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Content about Geoffrey Standing Bear

March 25, 2013
Solicitor General says Nation does not have rights to water in Osage County

The next meeting of the ON Water Rights Task Force is scheduled for March 28, 3:30 p.m. in the Osage Nation Congressional Chambers

State Solicitor General Patrick Wyrick issued a letter to the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee March 13, threatening legal action if the committee did not amend the Code of Federal Regulations to recognize Oklahoma law regarding water rights.

March 13, 2013
Water Rights Task Force formed to develop water plan for the Osage Nation

The Water Rights Task Force meets March 14 at 3:30 p.m. in the Osage Congressional Chambers

A Water Rights Task Force made up of members from the Osage Congress, the Chief’s Office and employees of the Nation is working on developing a water plan for the Nation.

February 15, 2013
Norman Schwarzkopf: Honorary Osage Chief

Schwarzkopf, the U.S. commander who led and captivated the country during Desert Storm, was also an honorary Osage chief and given the name Tzi-Zho Ki-He-Kah

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, who died at his home in Tampa at the age of 78 on Dec. 27, 2012, was famous during the early 90’s for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm.

July 30, 2012
Osages question proposed amendments for Aug. 13 Special Election

Election Board seeking AG opinion on Minerals Council campaign activities; Polls open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day

Osages are sounding off on the four proposed Constitutional amendments, which will be up for vote in the Aug. 13 Special Election.

May 4, 2012
Congress passes bill to set fines for free speech violations

Congress considers bill in wake of Executive Branch directives forbidding communication with the legislative body; Bill originally considered banishment as a penalty

There will now be a penalty for government officials who limit communications for employees between branches.

ONCA 12-64, filed by Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear, adds a $5,000 penalty to the 2009 law titled the: “Speak what’s on Your Mind Act.” The bill is a response to two April 5 Executive Branch memorandums directing Osage Nation employees not to speak to the ON Congress.

March 27, 2012
ON Congress votes down bill to dissolve Osage LLC

LLC board and staff to deliver annual report on April 11

The Osage Limited Liability Company survived a Congressional bill vote aimed at dissolving the entity during the March 23 Osage Nation Congressional session.

Amid concerns from some Congress members over the LLC’s reported money loses and number of Osages currently hired under the entity’s structure, the Nation’s economic development entity will continue operating, but its status and performance will be revisited next month. The LLC is slated to present an annual report to ON government officials with a Congressional meeting set for April 11.

March 20, 2012
Congressional bill introduced to dissolve the Osage LLC

Congressman Standing Bear cites LLC money losses and number of hired Osage employees among reasons for filing bill ONCA 12-29; Congress votes to send ONCA 12-29 to General Order

A legislative bill filed by Osage Nation Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear seeks to dissolve the Osage Limited Liability Company over concerns the LLC has lost “millions of dollars” and has only three Osage employees since its 2008 launch.

Standing Bear introduced the bill, ONCA 12-29, on Day One of the 2012 Hun-Kah Congressional Session March 19. After discussion, the 10 Congress members present voted to advance the bill to General Order for further Congressional consideration.

February 17, 2012
ON Congress disbands investigation committee after Kemble’s resignation

Congressional appropriations committee schedules meeting to consider next moves regarding the Nation’s finances after Kemble resigns as Treasurer

In wake of William Kemble’s resignation as Osage Nation Treasurer, the Second ON Congress ended its 15th Special Session investigation to determine whether Kemble should face a removal trial.

Principal Chief John Red Eagle has also formally accepted Kemble’s resignation and announced that ON Comptroller Michael Lewis will serve as interim treasurer. Kemble issued his written resignation on Feb. 8 addressed to Congress, Chief Red Eagle and the Osage Minerals Council.

February 9, 2012
William Kemble resigns as Treasurer of the Osage Nation

Kemble lists completed objectives in resignation letter; leaves office in middle of Special Congressional Session called to investigate whether he should face a removal trial

Osage Nation Treasurer William Kemble resigned from office effective Feb. 9. The announcement comes in the middle of the 15th Special Congressional Session, which was called for investigating whether 11 allegations made against Kemble warrant a removal trial.

January 24, 2012
Osage Nation Congress OK’s special election resolution

Special election to be held Aug. 13; four Osage Minerals Estate-related questions will be on special election ballot

During the 14th Special Session, the Second Osage Nation Congress passed a resolution calling for a special election to be held Aug. 13. The special election date follows the recommendation of the ON Election Board, which decided on the Aug. 13 election during its Jan. 18 meeting.

There are six expiring Congressional terms up for grabs, so the June 4 ballot will contain names of those candidates seeking office and will also contain questions on seven proposed Constitutional amendments unrelated to the Minerals Estate.

January 18, 2012
Members of Congress picked for investigative committee on Treasurer

Osage Supreme Court Chief Justice selects committee members who will investigate allegations of whether Treasurer William Kemble should be removed from office

Osage Nation Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Lohah has selected five ON Congress members to serve on a Select Committee of Inquiry to investigate allegations of whether Treasurer William Kemble should be removed from his post.

In a letter received by the Congressional office Jan. 13, Lohah announces his appointments but stated he had reservations in doing so due to the separation of powers provisions in the Osage Constitution.

January 6, 2012
Low funds endanger court appointed advocates program for Osage County

More than half of abused and neglected children served by CASA volunteers in Osage County are Osage

Rhonda Kohnle is full of stories. But her stories are not the kind most people want to hear.

They are of abused and neglected children, lost in the court system of Osage County and the bureaucracy of the Department of Human Services. She has stories of countless trips to schools, homes, searching for integral information to make sure a child is safe.

December 28, 2011
Osage Congress authorizes casino officials to seek $27.1 million loan

Gaming Enterprise officials would seek loan from outside financial institutions for expansion projects

Osage Casinos are now authorized to borrow money from other lenders rather than dipping into the Osage Nation’s coffers.

The Second Osage Nation Congress voted 6-4 to pass ONCA 12-18, which authorizes the Gaming Enterprise to seek a loan up to $27.1 million from a banking institution for Osage Casino expansion projects. The bill’s approval came on the final day of the 12th Special Session.

December 13, 2011
Scholarship bill gets passed unanimously by ON Congress

Congressional supplemental appropriation bill adds $2.5 million to Education Department budget

Osage students will have their scholarships from the Nation.

The Second Osage Nation Congress unanimously passed an appropriation bill to fund the higher education scholarship program for the spring 2012 semester during its Special Session on Dec. 8.

November 23, 2011
Chief Red Eagle calls Congress for 12th Special Session starting Dec. 5

Congress adjourned 11th Special Session pending Executive Branch review of appropriation law; much of 11th Special Session legislative items to be revisited

A 12th Special Congressional Session called by Principal Chief John Red Eagle starts Dec. 5 to consider most of the legislative items remaining after the Second Osage Nation Congress ended the 11th Special Session on Nov. 15 on its fourth day.

Congress unanimously voted to end the Special Session pending a review sought by the Executive Branch regarding the Nation’s appropriation laws for funding government operations. The Congress and Treasurer William Kemble are at odds over the appropriation laws, which govern how tribal government money is allocated.

November 2, 2011
Concerns raised over changes made to Osage Gaming Enterprise Board

Gaming board Chairman Frank Oberly resigns; Chief Red Eagle appoints two people to expanded board

The Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise Board is undergoing changes after the Second ON Congress passed legislation during the Tzi-Zho Session to expand the board to five members and remove some of its managing authority. The legislation also places the GEB with Osage Casino management staff.

October 4, 2011
Market raises and education bonuses cornerstone of Merit implementation

Principal Chief John Red Eagle signs Merit bill into law

Many things are changing in the Nation’s Executive Branch as employees will receive Merit Pay for Performance bonuses for the first time in the Nation’s history.

Delary Walters, who compiled the market raises and education credit bonuses for the merit system, is now the Nation’s Human Resources director. Her first day was Sept. 29. Former director Bill Foster remains in HR as a senior adviser. Clint Hill, who previously served as controller in the accounting department is now the HR benefits analyst.

September 29, 2011
ON employees picket outside Congress chambers for Merit pay

Congresswoman Shannon Edwards withdraws her amendment to cut funding for the Executive Branch’s FY 2012 Merit Pay for Performance bonus

Osage Nation employees got their way Sept. 29 when Congresswoman Shannon Edwards withdrew an amendment to cut Executive Branch funding for Merit Pay for Performance for fiscal year 2012.

About 20 protesters showed up with signs outside the Osage Congressional Chambers before the session started that read: “Don’t Be Square Be Fair!”; “We Voted You In – But Not Again!”; “You don’t Merit My Vote!”; and many more.

August 29, 2011
2011 Tzi-Zho Congressional Session starts Sept. 6

Congress will use the fall session to consider the Nation’s FY 2012 budgets, bills and resolutions

The Second Osage Nation Congress will meet for the annual Tzi-Zho Session starting Sept. 6 in the Congressional Chambers on the ON government campus.

This is the second of two regular 24-day sessions held annually by the Congress. This will be the second Tzi-Zho Session for the Second ON Congress since the 2010 general election in which four Congress members won their initial terms and two members were reelected.

May 27, 2011
Principal Chief Fred Lookout’s bust unveiled at Tribal Museum

Lookout’s bust is ninth in a series of 10 to be on final display at the museum

Descendants of Principal Chief Fred Lookout, the longest serving principal chief in the Nation’s history, crowded into the Osage Tribal Museum May 9 to watch the unveiling of his bust.

Four of his grandchildren were present to watch the unveiling. The museum’s director, Kathryn Red Corn, thanked the Lookout family for being there and then thanked the late Chief Lookout for the museum’s existence.

March 28, 2011
ON Attorney General Jeff Jones issues first opinion

Opinion addresses whether Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear is in violation of the Osage Constitution by serving as the Pawnee Nation’s attorney general

Osage Nation Attorney General Jeff Jones made his first official opinion March 22.

The question: Can Congressman Geoffrey Standing Bear serve as an Osage Nation Congressman while serving as Attorney General for the Pawnee Nation?

Jones’s answer, yes he can.

“ . . . the position of Pawnee Nation Attorney General is a contractual position and Congressman Standing Bear can serve as Congressman for the Osage Nation while employed as Attorney General for the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma,” according to the opinion.

January 7, 2011
ON Congress passes amendments to gaming law

Fifth Congressional Special Session starts Jan. 24

The Second Osage Nation Congress passed a bill amending the Nation’s gaming laws during its single-day Fourth Special Session on Dec. 13. The amendments to the gaming laws serve as updates for the Nation to comply with National Indian Gaming Commission regulations.

The Congress voted unanimously 9-0 on the bill (ONCA 11-09) to amend the Nation’s gaming law after it was fast tracked through the legislative process, which included a Congressional Commerce and Economic Development Committee meeting where discussion on the bill took place.

November 18, 2010
ON Congress pass seven bills, resolutions on last day of third Special Session

Congress votes down amending the Gaming Reform Act, passes $25,000 supplemental appropriation for OK Tax Commission lawsuit

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.

November 9, 2010
Second ON Congress passes five proposed Constitutional amendments

The proposed amendments will be ballot questions in the next tribal election in 2012

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.”

October 18, 2010
William Kemble confirmed as Nation’s second Treasurer

Kemble sworn into office Monday, Chief Red Eagle picks Gene Big Soldier as third Gaming Enterprise Board member

The Osage Congress ended its first Tzi-Zho Session on Oct. 7 with confirmations for the Nation’s second Treasurer and the second Gaming Enterprise Board member. A third board member, an interim appointment made by Principal Chief John Red Eagle, was made last week.