Osage News Questionnaire Results

Think you can tell a person by their favorite movie?

We asked all 34 candidates May 1 to answer a general questionnaire and these are the results. The answers are arranged in the order they were received.

Name:   John Jech

·      Age:  41   

·      Osage Name: NA

·      Residence:  Pawhuska, Ok

·      Martial status:  Married

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  2 Girls, one is enrolled the other is a newborn

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? NA

·      Education:  Bachelor’s Degree with major in Accounting from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK.

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: Worked for the Osage Nation Accounting department from December 1994 thru October 2010.

·      General/Professional experience:  Worked as Osage Nation Treasure from 2006 thru 2010, own and operate a CPA office in Pawhuska.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  I am not a student but am interested in becoming one given the time.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Corn Soup and Fry bread

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Braveheart

Name:   Hank Hainzinger

·      Age:   46  

·      Residence:  I live on the same family ranch in Osage county where my parents, grandparents, and great grand parents lived.

·      Martial status:  I picked a good woman so I’d only have to get married once. Sara and I have been married 16 years.

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  We have 3 children (ages 9, 10, and 14) who are all enrolled Osages.

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? (none)

·      Education:  I graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a degree in Ag Business.

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: I’ve been elected to various local and county boards.

·      General/Professional experience:  46 years of hard work, a little luck, and good enough business sense to nearly double our operation.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  My Osage Language vocabulary is limited to what my kids learned when they attended Osage Nation Head Start.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  My Mama’s grape dumplings and any meat pie my wife brings home when she works in Fairfax.

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Lonesome Dove

Name:   Candy Thomas

·      Age:      63

·      Osage Name: Xhu Eh Doin, "Looking at the Eagle"

·      Residence:  Pawhuska, OK

·      Marital status:  single

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  n/a

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? n/a

·      Education:  B.S. Sociology, University of California, San Diego

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: 38 years in public sector, municipal, county, state and federal governments

·      General/Professional experience:  Grants writer and planner in economic and community development

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?   6 1/2 years in the language program; Museum with Lottie Pratt, Wakon Iron with Mogri Lookout and Osage Nation Language program.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Grape Dumplings

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Hidalgo

Name:   Carl Lee Sellers

·      Age:    58 

·      Osage Name: Obee-Ka-Sa-Towah

·      Residence:  Pawhuska, OK

·      Martial status:  Married

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  3

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? 5

·      Education:  A.A Haskell and B.A. Central State

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: Former JOM President, Title IX President, Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce Economic Dev. Committee, City of Pawhuska Summer Recreation Director, employed by State of Oklahoma for 31 years as an Athletic Director for Department of Corrections and Board President for the Osage County Youth Shelter.

·      General/Professional experience: Former teacher at Phoenix Indian School, Osage Housing Authority home buyer’s counselor, Athletic Director for State of Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one? I did start language classes with my brother’s Friends of Osage Language and did serve as the treasurer.  Due to the long hours of my job (it is not just 8-5) I had to drop my involvement, but plan to start again.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food? Grape dumplings like my mom Kie Rector Sellers used to make. 

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Rudy

Name:  Jim Ryan

·      Age: 65    

·      Osage Name: I do not have one but would love to be named.

·      Residence:  San Antonio, Texas.

·      Martial status:  Married.

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  Two, Yes.

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? 0

·      Education:  Bachelor Degree Education, The University of the Incarnate Word; Masters Degree Education, University of Texas San Antonio.

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: 0

·      General/Professional experience:  30 Years Teaching, 10 years Real Estate Management. 12 Years Publishing.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  Yes.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Meat Pie.

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Dances With Wolves.

Name:   Teresa Hudgins

Age:   51 years

Osage Name: I have a first daughter name

Residence:  I own my home, but live with my fiancé

Marital status:  Engaged. Getting married in October

Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  I have three grown children. All are card carrying Osages

Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? One grandson, Jet Thomas, enrolled Osage

Education:  Associates Degree in Applied Science – Nursing; Bachelor of Science in Nursing – University of Missouri – Kansas City

Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: appointed to Osage Nation Home Health board in 2007, Vice-chairman 2007-2011; Chairman since 2011

General/Professional experience:  Previous owner of 2 businesses and 4 rent houses. Staff nurse since 1996, multiple titles in nursing.

Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  No. I grew up with people who spoke Osage. Not up on the new symbols, but I understand spoken Osage.

What’s your favorite Osage food?  It is a treat to get “punkin” (as Grandma Vi used to say). I really like fresh corn bread.

What’s your favorite movie?  All my favorite movies are cartoons or action movies. Movies with sword fights are my thing.

Name:   Becky M. Johnson

·      Age:      41

·      Osage Name:  Hxu.tha.do.mi (Good Eagle Woman)

·      Residence:  Tulsa, OK

·      Martial status:  Single

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  None

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? None

·      Education:  B.A. Psychology-Dartmouth College, Juris Doctorate-University of Colorado

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government:  Environmental Director at Ponca Tribe (2 years); Staff Attorney/Assistant Prosecutor at Cherokee Nation (8 years)

·      General/Professional experience:  Written laws, regulations, policies and provided legal representation for multiple tribes nationwide; 4.5 years in HR for Osage Casinos

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  No I am not. Yes, I would like to take classes in my hometown of Fairfax.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Meat gravy

·      What’s your favorite movie?  The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity if I only get one choice)

Name:      Linda LaZelle

·      Age:  54 years old  

·      Osage Name:  My Osage name is Hom-pah-toka, of the Deer clan named by the late Otis Russell in Hominy, Oklahoma.

·      Residence:  Hominy, Oklahoma

·      Marital status: Single

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages? I have three Adult children, Andrea, James Jr. and William all enrolled members of the Osage Nation.  

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? I am a grandmother of two grandsons, Anthony & Acey Ryan and one grand-daughter Alissa all enrolled members.

·      Education:   Northern Oklahoma College and Oklahoma State University in Tulsa 3 ½ years, continuing education in Criminal Justice degree.

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: I have 4 ½ years working with the Osage Nation Congress and 26 years for the State of Oklahoma.

·      General/Professional experience: Served in leadership, administrative and supervisory positions during my career. Oklahoma Federation of Indian Women & previous Miss Indian Oklahoma.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one? I attended classes under Francis Holding, Myrtle Oberly, Leroy Logan, Lottie Pratt and Preston Morrell and plan to continue learning.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food? Indian hominy, Squash, Steamed Pork, Meat Gravy, Turkey dressing and Fry Bread.  For dessert: grape dumplings, pumpkin pie and cake.

·      What’s your favorite movie?  The Gospel of John, Forrest Gump and Gladiator.

Name:   Matthew Shunkamolah

·      Age: 31 

·      Osage Name: Xu tha Sa Ki means Old Eagle

·      Residence:  Tulsa, OK

·      Marital status:  Single

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  0

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? 0

·      Education:  Bachelors of Arts Government

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: US Congressional Fellow

·      General/Professional experience:  I’ve been employed with tribal governments for 6yrs

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one? I have been and will continue to be.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Indian BBQ

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Dance Me Outside

Name:   Angela Marie Pratt

·      Age:      36

·      Osage Name: Leh-Don-Ween-Steh

·      Residence:  Skiatook, OK.

·      Martial status:  Engaged

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  4; Yes

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages?  N/A

·      Education:  Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Completed 40 hrs towards Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology and currently enrolled in American Indian Studies Program

·      Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: I am currently Director for 3 Osage Nation Programs and worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for 7 years.

·      General/Professional experience:  Osage Nation Director, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Veterans Administration, United States Army, Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes (Wildland Firefighter)

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  Not currently. I am a former student and I plan to return soon.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Hominy

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Blackhawk Down

Name:   Archie L. Mason

·      Age:   68  

·      Osage Name: Mah pau man the

·      Residence:  Primary is in Tulsa, secondary is in Pawhuska

·      Marital status:  Married to Ramona Mason who is Muscogee Creek

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  Between us we have five children. Two are enrolled Osage. Three are enrolled Muscogee Creek

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? Between us we have nine grandchildren.  Four enrolled Osage. Two enrolled Muscogee Creek, Three enrolled Hidatsa-Mandan. Great Granddaughter, enrolled Osage

·      Education:  Pawhuska High School, BA Education from NSU, Masters Education and Secondary School Administration from NSU, Post Graduate work TU.

·       Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: Osage Nation Congress 2006 -present,  serving on United States Selective Service System and over four decades experience with federal programs.

·      General/Professional experience:  Retired from public education. 35 years Tulsa Public Schools: Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Indian Education Director. Adjunct Professor Rogers State University.

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  Yes, I grew up with the language spoken in my family.

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Meat Gravy

·      What’s your favorite movie?  "Casablanca".

Name:   Shannon Edwards

·      Age:   51  

·      Osage Name: Xui.Doi  The one who understands us

·      Residence:  Edmond and Pawhuska, OK

·      Marital status:  Single

·      Number of children; are they enrolled Osages?  No children

·      Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? N/A

·      Education:  AB History, University of California, Berkeley; JD Georgetown University Law Center

·       Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: Osage Congress, Federal Appeals Officer

·      General/Professional experience:  Edwards Law Firm-attorney

·      Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  Can speak Osage words and can’t wait for online curriculum

·      What’s your favorite Osage food?  Meatpies

·      What’s your favorite movie?  Wizard of Oz

Name: Joseph Roger Lynn Jr. aka Jody Lynn 

·   Age:  46   

·   Osage Name: Pah Hue Ska (Whitehair)

·    Residence: Just outside of Pawhuska, Ok. 

·    Martial status: Single, never married.

·    Number of children; are they enrolled Osages? I don't have any children. 

·    Number of grandchildren; are they enrolled Osages? And no grandchildren

·    Education: St. Gregory's University '84/85 USMC 85/90 Rogers State University 2001/02. National Deans List both semesters at RSU. 

·    Experience in tribal/ state/ municipal government: O.N. Gaming Commission  positions: Surveillance Manager (prior to OMDE takeover),  Assistant Field Investigator, Lead Compliance Officer.

·    General/Professional experience: I've worked a variety of fields; am a skilled problem solver and trouble shooter. 

·    Are you a student of the Osage Language, or plan to become one?  No and yes.

·    What’s your favorite Osage food? Usually whatever's on the table! But corn soup with a fist sized piece of pork works anytime!

·    What’s your favorite movie? Right now “HAYWIRE” starring Gina Carano as a former Marine.