Content about Principal Chief John Red Eagle

Two individuals told Norma Merriman in their own words that she would not be able to do her job after she was hired as the Osage Nation’s first health and wellness division leader.

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.

Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle said his administration is “making strides in improving the Nation’s internal operations” and said the Nation is on the threshold of increased opportunities to benefit all Osages.  

For example, Chief Red Eagle said his office is moving forward this year with efforts to build new government campus buildings in the master plan. He made the announcement in his 2012 State of the Nation address during the March 9 Osage Sovereignty Day observance.

If you’re good friends with Principal Chief John Red Eagle, or married to a member of the Osage Congress, you might get to travel the country on the Nation’s dime.

According to records obtained by the Osage News, Principal Chief John Red Eagle authorized for Rod Hartness, a local professional steer roper, who reportedly attends Chief Red Eagle’s church in the Pawhuska Indian Village, to travel to Portland, Ore., to attend the prestigious annual conference of the National Congress of American Indians last November at the expense of the Nation.

Leonard Morrell Maker didn’t say much. He was reserved, quiet, a “traditional Osage.” He chose his words carefully, unveiling his thoughts when they would make the most impact. He was strategic that way.

My uncle “Lindo” died on Jan. 23, after a massive heart attack took his life in his office. Surrounded by grieving employees and his grieving wife and youngest daughter, Lindo made his last exit from the building he had worked in for the past 10 years. He was 64 years old.

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.

Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle has appointed three Osages to the new Health Authority Board created by Congressional legislation during the 2011 Tzi-Zho Session.

Ron Shaw, MD, Tim Tall Chief and Lynette Freeman have been named to the board created by ONCA 11-116. The board will be responsible for “consolidating and implementing the organizational structure of the Osage Nation Health and Wellness Division.”

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.

A new ballet is coming to town and it’s not, “The Nutcracker.”

A ballet, produced and created by local Osages, will be premiering in Pawhuska, Bartlesville and Tulsa titled, “Wahzhazhe,” which chronicles the Osage Nation’s history through dance.

The production reflects, “the rich culture of the Osage people who controlled a large part of what is now called the United States of America,” according to a prepared release.

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.

Osage Nation Principal Chief John Red Eagle signed the Merit Pay for Performance into law Oct. 4, just in time for the new fiscal year.

Five years in the making, the Merit Pay for Performance is mandated in the Osage Constitution and was one of the initiatives in the Osage Nation Strategic Plan that Osages from all over the country wanted to see implemented for Osage Nation employees when the new government was formed in 2006.

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs is considering court action to halt construction of a 94-turbine wind farm in western Osage County if the parties involved cannot prove its operations will not interfere with the Osage Minerals Estate.