Linda LaZelle announces her candidacy for the Third Osage Nation Congress

The Osage Nation Government must stand united for our future. Our leadership must mend differences and work in concerted efforts to establish laws derived from strategic planning and necessary to expound the provisions of the Osage Nation Constitution. Our government should strive to meet the needs of Employment, Education, Health, Social Services, Preservation of our Culture, and our Mineral Estate.

” We, the Osage People based on centuries of being a People, nowstrengthen our government in order to preserve and perpetuate a full and abundant Osage way of life that benefits all Osages, living and as yet born.”   -Osage Nation Constitution

My name is Linda LaZelle and I am a candidate for a Congressional seat in the Legislative Branch. I am from the Zon-Zo-lee district; member of the Deer Clan, my name is Hum-pah-toka. I am the daughter of Irene Hamilton LaZelle and the late Pete Allen LaZelle both Osage and from Hominy.  I am a descendant from the Hamilton, Pratt, Whitehorn, Webb & Chouteau families. I have three children, three grandchildren and 7 god children. I attend the St Joseph Catholic Church and the Native American Church.  I have served on I lon shka committees in all three districts as a lady singer or Cook.

I completed 26 years of service to the State of Oklahoma, Division of Institutions and the Division of Program & Services. My positions included 24 years in administrative and leadership positions. In 2007, I accepted a position with the Osage Nation.

I bring the Osage people 4½ years of first-hand experience working with the Legislative Branch. Employed as a Legislative staffer for the 1^st and 2^nd Congress, I am knowledgeable of the Legislative process and value the importance to communicate with Constituents and all branches of government.  I plan to capitalize on this experience and provide a legislative return to the Nation.

I bring you hope and a vision of collaborated efforts that will strengthen our Nation.  I support Sovereignty, Separation of Powers and Strategic Planning. I believe the people have the right to voice in our government and legislators have the responsibility to listen and advocate. The Osage Nation has created a foundational government and the guardianship should foster cooperation while seizing opportunities for economic development.  I believe I am like you. I want a prospering Nation, one that demands honesty and integrity, a government that provides services, generates revenue and controls spending.  We have a responsibility to acknowledge the needs of Osages living outside of our reservation. 

I support legislation that provides contingency plans in response to federal cut backs.  I will exert efforts to establish laws of the land and government as opposed to policy and procedural initiatives for another branch, which may violate and infringe on separate of powers provided within our Constitution.         

As a member of this Nation, a shareholder cultured in the Osage way of life, I give you my commitment to uphold the Constitution, put our people first and strive to strengthen our Nation.