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Stephanie Erwin named as new Osage Minerals Councilwoman

Erwin replaces the late Councilwoman Melissa Currey, who passed on March 12, 2024. This will be Erwin’s second time on the Minerals Council.

The Osage Minerals Council appointed Stephanie Erwin to serve as their new councilwoman on May 1. Erwin replaces Melissa Currey, who died earlier this year.

“I am pleased that Stephanie has filled the empty seat on the Minerals Council,” said Osage Shareholders Association President Maria Whitehorn.

“As a headright owner, she has kept herself active and informed about the current issues affecting our Minerals Trust. I support the Minerals Council’s succession decision; they have adhered to the contours of the 1906 Act and the Osage Nation Constitution by keeping the number of Councilors at eight who have been voted on by shareholders,” Whitehorn said.

This is Erwin’s second time serving on OMC. She served on the 3rd council from 2014-2018. This is the first time the Minerals Council has filled a vacant position. In 2021, the Council lost its chairman, Andrew Yates, also to cancer. His seat was not filled.

Erwin ran for the 8-member OMC in 2022 and finished 10th behind the late Cynthia Boone, who died earlier this year. Boone also finished 9th in the 2018 election.

Erwin cited her record in the oil industry saying that she served on the board of the Osage Shareholders Association and the Osage County Industrial Authority Board.

“My experience with the oil and gas business started when I went to work in the Minerals Branch of the Osage Agency,” Erwin said in 2022.

“My duties included the filing of the Assignments for Lease Transfers, the Form 139 Drilling and Plugging filings, all of the day-to-day operations of the BIA regarding the Osage Minerals Estate.”

Everett Waller, Chairman of the Osage Minerals Council said Erwin brings a lot to the council.

“She brings in the experience of the third minerals council that she sat on,” Waller said. He thinks she’ll bring her knowledge of the ongoing lawsuit the OMC has with the wind energy companies and the understanding of the new code of federal regulations the council must implement as part of oil production on the mineral estate.

“She’s an experienced council member,” Waller said.

At one of the first OMC meetings Erwin attended, Waller presented her with a new blanket to honor her service on the upcoming council as fellow councilman Talee Redcorn said a prayer.

Erwin steps into her seat at a critical time for the Osage Minerals Council. They will be in court on May 20 for a hearing to determine damages in the case against the wind farm companies who were ordered to take down the 84 wind turbines north of Pawhuska. The council is also under pressure to increase oil production, which has dwindled over the past decade in the face of new federal regulations.

Whitehorn thinks Erwin is up to these challenges.

“I hope Stephanie will be a voice to help bridge the gaps of confusion that are facing the trust from many government and corporate entities and that she will walk in the constitutional authority given the Minerals Council to be the sole governing authority over the Minerals Estate.”

Erwin cites her experience working at every level of the administration of the minerals estate and wants the BIA to be more accountable when it comes to their fiduciary responsibility.

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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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