams prepares to ring the first bell to start the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 24. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Pawhuska Drumkeeper Bruce Cass poses for the Osage News before heading into the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Herman Mograin Lookout walks in with some of the men from the Pawhuska District on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

John Star BigHorse Jr. heads toward the arbor during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 24. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Talon Satepauhoodle walks toward the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men from the Hominy District start to head toward the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chris Jake/Osage News

Men from the Hominy District walk toward the arbor during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 24. Photo by Chris Jake/Osage Newsw

(L to R) Pawhuska Waterboys Tyler Frost and Norris Bighorse carry their buckets toward the arbor on June 24 during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Pawhuska Waterboy Mason Bighorse carries his bucket toward the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men from the Grayhorse District walk together as they prepare to enter the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chris Jake/Osage News

(L to R) Jon and Raymond M. Red Corn prepare to walk in the arbor on June 24 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Frank Redcorn walks toward the arbor during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 24. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Wilson Pipestem receives some help from his younger sister Veronica Pipestem during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 24. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Congressman Anthony Shackelford stops to pose for the Osage News before heading into the arbor at the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 25. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Cory Spotted Bear and Jeremy Spotted Bear walk toward the arbor on June 25 during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Herman Mograin Lookout and Kenny Bighorse Jr. pose for the Osage News before heading into the arbor on June 25 in Pawhuska. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Kirk Shaw receives help from his older brother Derek Shaw in tying on his roach during the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka on June 25. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men from the Grayhorse District head toward the arbor on June 25 at the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Congressman Archie Mason leads in the Grayhorse District on June 25 at the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Anthony Webb walks in with the men from the Grayhorse District on June 25 at the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Franklin McKinley of the Grayhorse District poses for the Osage News camera on June 25 during the In-Lon-Schka dances in Pawhuska. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Louis Gray walks toward the arbor on June 25 of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Joe Shunkamolah leads in the Hominy District on June 25. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Congressman William Supernaw gets ready to head into the arbor Friday evening of the Pawhuska In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Osage News

Here are photos of dancers who participated in the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka dances June 3-6.

Town Crier Caesar Williams rings the first bell warning dancers that the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka is about to begin on June 3. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Ceasar Williams the drum and dancers on June 3 of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) David Meneely and Tim Tall Chief pose for the camera while waiting for the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka to begin on June 3. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Head taildancer Randy Moore, Ted Moore Jr., Taildancers Dillon Moore and Ralston Moore wait for the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka to begin on June 3. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Caesar Williams notifies the public that the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka is starting on June 3. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers turn and look as the Town Crier leads in the men of the Grayhorse District to the arbor on June 3 at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Ceasar Williams leads the drum and the Grayhorse Drumkeeper Joel Wynn down to the dance arbor on June 3 of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men from the Grayhorse District head to the dance arbor on June 3 of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men from the Grayhorse District line up for the afternoon dances June 3 at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Ed Shaw and his son Edmond Shaw head toward the dance arbor at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka on June 3. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Wilson Pipestem, Kingston Pipestem and Kirk Shaw head to the arbor on June 3 of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

A porcupine roach hangs from the rafter of a canopy at the Hominy District camp on June 3 of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers from the Hominy District get ready to head into the arbor on June 3 of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Billy Proctor and Congressman Anthony Shackelford walk toward the arbor on June 3 of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

A group of straight dancers head toward the arbor on June 4 of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Caesar Williams announces to the Grayhorse district the entry of the Grayhorse Drumkeeper Joel Wynn. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Ceasar Williams leads in the Grayhorse District on June 4 at Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Grayhorse Drumkeeper Joel Wynn walks toward the arbor with Archie Mason on June 4 at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers from the Grayhorse district line up before heading into the arbor on June 4 of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Marie Rumsey reaches for pieces of dough while making chicken and dumplings on June 4 at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Frybread cooks in a pot of hot grease during the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka dances on June 4. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Town Crier Caesar Williams shakes hands with Tim Tall Chief Friday afternoon of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Herman Mongrain Lookout stands with a couple of straight dancers before heading into the arbor Friday afternoon of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Pawhuska Drumkeeper Bruce Cass leads in the Pawhuska district on Friday afternoon at Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

John Henry Mashunkashey leads in a small group of straight dancers Friday afternoon of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Young straight dancers head into the arbor Friday afternoon of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Peaches McKinley chops up some cantalope Friday afternoon before of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Sharon Damron scoops out the inside of a cantalope Friday afternoon of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Ricky Eaves takes time to smile for the Osage News after dancing Saturday afternoon at the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Grayhorse Drumkeeper Joel Wynn takes time to pose for the Osage News before heading down to the arbor Saturday evening of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Men stand around visit with one before heading toward the arbor Saturday evening of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers look down the road and wait for the Town Crier Caeser Williams to walk down toward the arbor Saturday evening of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers walk down the gravel road as they head toward the arbor Saturday evening of the Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Straight dancers line up as they head into the arbor Saturday evening of Grayhorse In-Lon-Schka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

(L to R) Edward Yellowfish Jr. (yellow shirt), Edson Yellowfish, Tim Allen (gray shirt), Edward Yellowfish Sr., Thomas Goodeagle and his son Ben Goodeagle head toward the arbor Saturday evening of Grayhorse In-Lon-Scka. Photo by Chalene Toehay/Osage News

Osage Nation Congress Speaker Archie Mason delivers his opening remarks during the 2010 Hun-Kah Session's Inaugural day on March 15. Photo by Benny Polacca/Osage News

Osage News

The First Osage Nation Congress gathered for its final inaugural Hun-Kah Session on March 15. When the Second Congress meets for its first session after taking the oath of office, a few new faces will join those whose terms are not expiring this summer.

“This First Congress has had an admirable experience historically, legislatively and learning,” Speaker Archie Mason said in his opening address for the session. “We have learned to exercise and implement legislative skills for the betterment of our Nation and our people… We have accomplished much, with much left to do in the upcoming 23 days (of the session).”

Six of the Nation’s 12 Congressional seats are up for grabs in the June election with at least three members stating they will not seek re-election. The filing period for election candidates started March 15 and runs through April 1.

“Change is inevitable and we have been instruments of change… This government is still in its infancy, we have had the opportunity to take those first small steps,” Mason said of the Congress learning to “agree and disagree” in its legislative duties for the Nation.

Principal Chief Jim Gray, who typically delivers an address on behalf of the Executive Branch at each Congressional session‘s commencement, was out on travel during the session’s inaugural day.

In addition to legislative duties and bills to attend to this session, the Congress will also choose their new speaker at the Hun-Kah Session’s close. Mason, who has been Speaker since the Congress took oath in 2006, has said he would not be interested in another Speaker nomination.

“As your Speaker, I’ve experienced incredible situations and opportunities and have experienced a learning curve beyond my personal expectations,” Mason said. “Learning never stops and at 65 years of age, I can personally attest to those many unique experiences of these past 45 months… I thank you for the privilege to be your Speaker.”

The Hun-Kah session stretches 24 days with the option for an extension if needed.

Archie Mason, Speaker of the Osage Nation Congress, sits outside of the congressional chambers. Photo by Shannon Shaw/Osage News

By Benny Polacca
Osage News

Osage Nation Congress Speaker Archie Mason says he will step down from the Legislative Branch’s top post after the upcoming Hun-Kah Session of Congress ends, meaning another congressperson will soon be presiding with the crack of a gavel.

“I’ve acknowledged to my colleagues that I’m not going to entertain a (speaker) nomination for the Second Osage Nation Congress,” which takes oath of office following the Nation’s June election, Mason said. He’s held the Speaker post since the Nation’s government was reformed and he was elected to the First Congress in 2006.

“I feel it’s time to step aside and let another person take over. It’s been a positive learning experience for me to see the new government birthed,” Mason said. He issued his announcement to his Congressional colleagues in writing during their 26th Special Session.

According to the Nation’s Constitution, the Speaker position is chosen amongst the Congress and that person will act as the body’s Presiding Officer. The Speaker position is held for one year and Mason’s held the position for 44 months since the First Congress took oath of office.

Mason says the role of the Speaker is “a good position to be in,” which requires the position holder to be “a good communicator with the Congress and Executive Branch” and “you have to learn to get along with the constituents.”

After the June election, Mason will remain on the Congress until 2012 when his term expires.

“I hope it will be a continued challenge for the Second Congress as well,” Mason said. It’s a healthy learning process,” he said of the Nation settling into the new government’s pace. “Indeed the way we do things are unique (in incorporating the tribe into the reformed government). One of my goals was to help create the legislative infrastructure with this new government and certainly entertain information from my colleagues.”

Mason’s announcement also comes after a contentious debate between the Congress and Executive Branch in setting the Nation’s 2010 budget which extended from the 2009 Tzi-Zho Session into January. He said he’s working on legislation which would help prevent a similar situation from reoccurring.

“I’ve accepted the goods and the bads, the ups and downs which comes with the job and we learn from those experiences as well,” he said.

Mason said he is working with Congressman Raymond Red Corn on a budget process which will “set up guidelines and timelines so things do not repeat. It was not a healthy adventure at all.”

“We hope to have it in a final draft form for Congress to vote on in March,” he said.

The Hun-Kah Session starts in March and lasts 24 days with the Speaker position chosen at the end of its run.

Robert Warrior. Courtesy Photo/Robert Warrior

By Benny Polacca
Osage News

The Osage Nation Congress selected one of two Osage academic scholars considered for the Editorial Board which oversees the Osage News during its Special Session on Wednesday.

By majority vote, the Congress chose Robert Warrior, director of American Indian Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as its appointment for the Editorial Board after a congressional committee conducted separate phone interviews with Warrior and Teresa Trumbly Lamsam who sat on the newspaper’s Editorial Council appointed by Principal Chief Jim Gray last year.

Congresspersons who attended a Congressional Committee on Government Operations meeting that morning asked Warrior and Lamsam questions about their prior journalism experiences, their thoughts on the responsibilities of the Editorial Board and the newspaper and news judgment.

“It seems to me that judgment is a really important aspect of journalism and of having a free press,” Warrior said in his interview. “We have a lot of people who need information and they need good information to make the kind of decisions that they’re looking to make… and I think the people need to have information that seems to be fairly presented and well reported.”

Warrior, who is a professor of American Indian studies, English and history in Illinois, said he also serves as a series editor for the University of Minnesota Press which edits and publishes scholar writings. He’s also written articles for newspapers including News from Indian Country, Lakota Times and Village Voice in addition to scholarly journals.

In writing for various publications, Warrior said he believes the relationship or partnership between an editor and a writer is an “important one.” He cited working with publication editors who were non-Native Americans and new to issues affecting Indian Country when he wrote articles about them as an example.

Warrior holds a doctorate in systematic theology from the Union Theological Seminary in New York; a master’s degree in religion from Yale University; and a bachelor’s in speech communication from Pepperdine University. He’s also worked or lectured at other institutions including the University of Oklahoma, Stanford University, Univerisity of Chicago and the University of California-Berkley.

Congressman Raymond Red Corn asked Warrior if he believes anything in the Osage News would “lead you to believe that any eminent or immediate changes need to be made.”

“No, not that I see,” Warrior replied. “The current editor, Shannon Shaw, was a student of mine at OU, I’ve known her since she was a kid… I was really pleased when she came back home to take on this responsibility,” he said, adding he was aware of her prior journalism posts which includes reporting for the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Warrior’s work also includes serving as an academic adviser for the PBS-TV mini-series “We Shall Remain,” which focuses on U.S. history told from the Native American perspective. He’s written several books including Like a Hurricane: The Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee with Comanche scholar Paul Chaat Smith, which focuses on Native American politics and protests during the 1960s and 1970s.

During Lamsam’s interview, Congress Speaker Archie Mason asked Lamsam, a former editor of the Osage Nation News, what she would contribute to the board if chosen. She is now an associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the School of Communications where her research interests include Native American journalism.

“I have dedicated my academic career to the subject of media in Native communities,” said Lamsam who added she left the tribal newspaper to further her studies, which includes a master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Missouri in journalism.

In addition to academics, Lamsam held five positions while working as a journalist for the Lubbock Avalanche Journal in Texas and wrote freelance articles while living overseas. As a professor, Lamsam has taught news writing and editing courses and has served as an editor for student special projects.

“Since (leaving the tribal newspaper), I’ve waited for an opportunity to give back… the most likely place for that to occur would be within my own tribe,” Lamsam said. “Now that the structure of the board is going to be secure and I think that will make it politically secure, I think that is going to make for a better environment for the newspaper, its staff and whoever ends up being on the board,” which will be a good foundation.

Both Warrior and Lamsam were asked how “political strife” should be covered in the newspaper, which comes in the wake of several tensions involving the Nation’s executive and legislative branches over topics such as setting the 2010 fiscal year budget.

“Fair and balanced,” said Lamsam. “I do not think there can be a perception that the newspaper leans toward administration or leans toward Congress… I would rather us being perceived as advocates for the community rather than advocates for politicians. But at the same time, what goes on in those political offices is very important to members of the Nation and they want to know about it.”

Regarding online media, Lamsam noted there are more outlets through the Internet where people are getting their news including the Osage News, which started a Web site last year. “The ability for the people to access their news online is going to be very important,” she said adding “I would caution against getting away from the (newspaper) print version and going entirely online… I think it’s premature to make that move because I’m not sure of the Internet access of most people and if they prefer to read it online… We do have an obligation and responsibility to serve our readers in the best way possible.”

Congress votes on Editorial Board nominees after interviews

Nine members of Congress voted via secret ballot during the Special Session held after Lamsam and Warrior’s interviews with Warrior receiving six votes and Lamsam three. The Editorial Board appointments are being chosen according to the Nation’s Independent Press Act of 2008, which was put into effect following last year’s Supreme Court decision regarding the bill sponsored by Congresswoman Faren Revard Anderson.

Three people will serve on the board with the Congress selecting one person, the chief selecting the second and the chosen two board members will choose the third one.

It’s unclear what process will take place once the third board member is chosen. Congressional legal counsel Loyed “Trey” Gill was out of the office Friday.

For the Editorial Board, Chief Gray is selecting Denny McAuliffe, a Washington Post editor and former University of Montana journalism professor, who also served on the Editorial Council selected by Gray while the Supreme Court case was in litigation and after a 2009 independent press bill sponsored by Congresswoman Shannon Edwards was tabled by the government operations committee last April.