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HomeCultureArts & Culture'I will not let this fail' Vann Bighorse talks White Hair transition

‘I will not let this fail’ Vann Bighorse talks White Hair transition

The Osage Nation took over the day-to-day management of the White Hair Memorial last December, the former home of Lillie Morrell Burkhart. Vann Bighorse, who is the Nation’s Cultural, Language, and Education Secretary, said he’s committed to making it work.

When Lillie Morrell Burkhart passed away in 1967, she left a will stating her wishes for her home and her headrights to be passed onto the Oklahoma Historical Society. 

In 1983, it finally happened. 

Last year, the White Hair Memorial’s winding road came full circle as the Osage Nation assumed control of the day-to-day operations – a mutually agreed upon decision made by the Nation and the Oklahoma Historical Society. 

“The White Hair Memorial is an important cultural landmark for the Osage Nation that houses priceless historical documents,” said ON Cultural, Language, and Education Secretary Vann Bighorse. 

Bighorse’s father, Kenneth “Kenny” Hemphill Bighorse, taught some of the first Osage language classes at White Hair. Today, Vann is now in charge of making sure Lillie’s legacy lives on. In his lifetime, Bighorse has been a Whipman, a Drumkeeper, and was put on a dance committee when he was just 11 years old.

“It’s always my passion to help our people,” Bighorse said. That’s why he said he’s committed to making the arrangement between the Nation and the OHS work.  

“I’m not going to let this fail. I’m going to be on top of this.”

A portrait of Lillie Morrell Burkhart hangs in the living room of the White Hair Memorial. Courtesy Photo/KOSU

The Language and Culture department, which will be charged with running the White Hair Memorial, received the keys to the house on Dec. 1. It officially opened on Dec. 16.

The Oklahoma Historical Society will continue to pay all expenses: the electric and phone bill, routine maintenance like mowing the lawn, spraying for pests, the security system and provide money for groceries and blankets during Inlonshka. 

Bighorse said there was some damage to the house because of a leak in the air conditioning condensation lines, causing some mildew on the carpets. The place needed repainting, replacement of the carpet and general winterization.

The White Hair Memorial has been closed to the public since the end of June, when former site director and Osage tribal member Tara Damron left. Bighorse said that many of Lillie’s papers, records, clothing and other primary source documents like the Blanche Garrison records are no longer there. Osage News reached out to the Oklahoma Historical Society asking after these items and was given a statement by the OHS that read, “Those items are still in Oklahoma City. The plan is to reconcile paperwork before any items are transferred back to the site.” 

Osage News asked for a timeline about when those items would be back at White Hair and no answer has been given.

Osage Nation Cultural, Language, and Education Secretary Vann Bighorse. ECHO REED/Osage News

Bighorse said he understands that those items needed to be kept safe in Oklahoma City because no one has been working at White Hair since the closure last summer. But he would like those items returned to White Hair and planned on having some exhibits in the future.

The house was built in 1938, and according to Bighorse, it needs nearly $100,000 worth of repairs. Some of the house’s signature pink siding needs to be replaced, he said along with fixing one of the windows and taking care of possible termite damage. 

The ON Congress appropriated money to hire staff to work there, even though the Oklahoma Historical Society has agreed to pay the salaries. However, it’s paid in arrears, not upfront. The Nation must bill the Historical Society for those costs and be reimbursed. The Nation and OHS have a two-year contract to run the White Hair Memorial. 

“Congress was gracious enough to fund us the money to make it through the year. And that was just for salaries and for me to get new computers,” Bighorse said. Two new computers will be in the main office and the back library.

Osage citizens Johnna Johnson and Nikki Lorenzo will be staffing the White Hair Memorial. Bighorse said he picked Johnson because he wanted someone from Grayhorse and who grew up in the community. Lorenzo had been working for the Oklahoma Historical Society at White Hair before its closure last summer. 

White Hair Memorial is open Tuesday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment only.

The address is 4986 County Road 5715, Hominy, OK. Closures follow the Osage Nation office schedule. To schedule a visit, please call (918) 538-2417. The White Hair Memorial is free and open to the public. To find out more, please visit www.osageculture.com

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Allison Herrera
Allison Herrerahttps://osagenews.org
Title: Freelance Reporter
Languages spoken: English

Allison Herrera is a radio and print journalist who's worked for PRX's The World, Colorado Public Radio as the climate and environment editor and as a freelance reporter for High Country News’ Indigenous Affairs Desk. Herrera recently worked on Bloomberg and iHeart Media's In Trust with Rachel Adams-Heard, an investigative podcast about Osage Headrights. She currently works for KOSU as their Indigenous Affairs Reporter. Herrera’s Native ties are from her Xolon Salinan tribal heritage. In her free time, she likes buying fancy earrings, running and spending time with her daughter.
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