Content about Jerri Jean Branstetter

The Osage News Editorial Board is comprised of two appointed members selected by the executive and legislative branches of government.

By majority vote, the Third Osage Nation Congress selected former Congressional Speaker Jerri Jean Branstetter for its interim appointment to the board during the Tzi-Zho Session last fall. In December, Principal Chief John Red Eagle appointed Lu King for his branch’s selection for the three-member board.

October 5, 2012

To Osage News Readers:

Earlier this week we learned that new legislation from the Osage Congress effectively ends our service as members of the Osage Nation Editorial Board. We respect the law and end our terms hopeful that our work has established a stable foundation for a free and independent press in the Osage Nation. Though we were appointed by Osage Nation governmental bodies, our commitment has always been to you as Osage readers and to the principles of a free press.

After great thought and consideration, I am announcing my candidacy for re-election to the Third Osage Nation Congress.

Candidates for the Third Osage Nation Congress have started their trek on the campaign trail with several making a stop at the Cedar Chest to share their interest in seeking public office.

Cedar Chest co-operators Julie O’keefe and Danette Daniels held an April 12 reception for the Legislative Branch candidates who are seeking the six Congressional seats up for grabs in the June election.

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.

SUITLAND, Md. – Within the Cultural Resources Center of the National Museum of the American Indian are some of the most rare and precious of Native American artifacts.

Within its vast collection is textiles, pottery, beadwork, yarn work, ribbonwork, spiritual items, blankets, hides, canoes, culturally sensitive objects, the list goes on and on.

An Osage Delegation, in Washington, D.C., to sign the historic Osage Trust Case Settlement with U.S. Department of Interior officials Oct. 21, was invited to view the CRC’s Osage collection on Oct. 20.

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.

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.”

The Second Osage Nation Congress voted unanimously to raise the hourly minimum wage for ON government employees to $10 on April 7 during the Hun-Kah Session. The wage increase targets nearly 50 positions, some of which pay just about the federal minimum wage level of $7.25 per hour.

The raise will take effect Oct. 1 if signed by Principal Chief John Red Eagle.

The bill (ONCA 11-27) also seeks a second minimum wage increase to $11.50 in October 2013 when FY 2014 starts.

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 Osage Minerals Council has selected three members to be the OMC’s representation on the Nation’s five-member Trust Team. The trust team is made up of three OMC members, the principal chief and the speaker of the congress.

Dudley Whitehorn, Galen Crum and Cynthia Boone were unanimously voted in by the eight-member OMC July 21, and Whitehorn was voted to be the trust team chairman. They will join Principal Chief John Red Eagle and Speaker of the Congress Jerri Jean Branstetter.