HOMINY VILLAGE, Okla. – John Maker hosted an afternoon meal here as he seeks reelection to the Osage Nation Congress in the 2024 General Election.
On April 20, Maker spoke to a crowd of nearly 50 attendees at the village community building where a meal prepared by several family members was served. Maker is an Army veteran who previously worked as a language teacher in the ON Language Department before he won his first Congressional election in 2012.
Congressman Joe Tillman introduced Maker and said their friendship grew over the last eight years since he was first elected. “He is running for his fourth term in Congress, so he must be doing something right, and I’m honored and with pleasure to stand here and introduce Congressman John Maker.”
During his tenure, Maker said he’s supported many endeavors for the Nation, but “the No. 1 thing is protection of our Osage sovereignty, to me, for all of us, everybody here should be more concerned about that than just about anything. We’re under attack just like some of the other tribes in Oklahoma over our taxes and (vehicle) license tags, our smoke shops, our gaming, everything is in a critical state right now, so we need all the people’s help and support to get behind all your elected officials.”
Maker said he continues to be a huge supporter of the Osage culture and language, health services, health benefit, educational scholarships and burial assistance. Other endeavors that Maker has supported through the years include the purchase of the ON Ranch, funding bills for the new village dance arbors, chapels, expanded gaming properties, the Nation’s veterans memorial, the Nation’s schools, the new and expanded senior housing complexes and broadband services.
“It can’t be done without the entire government, the Chief, Assistant Chief, all of Congress – past and present and the future. There’s a lot to be done, we’ve done a lot. The tribe is doing pretty good, but we can always do better, I promise you that. We get calls all the time about ‘why can’t we do this? How come the other tribes are doing this and we’re not?’ And we answer them.”
While serving, Maker visited various places across the country, and even went to France. He said “everywhere I went, you were always on my mind. Everyone here, I was representing you wherever I went, I went with dignity and honor.” “Recently I was a keynote speaker up in Missouri for the (state) Department of Natural Resources and the State Parks Department. They wanted an Osage to come up there and talk about our people in the ancient times in Missouri. And there was a crowd of 500 people in that ballroom (all employees including park rangers and first responders). I told them everything I knew about being Osage and taught them some Osage words … I would like to represent you again on this Congress and my focus is going to be on the future for our children and our economics.”
