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Proposed changes to the federal regulations governing the three Osage Indian Villages are sparking discussions on whether the Osage Nation should create and pass its own laws to run the villages with less federal oversight.

The Osage Nation Police Department transported a record amount of prisoners to the Osage Nation Courts on April 4.

“At first it was kind of a shock because we had never in ONPD history needed a van to transport prisoners,” said Osage Nation Chief of Police, Nick Williams.

The Third Osage Nation Congress is asking the Osage Nation Supreme Court to declare Principal Chief John Red Eagle’s appointment of his brother Eddy Red Eagle Jr. to the Osage Nation Energy Services LLC Board unconstitutional, according to tribal court documents.

As of March 22, Osage Nation Attorney General Jeff Jones said he had no updates to report regarding the federal and tribal law enforcement investigations of the former Pawhuska Indian Village Five-Man Board activities and finances.

Philip Tinker, an Osage attorney and member of the Deer Clan, will be presenting a lecture, “A Move to Another Country: Nation building and the 2006 Osage Constitution,” at the Osage Cultural Center on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m. This lecture considers the development of the tribe from the development of the Osage Confederacy into the modern period, focusing on how the tribe’s traditional political culture impacted the development of the 2006 Constitution. 

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?

Osages all over the United States were confused and some outraged that they didn’t get their Cobell settlement checks before Christmas. 

Nikki Lorenzo’s workday depends on the needs of children at the heart of abuse and neglect. Children lost in the system of both state and tribal courts.

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) worker, Lorenzo works with families, especially children, and provides reports and recommendations on the cases to a judge. Those reports help the courts determine what is in the best interests of the children involved.

I had an eye-opening experience when I had the opportunity to ride along with the Osage Nation Police Department.

First of all I didn’t know ONPD had a ride along program but when I found out I jumped on the opportunity.

I went out on a Saturday night with Officer Nick Silva. I had no idea what to expect, I was just excited to be riding shot gun with an officer. Plus their new cop cars are pretty sweet. 

Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle has appointed Meredith Drent as Acting Chief Justice of the Osage Nation Supreme Court.

Drent, Osage, will replace former Chief Justice Charles Lohah, who is stepping down due to health reasons. Lohah, 78, was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of last year. He said the cancer is terminal.

“I just thought I would relax for awhile, enjoy what time I have left,” he said.

The Osage County District Court system surprised Osage elder Bill Mashunkashey Sr. March 30 with a citation of commendation for his work as a court case mediator in land disputes.

His work stretches for more than 30 years involving land issues, which earned the respect of many people working in the court system who relied on his work during litigation. He is retired and will be 89 this year.

The debate over a 2011 Congressional subpoena demanding six months worth of emails from Treasurer William Kemble is now being considered in Osage Nation Trial Court.

Attorneys for the Second Osage Nation Congress and Kemble argued for their clients at the Tribal Courthouse during a Jan. 26 hearing. Judge Marvin Stepson will rule on the Congressional subpoena being challenged by Kemble.