The 9th Osage Nation Congress re-elected Pam Shaw as its Speaker and elected Congresswoman Whitney Red Corn as Second Speaker before adjourning the 2025 Hun-Kah Session.
On April 28, the 12 legislators met for the 24th and final day of the spring session and held its annual officer elections and formed new select and standing committees to serve one-year terms, per Congressional rules. Following the session’s agenda of voting on legislation, the Congress held a caucus to form the new select and standing committees, which will meet as needed when publicly noticed per Osage law.
First, Congressional Clerk Brooklyn Kemble called the Speaker election to order and presided over the Speaker election by first asking for nominees. Eleven Congress members were present to caucus, while Congressman Billy Keene left the session earlier during the legislation vote portion of the agenda.
Congresswoman Alice Goodfox nominated Shaw. Kemble asked if there were any other nominees and none were voiced afterward.
Congresswoman Maria Whitehorn motioned for nominations to cease, and that Congresswoman Shaw is Speaker by acclamation.”
Next, Kemble declared: “Speaker Shaw, you are Speaker by acclamation and I will now turn the speakership over to you.”
This is the second consecutive year that Shaw will serve as Congressional Speaker. She is in her second four-year Congressional term after winning re-election in the Nation’s 2024 General Election and served two years as Second Speaker during her first term.
Shaw then presided over the Second Speaker election by asking for nominees first.
Goodfox nominated Red Corn and no other nominees were offered by other Congress members.
Like before, Whitehorn motioned for nominations to cease, and that Congresswoman Red Corn is Second Speaker by acclamation.”
Shaw then declared that Red Corn is now Second Speaker.
This is the first time Red Corn is serving as Second Speaker. She won election to her first Congressional term in 2022 and has served on various Congressional committees, including as Education Committee Chair.
As Second Speaker, Red Corn will serve as Chief Administrative Officer of the Congressional Office to manage day-to-day operations and Legislative Branch staff. She will serve as Chair of the Congressional Affairs Committee, per Congressional Rules. Also in accordance with a new rule change, the Second Speaker is authorized to preside over Congressional sessions as needed if the Speaker is absent or unable to preside.
Next, the Congress members formed its 10 Congressional committees. The select and standing committees (five each) are responsible for hearing government budgets, legislative bills/ resolutions and other issues pertaining to the programs, departments, businesses, entities and branches of the Nation. Each committee holds its own meetings and reports back to the whole of Congress.
Select Committees
Appropriations: Jodie Revard (Chair), Whitney Red Corn (Vice Chair), Shaw, Scott BigHorse, Whitehorn, Otto Hamilton
Membership: Eli Potts (Chair), John Maker (Vice Chair), Joe Tillman
Congressional Affairs: Red Corn (Chair), Tillman (Vice Chair), Whitehorn, Potts, Maker
Rules, Ethics and Engrossment: Keene (Chair), Red Corn (Vice Chair), BigHorse
Natural Resources: Whitehorn (Chair), Potts (Vice Chair), BigHorse, Brandy Lemon, Revard, Tillman
Standing Committees
Commerce and Gaming: Revard (Chair), Hamilton (Vice Chair), Red Corn (Appropriations Committee representative), BigHorse, Goodfox, Keene
Government Operations: Goodfox (Chair), Revard (Vice Chair), Whitehorn (AP rep), Keene, Red Corn, Shaw
Culture: BigHorse (Chair), Maker (Vice Chair), Hamilton (AP rep), Goodfox, Keene
Health and Social Services: Hamilton (Chair), Maker (Vice Chair), BigHorse (AP rep), Red Corn, Lemon
Education: Red Corn (Chair), Potts (Vice Chair), Shaw (AP rep), Maker, Whitehorn
For more information on sessions, committees and filed legislation, visit the Congress/ Legislative Branch website at: www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/legislative-branch
