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Content about Bureau of Indian Affairs

January 28, 2013
Osage County landowners speak out against bad drilling practices

Complaints of environmental hazards caused by drilling and the BIA turning a blind eye common theme at Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meeting Jan. 25

Stories of unenforced drilling regulations from Osage County landowners rained down on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Friday, Jan. 25.

Surrounded by more than 80 landowners at the Wah-Zha-Zhi Cultural Center, the committee listened as story after story of environmental hazards caused by oil companies on their lands endangered cattle, wildlife, and loved ones.

January 18, 2013
Taxes on Osage settlement come to forefront after shareholder receives refund

Woman receives refund on taxes she paid in 2011 for the Osage Trust Case settlement

An Osage shareholder of non-restricted status received a refund on the taxes she paid in 2011 for the Osage Trust Case Settlement. It has many wondering: should she have? And if not, will she have to pay it back?

January 15, 2013
BIA Osage Agency superintendent on leave

Rhonda Loftin will be acting superintendent while Melissa Currey is out for 120 days

The BIA Osage Agency has a new acting superintendent and no one is saying why, on the record.

Rhonda Loftin will be filling in for Osage Agency Superintendent Melissa Currey while she is out of the office for 120 days.

October 5, 2011
Six years worth of missing BIA records prompted filing of Osage Trust Case

Osage Trust Case endured through three Osage administrations

Former Osage Principal Chief Charles Tillman knew something was wrong when the Bureau of Indian Affairs was missing 67 percent of the documentation on the Osage Minerals Estate from the 1972 to 1992 accounting period.

August 19, 2011
BIA: Proposed wind farm project may interfere with minerals estate

Any wind turbine cannot block access for developing, producing subsurface minerals, agency says

The Osage Agency’s Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent says the office did not approve a wind farm ordinance recently established in Osage County and any wind turbine built “may have to be removed or relocated” if it interferes with the minerals estate.

February 25, 2011
Federal Judge awards Nation $330.7 million in trust case

Federal Judge Emily Hewitt said in order issued Feb. 24 Nation is ‘entitled to a reasonable estimate of the damages it is due’

February 15, 2011
Informational meetings on Cobell settlement to be held nationwide

Oklahoma meetings yet to be announced; indiantrust.com Web site launched

Informational meetings regarding the Cobell federal court case settlement are being held nationwide for those Native Americans who are potential beneficiaries of the $3.4 billion settlement recently reached. Meetings have started in tribal communities in California, and are planned for other states, but Oklahoma meetings have been finalized as of mid-February.

January 7, 2011
Federal court rules in favor of Osages in trust case

Damages awarded could reach an estimated $310 million

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has ruled in favor of the Osages again.

January 7, 2011
Minerals Council, Office of the Chiefs meet with BIA

Entities met in Minerals chambers Jan. 5, details from meeting have yet to be released

The Osage Minerals Council, Chief John Red Eagle, Assistant Chief Scott BigHorse, Minerals Council liaison Everett Waller, Bureau of Indian Affairs Superintendent Melissa Currey and some oil producers all met in the OMC chambers Wednesday.

As to what the entities discussed at the meeting, took action on, or resolved is unknown. Minutes of the meeting have been requested, questions have been sent to the OMC, the Office of the Chiefs and BIA Superintendent Currey. Only the Office of the Chiefs has responded.

October 21, 2010
Osage BIA firefighters to the rescue

Seven BIA firefighters join the effort to put out the Wrangler Fire in Kisatchee Hills Wilderness near Natchitoches, La.

Seven Bureau of Indian Affairs firefighters from the Osage Agency are currently fighting the Wrangler Fire in Kisatchie Hills Wilderness near Natchitoches, La.

Joe Cheshewalla, Brandon Gillum, Shane Walker, Mike Morehead, James Black, John Hoffer and Kyle Street were flown to Natchitoches to begin work at 7 a.m., Oct. 17.

March 9, 2010
Nation will file motion to reconsider in reservation tax case

Denver Appeals court rules against the Nation, said Osage Reservation was always meant to be disestablished

The Nation will file a motion to reconsider after the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Nation on Friday in the Nation’s case against the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The case was heard Jan. 11.

February 18, 2010
BIA declines Osage Minerals Council’s request to supervise its election

OMC meetings become heated as Councilwoman Cynthia Boone faces accusations of unethical conduct

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has declined to help the Osage Minerals Council in running their election in June.

October 20, 2009
U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs holds energy discussion in Tulsa

The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is seeking input from Indian Country regarding energy resource development through roundtable discussions with tribes nationwide

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July 21, 2009
List of non-Osage shareholders in Fletcher case causes a stir

Some 'humiliated' by discovering their names on list of non-Osage shareholders

Some shareholders expressed shock and disappointment when their names or names of deceased relatives appeared on the Fletcher v. USA complaint filed in Federal District Court in Tulsa June 12.

The complaint contained a list of 1,747 names of individuals, churches, colleges, institutions and organizations that Fletcher attorneys allege are in illegal possession of Osage mineral shares because of their non-Osage status.