Content about Chris White

The U.S. Mint is producing a second set of commemorative Code Talker Congressional Gold Medal coins in honor of the Osage Nation, Pawnee Nation, Choctaw Nation and Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.

Medals for Navajo Nation code talkers were produced in 2008 under Public Law 106-554 (December 21,2000).  Other code talker medals authorized by Public Law 110-420 (October 15, 2008) included medals for the Comanche Nation, Kiowa tribe, Santee Dakota Sioux tribe and the Tlingit tribe.

A former Cherokee Nation Treasurer has been appointed by Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle to oversee the tribe’s accounting and financial operations.

Chief Red Eagle appointed Callie M. Catcher (Cherokee) to be the Nation’s treasurer, according to a March 5 statement from his office. Catcher’s appointment will be subject to confirmation by the ON Congress, which meets later this month for the 2012 Hun-Kah Session.

The Palace Grocery store may have a new owner in March.

The store is being auctioned March 6 on the stairs of the Osage County Courthouse after the property was foreclosed on. In the meantime, the Osage LLC plans to market the store to potential buyers in hope a reputable buyer will come forth, said Chuck Maker, Osage LLC Chairman.

The Osage Nation has filed a federal lawsuit seeking an injunction against Wind Capital Group, arguing that a proposed 94-turbine wind farm near Burbank will interfere with oil and gas production on the Osage Minerals Estate.

The federal Department of the Interior has approved the three land-into-trust applications for the Osage Casinos in Skiatook, Ponca City and Tulsa. Osage Nation government officials signed the applications on Tuesday (Aug. 23).

Joe and Carol Conner describe the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve north of Pawhuska as one of the most pristine spots in the world.

During a sunny day’s drive on the Preserve’s unpaved road, the Conners take in the sunlight, grassy hilltop views and watch small buffalo herds walk across the grassland which hasn’t been developed or farmed on. “If this is not pristine, I don’t know what is,” Joe Conner (Osage) said.

A St. Louis-based energy company interested in building a wind farm in Osage County is holding a public meeting on Thursday July 28 at the Pawhuska Elks Lodge.

Wind Capital Group has filed an application to build the wind farm on prairie land west of Pawhuska, according to The Bigheart Times. The application for the 8,300 acre, 150-megawatt wind farm was filed with Osage County government officials on July 8.

Faren Revard Anderson is no longer Senior Adviser to Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle, according to the Executive Branch.

Anderson resigned from her post on Friday (July 8), said Chris White, executive director of governmental affairs for Chief Red Eagle’s office.

“The Chief accepted her resignation,” White said. He declined to elaborate on details regarding her departure.

In the words of Osage Congressman William “Kugee” Supernaw in his email newsletter, “GOOD GOLLY GRANNY!! IT’S ANOTHER GAG ORDER.”

A communication directive was emailed to the Nation’s directors April 25 by Senior Executive Advisor Faren Anderson that said, “all directives and requests from Congress members regarding departments be directed to Raymond Lasley, Executive Advisor of Programs, for assistance.”

As a director, who wished to remain anonymous, put it, “That’s a gag order.”

Growing up on the Osage reservation one could hear the steady thumping of oil wells late into the night, and the occasional coyote. Now with the planning of two 150-megawatt wind farms west of Pawhuska and east of Shidler, the steady thrumming of wind turbines might be joining the fray.

When Helen Moreland saw water gushing into her living room in the Osage Senior Housing complex, she dialed 911.

“I didn’t know what else to do, I couldn’t get a hold of anyone from the Nation,” Moreland said. “[The 911 responder] answered and when I told them I lived in the [Osage Nation] senior housing they said, ‘Oh, that’s the Osage Nation, we don’t go there.’ So I asked them what I should do and they said, ‘I don’t know…’”

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.”