Content about Benny Polacca

Jeff S. Jones took the oath of office Jan. 4 as the Osage Nation’s first ever Attorney General.

He was sworn into office by ON Chief Justice Charles Lohah at the tribal courthouse in Pawhuska in front of friends, family and elected and appointed officials from the executive and legislative branches.

After being sworn in, a smiling Jones said, “I’ll just say I’m excited to be here. I appreciate the opportunity the tribe has offered me. I plan to be here a long time.”

The Second Osage Nation Congress ended its third Special Session on Nov. 12 by passing five bills and two resolutions. A bill seeking to modify the Nation’s Gaming Reform Act regarding litigation and legal matters was also voted down before Congress adjourned.

ONCA 11-02 (sponsored by Congressman Mark Simms) is “an act to provide for protections to the Osage Nation on legal matters of Osage gaming” which failed with seven “no” votes over five “yes” votes.

The Second Osage Nation Congress passed five of seven resolutions Monday for its third Special Session. Each resolution deals with proposed amendments to the Nation’s Constitution and the five passed will appear on the ballot during the tribe’s next election in June of 2012.

“These resolutions… will go to a vote of the people at the next special election or general election,” Congressman William “Kugee” Supernaw said before the vote. “All we’re doing is placing them before the people.”

The Second Osage Nation Congress passed two bills during its Oct. 4 session, one of which will expand the Gaming Commission from one to three members.

Ten Congress members unanimously passed ONCA 10-73, a bill sponsored by Congressman Mark Simms to expand the Gaming Commission. Also unanimously passed by Congress was ONCA 10-79 which is “An Act to Improve Congressional Oversight of the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise.” Its sponsor is Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear.

[Editor's Note: This story was updated for clarification purposes on Sept. 23.]

Principal Chief John Red Eagle’s budget for the Office of the Chiefs has been causing some friction between some members of Congress and his staff. His budget contains new job titles for appointed members and he is claiming “Executive Privilege” when asked to provide job descriptions.

 TULSA, Okla. – The Osage Nation’s first-ever Watershed Forum brought representatives from tribes around the state to discuss the importance of natural resource preservation Aug. 24.

Watersheds are important to many Native American tribes, including the Osage, because they are viewed as playing a role in spirituality and identity.

The Osage Nation will have one of its own taking the oath of office as an Oklahoma State Senator when the new state legislators are sworn into office in November. And two other Osages are vying for two elected office seats in this year’s General Election on Nov. 2.

The Osage Nation Health and Wellness Advisory Board is planning to meet with government officials to discuss legislation which will lengthen its life. It’s slated to sunset at the end of September.

The Pawhuska High School honored its students who completed the first Osage language class which started last fall.

Martin Parks, who is the school’s assistant principal and athletic director, presented a wooden plaque with the school’s orange and black colors to Osage Nation Language Department officials and language student Robynn Rulo on July 9. The names of 12 students who took the course were engraved into the plaque.