Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Archive #32: Osage Shareholder Matters--January-February 2016

This thread is now closed. Go to: http://osageblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/osage-shareholder-matters-february-2016.html

200 comments:

  1. Today's Minerals Council meeting has concluded. Listen online on demand at http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/

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    1. Loved Cynthia's remark to the head of the OPA. She asked him point blank if the oil producers are going to sue the Osage Minerals Council. He said, "This is the first I've heard those words." But the tone of his voice sounded like he'd been caught red handed. They asked if his answer was a "no" and Stephanie Erwin followed up by asking him if his fingers were crossed. These gals have got mucho guts and I admire them both for it. Good for them!!!!!!!!

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    2. What I'd also like to know is if they plan to sue the shareholders along with the MC. I suppose we'll be finding out soon enough...

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    3. The Shareholders lol. Not! We are as much in the blind no thanks to the M.C and remember the trust is held by the U.S. Be realistic here.

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    4. The Superintendent stated that 165 work-over permits were approved last month if I heard correctly. These permits she refers to are not actually approved as they contain so many restrictions and are so ambiguous that the work requested to be performed is not actually approved. There were zero work-over permits approved. What a misleading liar she is!

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    5. They're not so blind as to ask important questions of the OPA recorded and on the record whose side you come in here with day after day. Who do you think you're kidding?

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    6. Were they pertinent questions? We are Sovereign and to sue the M.C who in fact had no control over what the actions or not, by the BIA would be counter productive. Gross incompetence by the BIA and the stupidity of arm chair coaching by the M.C and piss poor counciling by a Council or Lawyer is what happened. Yes the M.C could have done more,either way. By the Chiefs letter to the BIA about the DEIS explains only 3 pages of the 326 pages are only about the M.E the rest is about the Surface land. A conflict by huge proportions. How is this at an administrative level going to reduce redundancies and inefficiencies other than add more to BIA that is way overloaded? Better question would have been how can we orchestrate a concensus. The Producers small and big on a lot of ways are our partners. Thats the Reality. And they should have been treated with Professional questions and we could have been better partners and not just with them, the surface owners as well! I know first hand what customers service is.are you trained in that field or certified. Think not..we are tought to look beyond the scope and then some..blame does not bode well for production..Are you going to sue is like asking them to..man does anybody understand phycology.

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    7. Thank you Erwin and Boone. Get it recorded!!!!

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    8. By all means! Get every stupid thing those 2 do recorded. What an antagonistic question to ask one of our supposed "partners." Were they trying to drive him away faster?

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    9. Wooh! The truth really hurts doesn't it? Simmer down, now. From all the sabre rattling going on here in the past few weeks, it's a fair question from one partner to another...

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    10. Just keeping it real there is no right or wrong just a better way of presenting. You dont antagonize nor do you put those on the defense and if they were going to sue they would not come out and say..so in essence it was a bad question. And really at this point with the price of oil dropping no one is going to be pumping..

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    11. It was a great question. There will be some legal workaround in Federal Court on this one to try and stop the MC from having governance over the OME and then the next move will probably be to have the Nation removed as well. Buying this Turner land or whoever own it on a sealed bid basis is just about the most irresponsible thing the Osage Nation government could ever do. These people are as smart as it gets and the non-Osages who work in the oil and gas business in Osage County won't stand for such an unstable working environment. They are working night and day on strategy to stabilize the county as soon as possible and that will not include a group of Indians who behave as responsibly as 10 year olds with a ton of money. The land purchase will be just one more offered proof when the BIA is out of the way that the Osages aren't ready to manage their own business affairs. Look at the Osage, LLC and now they are making the same mistake with this Tallgrass, LLC that won't do anything but lose more of the Osage people's money. Today in Session the Osage Congress is trying to run a bill through for an unknown amount in a sealed document sponsored by Kugee Supernaw. AFAIC, this is hiding an appropriation amount from the Osage people who have a right to know every amount they spending and what it is being spent for. This bill is ONCA 16-24:
      https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/content_link/kOCN7JRc2dhDOsB7ESs5tpKHIeeheAvhWQJ19W62nic8ihWtze9NOXscFDzJS13g/file?dl=1

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    12. The Courts already recognize our Constitution that The M.C has atonomy. Let the Nation try to railroad the M.C..after all we are the Reservation. Not the Nation..our hands are not as tide as the Nation would like you to believe. Still all the same, most unfortunate for the Nation who in fact is a de facto Government since they lost the Reservation case, right, so who gives them the authority to act? They know this and so do I..just on that basis alone the qualifications to act in a manner is a conflict of interest. Interesting when you do a case study of your own Government. Legally they have no foundation of which to operate and the M.C does, this is why the M.C is a threat.

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    13. With a last reported $24,000 in the Treasury and I'm going to take this for Bible information, here we go again with the spending --->>>

      https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/content_link/ZdFmJkqg5clFSY4o3WcHge0GTfIk2vZLs5VQga4eLVm6wLwB8Ahsa109QfGondRh/file?dl=1

      Revolving fund this and capital improvement fund that...

      The point is, this is where our headright money will be going if the Nation gets control and exactly like this whether they have the money in the Osagge Nation Treasury or not. They don't even care if we think their spending is shocking and deplorable. They couldn't possibly or they wouldn't be doing what they do.

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    14. Back in special session today and are on appropriating an additional $20 MILLION for that damn land purchase. Edwards got up and involked the stratgeic plan with it in hand. Said she couldn't vote for it because it will harm benefits to the people for 7 to 10 years into the future. What for? An emotional purchase is right. This needs to be a business decision not an emotional one. You do this without even the benefit of a professional appraisal and I will hound you till election day should you choose to run for office again and that includes you Maria Whitehorn. You too Kugee and all the rest of you who voted for ONCA 16-24 today. All but Buffalohead and Edwards voted to buy this land to the harm of the benefits of the Osage people and Buffalohead only because she wasn't there. Stupid stupid stupid all over again because they listen to those who run on emotions and never ever think things through because they don't know how. Atrocious!!!!!!!!!!

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    15. Dumber than cat dirt... Heavy lifting, my foot! Kugee, this time, you've got as stupid as it gets. What makes you numb nut idiots think this sale is even legitimate? For all you know, this sale could be structured to see if you will take the bait and in the doing, throw the benefits to the membership under the bus as proof of your childishness in being comptetently able to manage the affairs of the Osage Nation, especially where it involves the operation and running of the Osage Mineral Estate. So devoid of being able to reason things through properly from a business standpoint. Kugee, you've got no excuse whatsoever. May this decision you've made today live infamy and destroy your chances of ever being reelected again!
      You should be able to see the video of this insane vote to purchase this land until tomorrow morning when it will be replaced with the new video for the session day meeting tomorrow at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media

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    16. Even if land can be purchased for economic development as part of what is acceptable to the NIGC, where is the business plan that should be available in advance for such a purchase with figures on the expected return on investment and how it will balance out the debt service so that we don't have even more losses as a result of the continued abominable business decisions of the elected officials of this Osage Nation governmment? Edwards said she had no information on the finanacing of this land purchase whatsoever and no appraisal on the land! They just keep repeating their stupid cycle of irresponsible behavior over and over again!

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    17. Our Headright money will not sit in a different account c'mon already..The U.S would not otherwise approve.

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    18. And you know this how? If the Osage Nation receives payment for oil and gas royalties, who's to say what will end up in the trust account if it even exists in the same iteration at that time.

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    19. It will not happen it would be a huge conflict of interest either way..it woukd take years and years before this woukd happen and it certainly is not today..an act by the U.S congress would be called upon..and must I say more.

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    20. Boy! Delude yourself all you want but once the Osage Nation takes over all bets are off. We don't even know if the OST will be in operation as the U.S. Senate wants to repatriate the trust accounting back to the BIA. Who knows what will happen then?

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    21. Back to this irresponsible land purchase. At least Edwards has learned her lesson over the Tulsa airpark purchase where they had no real professional appraisal except some slight of hand land valuation document from the seller. They probably paid double what it was worth. The same is probably true of the sealed bid price for the land in question.

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  2. SolarCity candle is burning out...and to the Windfarms the sale in the wind will also die down. SolarCity has a business model that relies on investors and government tax breaks and grants. Since its 2006 inception, taxpayers have paid $1 billion in subsidies. The company has never made a profit. What a boondoggle.

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    1. It's one of Obama's model projects for sustainable energy. If only the leftists understood what it takes to keep these green energy companies in business.

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  3. TERRIBLE OIL PRICES
    http://www.Osages-You-Need-To-Know.com JANUARY 19, 2016
    Well, obviously things haven’t started improving yet. I thought it would be
    interesting to see where our price for oil has been in the past, so I managed to find
    the following information pertaining to the last 17 years. Folks, this is serious! When
    the price gets this low, some of our smaller operators won’t be able to continue to
    produce or maintain the equipment. These statistics show how we got here. I only
    wish I knew where we were going. It’s sure not looking good for our March payment.
    Just hang in there. This can’t last forever. Ray McClain

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    1. @Ray,

      Here is a look at the current conditions for any Osage county operator's expense vs oil prices. At todays prices if you pull your pump for repair it will take you 8.8 months to recover your expenses. Your well has to produce over 5 BOPD in order to get the return on your investment below 1 month.

      Typical operator’s expense vs. revenue on 1 BOPD well:

      $200.00 per month Pumper
      $200.00 per month electric
      $190.00 per hour rig cost
      5 hours for pump change & 8 hours for pulling tubing.

      Posted price $27.00, Osage oil price January 2016 $24.50

      $24.50 x .8 (net after royalty) = $19.60 x .93 (net after tax) = $18.22 x 30 (days) = $546.84 Net after tax and royalty.

      Minimum monthly lease operating expenses (LOE)

      Contract Pumper $200.00
      Electric Utility $200.00
      Total $400.00

      Net Income $546.84
      Monthly LOE -$400.00
      Net income $146.84

      *$146.84 Net monthly revenue after lease operating expenses.

      Pump Repair Expense:

      $190.00 x 5 hrs = $950.00
      $350.00 Pump Repair
      $1,300.00 Total Repair Cost

      8.85 - month payout ($1,300.00/$146.84)

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    2. So the end result is shutting in your wells when a pump goes down until prices come back up. So the Shareholders revenue will continue to drop as we shut wells in as a result of low oil prices. Then on top of price issues you can't get a permit from the BIA to rework a well if needed.

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    3. It bears repeating. I don't understand why no one viewing these posts are not concerned about the matters that directly affect the Headright income. I'll re-post:

      The Superintendent stated that 165 work-over permits were approved last month if I heard correctly. These permits she refers to are not actually approved as they contain so many restrictions and are so ambiguous that the work requested to be performed is not actually approved. There were zero work-over permits approved. What a misleading liar she is!

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    4. Why didn't the Mineral Council question her on this subject? The producers advised all of the Council Members of this situation before Christmas. The OMC was provided with detail as to each ambiguity and each error. They should have challenged the Superintendent about this. This is just one more example of the breach of duty on their part. I suspect they failed to confront the Superintendent because they are just not knowledgeable enough about the subject to carry on the conversation. Sadly, neither is the Superintendent.

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    5. @4:41 They are more concerned if the their "partners" the oil operators are going to file a lawsuit against the MC than they are the mismanagement and direct attack by the BIA. The combination of the Drummond lawsuit, the BIA trying to in-force new CFR's, the BIA stop allowing workovers and drilling by not permitting without a new EIS, the BIA not allowing the viewing of lease and well records, the BIA attempting to in-force new EIS and the drop in oil prices has totally devastated Osage county potential future for growth and have done great harm to the Shareholders income, the oil and gas operators income, the service companies income, the supply store income and the list goes on and on right now to the dinners, gas stations etc. Every Osage should be up in arms. The Mineral Council should be on the news and in the papers everyday complaining about the abuse of the BIA. Where are they????

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    6. We are that concerned about what the Superintendent is doing and don't think we aren't. Who likes this woman and what she's been doing I don't know and haven't heard of a single person who does. If you say in a public meeting to Mike Black asking him when he's going to let her go and still you get no response, I don't know quite what we're expected to do about it. We can't exactly ask her to leave ourselves or ship her wrapped in a carpet to meet Caesar in Egypt either, you know.

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    7. The Mineral Council could file litigation against the BIA for blocking access to the well and lease records. The Mineral Council could join the Osage Producers in their lawsuit against the BIA for the refusal to issue "real" approved permits to work-over wells. The OMC could adopt a Resolution to grant extensions of leases that are in jeopardy of expiring due to the BIA failure to approve the permits and then confront the BIA with a demand that the BIA approve the OMC extensions. The OMC should hire someone like Carl Icon but with oil and gas experience to advise them. The OMC could contact the AP in an effort to gain national attention to and expose the BIA for their aggression. They should start this afternoon.

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    8. @11:33PM & 7:15AM I agree with you in regards to asking Mr. Black to fire her because I was the person that stood up in the meeting and asked him point blank if thats why he is here in Pawhuska. I am of the opinion that the OMC and Nation should REMOVE the BIA employees off the Hill with the Osage Police and lock the front door of the BIA. This sure would get the National attention that I believe necessary to get these issues resolved. We can not even get the OKC news paper of our Oklahoma politicians to pay attention to whats is going on in the Osage.

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    9. Get real, James. You want high drama but with your plan a whole lot of Osages would get arrested if you even tried to pull such a stunt. Why don't you go over there with a bunch of your oil and gas producer buddies and picket the BIA and invite the press. Oh but NOOOOOOO! You won't take that step yourself but you'll bull whip the mineral council to death with all these big ideas of yours. You act first and maybe others will follow. There have been pickets over there before with the Osage Nation employees who didn't get the money they wanted in raises and bonuses from that cash cow otherwise known as the Osage Nation Treasury. Why don't you show some leadership yourself instead of all this hate-speak criticism you have of everyone while you're sitting comfortably in the cheap seats.

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    10. @10:03 LMFAO, 1st off, its the Osage Shareholders Mineral Estate not the Oil & Gas Operators. We attended the Federal court case but very few Shareholders showed up so whats that about? The Nation & OMC has the relationship with the BIA and they are the ones that can end that relationship. At least I am making suggestions that a hell of a lot more than anyone else on here so bite me.


      :-p

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    11. To the OMC sympathizer who posted at 10:03. Why don't you and the other Shareholders picket the office? Once again, you expect and depend on the oil and gas producers to carry the ball on every play. The Shareholders did not assist the producers financially in their legal cases and the Shareholders benefitted from the Judge's ruling. The Shareholders' legal representation was lame. Now they're absent.

      You treat the producers like adversaries rather than partners, but yet you once again expect the producers to do all the heavy lifting. What are you and the OMC doing to fight back against Obama? Nothing! Absent, no one home, gone fishing, waiting for your mailbox money. Good luck with your future quarterly distributions! Maybe you will receive enough to purchase a cigar and I have a suggestion of what you can do with it. You are an unappreciative freeloader. I also suggest you initiate the removal of the entire OMC and replace them with qualified, dedicated professionals, unlike what you have now.

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    12. James Revard you are aware the 5000 shareholders are not comprised of our dilemma. This ia why we are where we are at because of the one percenters of the 20,0000 and them sum who attend or not by no accident kept in the dark..one way or another we must shed light to the Plight of the Headright ownwers and I am still working on this matter in a much different light..you cannot get more real than where we are at..most unfortunately no representation, is so harmful in the most worse way..and yes this Shareholder or Headright owner understands the gravity..so much so..you are not alone on this great matter of concern sir..much respect...keep posting!

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  4. More to chew on.


    http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/21/investing/oil-crash-fallout/index.html

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    1. Ugly is the only word for it.

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    2. Thanks for making me more upset about our very serios plight..this just keeps on getting uglier as time goes on..

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  5. http://okenergytoday.com/2016/01/laredo-petroleum-president-stepping-down/

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    1. More layoffs...But the bright side is oil is at $32 right now. Whoo

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    2. Sad for the roughnecks, their families and communities. How can unemployment be so low or it's underreported. Unless these layoffs have severance packages? 150,000.00 out of work. The foreclosures in Ok and Texas up by 16% from what I understand, might be wrong it could be higher. Glad to see the numbers rise a bit.

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    3. At least Obama can rejoice in getting rid of our industry like he did the coal industry. Too bad that the State of Oklahoma doesn't care and apparently neither does the Osage Mineral Council.

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    4. Maybe Chairman Waller could set up a free soup and bread day once a week at the Mineral Council chambers for all the local oilfield workers currently out of work due to their negligence.

      On second thought, Crum and Yates might poison the soup being in cahoots with the Drummond family, in an effort to receive additional grace from the BIA who they are attempting to please.

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  6. Congratulations to the mineral Council succeeding and getting a recent order in the Hayes case allowing the OMC to intervene for the limited purpose of requesting a dismissal.

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    1. Good first step. Now, maybe they might have the courage to file suit against the BIA for access to the well records and for the approval of work-over permits.

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    2. The producers’ association in its response said Hayes’ bid to step into the suit was a delaying tactic to try to curtail oil and gas development in the county, as the BIA’s lack of action on the permits has already exacerbated economic woes in the region.
      The federal government said in its response Tuesday that Hayes’ claims related to environmental compliance by the BIA under the National Environmental Policy Act have nothing to do with the producers’ claims centered on the drilling permit applications. This issue has nothing to do with his land..this is just crazy, now he needs to be sued..

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    3. The BIA has some explaining to do for the delay in the permitting process going back as far as July of 2014? Somebody should be turning their resignation in as we speak, persona non grata, and how embarrassing going to work knowing no one respects you..

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    4. I think the date goes back to 2013. So never mind the 2014 date.

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    5. If the OMC doesn't file suit against the BIA for failure to "properly" approve work-over permits, then they should resign and the Shareholders individually or by class action do so since the Shareholders are an "interested" party with one of the biggest dogs in the fight. I am willing to be named as a plaintiff. How about the rest of you? Does anyone posting here know of an attorney who could advise us as to whether or not we have legal standing concerning this matter?

      Remember that the recently "approved" permits sent out in December, 2015 and January, 2016 are ambiguous and contain numerous errors. The cover letter is not written by the Superintendent which letter authorizes the proposed work submitted by the Lessees; however, the additional attached pages restrict the proposed operations so significantly that the Lessees cannot perform the proposed work. These permits are not approved as the Superintendent reported to the OMC last Friday. She said 165 permits were approved last month. This is a lie. If we can, lets sue the Superintendent.

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    6. Why didn't even one of the Council Members question the Superintendent about these "bogus" permit approvals? They were each made aware of the errors and ambiguities before the past Christmas.

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    7. It is obvious that the Osage Mineral Council Members are not qualified to discuss the matters before them. They were elected by popularity and not by qualifications as is typical and as has been done in the past.

      The OMC should hire consultants to advise them on matters beyond their experience and knowledge. It is sickening to listen in on the OMC meetings and hear the Superintendent state statistics that are not challenged and are known to be false. Our Mineral Estate is in Jeopardy of being severely damaged with long lasting affects.

      If the Council Members won't resign, then they should at least seek assistance from experts in the field of oil and gas operations and who may be familiar with the BIA forms and the CFR's.

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    8. Now this is maybe putting the horse before the cart or maybe not..but I do agree we should be thinking of the class action suit against the BIA and The M.C and the proven time after time the gross negligence. The meaning of insanity is making the same mistake over again..this has the auspicious form of a cover up. These issues are not just going to disappear. I still want see to what Judge Frizzles decision regarding the leases and the remedies or solution...and in addition how long is he giving the Government or BIA to come up with an accounting..GCG should have done most of the accounting in the Cobell case so, whats taking so long? And yes I do know a very good lawyer, and yes we should file in the near future a class action suit a d put my stamp on it as well...and recall our M.C for failure to be fiscally responsible to the headright owners interest y several factors..as we all know what they are, lets not give them a heads up on this matter. Keep them in the dark.

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    9. Thank you poster at 3:34.

      If I have to go it alone, I will. I am a Shareholder and an Osage County producer. I've had enough with the mismanagement of our Mineral Estate. I considered running for council several times during the past three decades but decided not to for several reasons. I'm not a politician and far from being politically correct.

      I do not reside in Pawhuska and I am not involved in the Osage culture as I learned 40 years ago that we non-full bloods are looked down upon by the Osages with more degree of blood. That's Ok and in a way I understand. I remain a proud Osage Indian none the less.

      As a professional oil and gas producer, I feel that I could contribute to the common cause to further develop our mineral estate. I've been reluctant to pursue being on the Mineral Council due to the politics involved.

      If our Mineral Council does not act soon with regard to the bogus permit issues and access to well records, I plan to initiate litigation myself. I hope that some of you will join me if and when I do so.

      Do any of you that feel as I do know of a forum we could unite and communicate within outside of this biased blog?






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    10. To 7:41PM, no, there isn't another blog as far as I know. Thanks for your post here. You will find many different ideas on this one, about what the shareholders think. Have you attended the OSA in Pawhuska? They meet on Sundays, We need leadership and someone to tell us where to get legal council. I'm not half Osage either and get snubbed, so I know the feeling. Your input to help will be appreciated by some of us of what's even going on with all this mess. The MC leaves us in the dark. Many of us work and have busy lives but need to know what's going on. Some shareholders don't come to this blog, but will hear about what's being said here.

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    11. Since the Federal Court allowed the OMC to join in the Hayes lawsuit, does anyone know if they are able to do the same in the Donnelson-Friend lawsuit in Judge Payne's court? If so, does anyone here know if they plan to do so?

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    12. To the poster on 1/24 @ 11:02 AM, the OMC has applied to intervene in the Donelson case. The same argument is being used as in the Hayes case.

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    13. Thats nice to know Thank you..though I suspected they would.

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  7. Feds Now Want ‘Flaring’ Practice Banned on Public Lands

    http://okenergytoday.com/2016/01/feds-now-want-flaring-practice-banned-on-public-lands/

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    1. If Sally Jewell thinks the gas being vented or flared could be economically marketed, then let her gather, compress and market the gas herself. If it was economical, the oil and gas companies would already be marketing the gas.

      I agree with those that say this additional burden on the industry will drive oil and gas development away from the federal lands, just like what is happening in Osage County, OK.

      Obama hates our industry and hates the USA. I can't wait for him to leave office so that we can get busy undoing everything he accomplished during his term. In the event the Democrats are re-elected, God help us and God help the USA.

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    2. And the Osage Tribe was behind Obama beginning with Gray, followed by RedEagle and now what's his name? They've all been elbow to elbow with Obama and in the White House only to move to the Department of the Interior to firm their dastardly deeds up. All four of those I mention have no brains. It makes a person wonder why people vote for the people they're told to vote for instead of becoming educated voters on their own.........

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  8. If the OMC and producers prevail in the Donelson-Friend lawsuit, can the defendants recover their legal fees and possible damages from the plaintiffs?

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    1. Absolutely and then some..the harm by these frivolous charges, I hope the M.C will pursue with a following suit. Irreparable harm has comm to the M.E. And against M.r Drummond as well. The Donelsons should just leave already. All of the lot as far as the Osage goes should snub them to kingdom come.

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    2. If you think the DOI, Salley Jewell and the EPA,Gina McCarthy along with Obama are not doing in the Energy sector do your homework..

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    3. I do not need to do anymore homework, as I am living the nightmare orchestrated and directed by them. They are intentionally destroying our industry and our livelihoods. They are also putting our nation in danger by doing so.

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    4. Comment was misplaced. Sorry was having issues with the tablet yesterday and your exactly right..so dreadful where we are at especially for our fellow communities and you just do not here much in the way the impact has devastated effects all around..I have explained to many and they ask why are we not hearing this in the news...this affects every walk of life...and they think the lowering of gasoline is going to put a dent in the retail industry who are they kidding..half of that twenty dollars is spent on just butter and milk..

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    5. It's amazing to me that the current plight of the Osages has not made national news. The Chief and Chairman Waller should be on the phone with the AP and national television weekly exposing this aggression from the Obama administration. Headlines should read "Reign of Terror" Part II.

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    6. I am working on it...

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    7. Have any of you Shareholders received any correspondence or updates from the Mineral Council since the June, 2014 news letter posted on their web site? Does the Mineral Council have a current mailing address for us or does the Federal government deem this information confidential like they do our well records.

      I don't know about the rest of you but I would like to hear from our Mineral Council once every few years.

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    8. yes, e-mail updates are available

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    9. The Osage Mineral Council does not have my email address nor have they ever asked for it. What are the email updates that you state are available? Are you receiving email updates, if so, how often and what is the date of your last update?

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    10. Gentner Drummond just filed an objection to the OMC's motion to intervene in the Donelson lawsuit. Anybody for egging his house?

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    11. Lol, and we should tee ppe it to..he can go pound sand. This is the next step to try and stall the inevitable that this case will be thrown out as well. Has no merit or standing..the OMC has every right to defend the actions of this case..It's like he put the horse before the cart and that will be proven and he knows he is reaching for pie in the sky,,interesting enough he thought he had ground and doesn't and he knows this..after everything said and done we as a community need to protect our interest so say we..when you see him his family and the same goes for the Donelsons are persona non grata in the county and should be ashamed of what they are doing..not just that we will go after his assets and the assets of the Donelsons as well.

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    12. Let's all of us head to the McBirney; eggs and toilet paper in tow!
      http://www.newson6.com/story/30750163/family-continues-restoration-of-historic-tulsa-mansion

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  9. Another example of the Fed's vindictiveness:

    http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/21/us/Disabled-Work-Program-Investigation-Update/index.html

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  10. So the Congress passed a bill to purchase Ted Turners property for how much? And the documents are sealed from the Congress? Don't you have to know whats in before you sign the dotted line? Sound familiar ie "Pelosi". And what do you think the intent is behind this purchase? Grazing, wild horses and Buffalo? All the while living off the Government subsidies? Watch them create a new oil development plan?

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    1. According to the Facebook page of the Osage News, the Osage Nation won the bid to buy the land from Ted Turner. There goes the neighborhood or what little was available in benefits to the membership. Some say those benefits are overfunded and there may be some truth to that for 2016. As for 2017, that remains to be seen. Ted should be astute enough to know that we don't have enough money to buy the property without doing the Osage people harm due to the loss of benefits for the elders, the young and those who are seeking higher education at the college and university level. It's a trade off and one he should be socially responsible enough to see is the wrong one for the Osage Indians this government is supposed to protect and further economically from the standpoint of upward mobility. I guess the only jobs available will be to muck out the fields when the bison pass by. Just in case you didn't know, all those of you who are a party to this transaction, we're living things too, you sh**h**ds!

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    2. https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/nation-announces-bidding-completion-turner-ranch

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    3. WTH?
      "There are steps remaining in the process, and rumors will circulate. We will share official information with the Osage people and the general public as our agreement with Mr. Turner's organization permits," Red Corn said.
      SINCE WHEN DOES A PRIVATE AGREEMENT EXIST WITH A GOVERNMENT TO BUY LAND WHERE THE PURCHASE PRICE IS HIDDEN FROM THE MEMBERSHIP? THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND AN OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    4. More self-service from this self-serving sham of an Osage government?

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    5. Like I said you have to read to know whats in it...shame on you Redcorn! And Congress.

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    6. All over the country, the non-OC Osages are cheering over this infantile purchase but will they still be cheering when the elders, the young ones and the college and university students lose their funding as a result of a real debt commitment with the "big boys" that we can hardly hope to manage with our tawdry and incompetent track record in business? Things won't change because the government players won't change and the only thing they are capable of is failure as has been so painfully evident in the past. Looking to see a lot more than buffalo pies in the future. With the first hard winter, it will be buffalo carcasses littering the landscape and no "entitled' Osage government employee who will even lift a finger to shift them. Ghastly in the extreme!

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    7. https://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/p.1041180685942758/1041180685942758/?type=3&theater

      https://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/p.1041181029276057/1041181029276057/?type=3&theater

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    8. More from the Real Osages in the Political class. Did you ever read such hooey in your life as in that letter to Ted Turner? All from descendents of actual Osages who don't live in hoguns, teepees, or in our case, lodges; who don't wear blankets and know little if anything about the real Osage traditions other than what they've read about in books. Or those who dance in dances with a drum that the Poncas gave them. Pure head trip here folks with egoes flying way too close to the sun......

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  11. Oil prices are climbing again with that being said..depending on a geo-politcal event in the near future oil prices could rise tom $60 dollars a barrel by the ened of the year. My question is where do we want to be by the end of the year? How will the permitting circumstances with a injunction in place effect our outcome? We saw what the BIA did to us in the beginning of 2013 up til now. We have a defunt M.C who grotesquely is complicit in mismanagement to the detriment of now no communication with the Shareholders are concerned or not. As a headright owner who is out $ 100000. and then sum did not need to happen..we need to organize and think about our very near future which is right around the corner..

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    1. The OMC should join the Osage Producers Association's lawsuit regarding the BIA's failure to issue permits. They should also file a lawsuit against the BIA for blocking access to the lease records and wells records that are critical for the development of the ME. The OMC should also be preparing to file a lawsuit against the BIA to be filed the day after the BIA implements their Draft EIS. The increase in the price of oil will help but our bigger problem is no lease development activity.

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    2. READ MY LIPS!!! The price of oil is THE MAJOR PROBLEM, not only in the Osage, but everywhere in the world. When oil returns to $60, we will see the other minor issues magically begin to disappear and lease development start to happen again.

      Our producers have been terribly spoiled. They have become used to very little regulation and no proper accountability and they don’t want that to change. It’s high time we started demanding accountability. Nobody is asking for anything that’s not already being required everywhere in the US. If a producer can’t at least account for the oil he takes, then he should leave it in the ground and then just leave. We’re NOT going to give it to you!

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    3. @12:20 You want ACCOUNTABILITY from the operators? What about the BIA and OMC? 95% of all Osage operators do follow regulations and are good stewards of the environment. Once again is sounds like you are a Shareholder who prefers to treat their PARTNER like an enemy. Blows my mind they way you people think when the Osage MC or Nation can not and will not produce one drop of their own oil. So go cry to someone else. This Osage Shareholder and Producer shoulders has no room for your crocodile tears.

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    4. What a dumb a$$ you are! Really? The producers are your partners and you treat them like crap. How can the producers do anything if the BIA won't approve their permits? The BIA doesn't want them to drive within a half mile of a prairie chicken. They don't want them to make noise except Monday through Friday 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. They want the wells shut down in the NW 25% of the county for the beetle.

      You are so clueless! An Osage elder once said that an Osage would bend down to pick up a penny while a hundred dollar bill blows over their head. That elder must be talking about you.

      Who said that the producer doesn't account for the oil they produce? You're pretty far out there. Good luck with the bingo casinos and cigarette and gravel sales. If you keep hating the producers as you obviously do, there will soon be no producers. You'd probably like that wouldn't you? You must be a surface owner and with no headright. What difference does it make what the price of oil is if there is no one left to produce it?

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    5. To the poster @ 12:20PM, what are you smoking? Oil at $60/barrel will not solve anything unless and until the BIA relaxes its regulatory stranglehold on the Mineral Estate. As for the producer not being accountable for the oil, why don't you talk to a producer? Production forms must be filled out and submitted by the 25th of each month and tanks are subject to spot gauging. Run statements are submitted by purchasers. Very stringent guidelines. Saying the producers should leave if they can't account for the oil is total ignorance. Producers can and will go elsewhere if the regulatory environment doesn't change - irrespective of the oil price. The oil is just as sweet in Kay and Pawnee Counties as in Osage.

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    6. To 12:20pm what rock of stupid did you climb out from under, lol. Actions speak louder than words.It is so apparent you are knee deep in your B.S. Where is Jenny when we need her ferver and passion for the truth. Let my ears hear our calling should we protect and partner with our producers and even mingle with the landowners and open that door so all of our voices can be heared to the door of our future. You open one door and another will open..so long over due it is time to respect what the 1906 Act was meant for..long live the 1906 act. My eys are wide open.

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    7. Also to the poster at 12:20 PM

      Thank goodness you do not share the attitude as most Osage Shareholders. The Shareholders and producers have recently bonded with a common goal of survival and fighting back against the aggressive BIA. We have never been more in-step with each other.

      I am a producer and a Shareholder and I have recently experienced a great deal of appreciation from the Shareholders for our efforts in the courtroom and also in the field trying to keep our leases active.

      I don't know who you are and what your agenda is but you do not share the same attitude and will of most Osages. Thank goodness. As a producer, I haven't felt this much support from the Shareholders and the MC as long as I've been operating in the Osage.

      God bless the Osages and their new bond with the producers.



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    8. Really appreciate your comment poster 5:52 pm. I get it! So sorry we did not have a clue..as to the real politics which has no value and has no place on our M.E..I have said Silence is not Golden. Not in the face of five thousand shareholder's. I sense a lot of things have happened and the closer to the truth and I have always said, the truth always reveals itself..its what we do going forward and we must be diligent in our ferver to pursue the goal of a viable future and that includes you. We cannot continue more of the same. I know what needs to be done, change is either easy or it can be hard..one way or another the will is greater because we cannot ignore who we are, Osage, and I believe in integrity, it speacks volumes and I believe. Someone has to..success is in all of us, so is the potential and at this point from a opinon, we are not seeing this but the complete opposite. Working diligently to change this attitude of entitlement, its earned not given. Shame on our M.C.

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    9. Thank you poster at 8:27.

      The producers and Shareholders are partners with a common goal of preserving and further developing the Mineral Estate for all of us to benefit from. We need to stay united in our stand against the BIA and we need to keep pressure on our MC to be more active and to be more transparent with the Shareholders. God Bless the Osages.

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    10. GOOD point. Where is Jenny Miller when we need her?

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    11. To poster at January 29, 2016 at 7:38 PM

      “GOOD point. Where is Jenny Miller when we need her?”

      Ah yes, Jenny Miller… She was one of the most outspoken persons on the old shareholder blog. A good person and quite knowledgeable. She certainly was a fighter for the 1906 Act and for the shareholders as well. Unfortunately, she was shouted down, excoriated, and dragged through the mud by those who supported the new Osage government. Friends and relatives of the then current officers of the Osage government harassed her to no end. The accusations thrown at her were repugnant and uncivilized to say the least. She tried to warn people, she had a web site with pertinent information.
      Sadly, she finally gave in and the mess we are in today is a result of the very people who were caustic to her and anyone who defended the 1906 Act. She sounded the alarm but few listened.

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    12. Yes,I remember. Get back in the fight Jenny Miller...I don't know but she has to be a Shareholder by now. I remember when she was being harrased because she was protecting the interest of her fathers estate. She was extremely knowledgeable and her opinion mattered and still does..

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    13. Jenny Mashunkashey Miller dropped out of sight after the election in 2012 around the time that Joe Don Mashunkashey got nabbed for making off with $806K of Pawhuska Village money which is how long we've been waiting for Osage Nation justice in this negligent Osage Nation Judicial case. In addition, she never shows up until it's about time for an election and then hits it hard and heavy. She ought to be emerging any time now...

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    14. Hi Guys! I'm here watching and have posted a few times only to have them mysteriously removed. Likely because I didn't know how or where to post but I finally got it figured out. (I think...we'll see with this post):)

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    15. Hi! Jenny. Good to know you are still with us. You have not been forgot..thanks to you I did my research and diligence and stll am because of you...My eyes wide open as amended long live the 1906 act..and what it means today to be Sovereign as a people.

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    16. Hey Jenny! Glad to have you back in the saddle! Welcome to the Osage Blog!

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  12. Any estimate on March's check?

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    1. Guestimate since they do not come out with the numbers till mid feb..is $4230..and the ave is based on 30 dollars a barrel. The average could even be lower..sad

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    2. Get ready it will be under $3,000.00 this time around due to the decrease in production thanks to the BIA and OMC and the price of oil.

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  13. Heads UP! Special Minerals Council Meeting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
    Agenda is at: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/3rd-osage-minerals-council-special-meeting

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    1. Every Shareholder and Osage Producer needs to be at this meeting. They will decide rather to join the Osage producers lawsuit against the BIA for lack of permitting approval.

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    2. Why should the M.C discuss whether to not or to get involved? This is a no brainer.

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    3. Total insanity seems to be prevailing in the meeting today. They are trying to break the extention agreement with the U.S. Congress to keep the mineral rights reserved to the Osage Tribe way back in the mid 1900's. This will materially affect the chain of real estate title to which those rights are tied. If the terms and conditions of this extension are broken back before the extention to place the mineral rights into perpetuity, then the mineral rights will then revert to the original allottees, their heirs and assigns as of the date of that particular extention. The gross production taxes were agreed to by the Osage Tribe in order to receive that particular extention and they are trying to work with the U.S. Congress to break this agreement giving them the taxes instead of the State of Oklahoma. If the U.S. Congress agrees to break the agreement then there won't be any taxes paid to anyone because the extention will be broken and the mineral rights will be transferred into the hands of the new owners whoever that might be according to the new chain of title for each of the original three allotment parcels allotted to each and every original allottee per the 1906 Allotment Act. Where is the Chief while all these shenanagans are going on? The mineral rights now inure to the Osage Nation, not the current Headright owners. If the actions of the Minerals Council threaten the reservation of the Osage mineral rights and its current ownership of them by the Osage Nation, why in hell isn't the Chief running to Osage Tribal Court for an emergency injunction against such actions on the part of the Minerals Council as a whole if they pass Resolutions to break the original extention agreement?

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    4. This is the way the Osages in this new government are. They try and get out of any agreement they don't think is fair no matter what or how far back. This time their actions will wind up losing the entirety of the Osage Mineral Estate. They think people won't remember how things went way back then and they stupidly think they can get it over on everybody because they're smarter than everybody else. Now they're doing their destructive thing with the mineral rights and if they keep this up, they'll lose it all for all of us. These guys who support this crazy idea by a vote of yes on such a Minerals Council Resolution need to be taken off the Mineral Council and removed for willful neglect of duty where gross negligence is involved for not protecing the ownership of the Mineral Rights as reserved to the Osage Nation under the 1906 Allotment Act as amended as individual members of an elected body according to Article XII of the Osage Nation Constitution.

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    5. When are they going to put the meeting up online on demand over on that mixlr web site?

      http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/

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    6. To the M.C change is good and sometimes painful..when making a dramatic decision as such do you have self interest or is this for the betterment for all headright owners such as yourselves. This is more than making a business agreement and the implications could be far reaching. Poster at 11:45 has some very valid questions. I express you do the diligence because this could open up a can of worms. Change is long over due. However you should share the intent with the majority of stakeholders and this in my opinion should be regarded. This is a good point in case for discussion and I am going to put this out there..can a State tax another State in regards to their assets? Another question, in order for us to exist or operate this became a mandate is liken to bullying? And the Nation cannot speak for the Shareholder's or rightful owners of the M.E. The Chief is caught between a rock and a hard spot on this matter...Our Chief should be the Voice or give his opinion on this matter as well. If this should happen and it reverts back to the original allotees this could have all kinds of implications for the Nation, Casino's..all assets, and the State of Ok..after all didn't the State through the Osage County board of adjustment allow wind farms developed over our asset, killing Bald Eagles..and not respecting our cultural rights..not just that we are Sovereign it our fight to exercise our rights, right..? Then with our money the Chief buys Ted Turners property? Where are they getiing the money from because your per-cap is long over due..Big Government waste needs to end today..as a direst decedent of a original allottee and Osage headright owner I am concerned.

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    7. To read the text of the Act in 1940, (54 Statute 168) that amended the 1906 Allotment Act, with regard to the Gross Production Taxes see http://legisworks.org/congress/76/pubres-65.pdf
      This was a legal agreement with the U.S. Congress in order to get the mineral rights extended and this extention existed before the final extention into perpetuity in 1978. If any member of the Minerals Council wants to break this agreement and press the reset button on termination of the mineral rights reservation to the Osage Tribe as of the date of the extention negotiated and agreed to prior to the one in 1940, it will break the chain as of that date and the mineral rights will then revert back to the heirs and assigns of the Original Allottees because there was never a deed issued to the Original Allottees to repatriate those mineral rights back to the land they are tied to. All of those new quit claim deeds (or whatever type of legal conveyance) to the original allottees and their heirs will likely involve another probate situation (2229 of them) -- and -- three separate quiet title actions in court per each original allottee for each of the three parcels that each one of them were allotted (6687 of these) throughout the entirety of Osage County, the likes of which has never probably been seen in the history of the entire world. When the dust settles, there will be a number of very rich lawyers in and around Osage County.

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    8. Thank you Osageblogger. Still the same this is just insane..still would like to know the reasoning, logic behind this move?

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    9. To use the money to open an Osage Oil Production Office and duplicate the free services of the Bureau.

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    10. Worth a listen on this particular letter to Lankford:

      http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/

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    11. How is that "free service" working out for you? We get what we're paying for, right? The BIA is our adversary not our friend. They are not only incompetent but are hell bent on destroying our Mineral Estate and they are well on their way.

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    12. I'm telling you, I don't know who to trust anymore. I think these Osage Nation people who live in OC are wanting those mineral rights back for themselves and I think there is collusion going on in the backroom to have the Nation transition over to run the mineral estate from the BIA and the BIA doing as poor a job as possible to make stepping away from the ME Trust a thing the shareholders begin to want in order to make that transitition possible. Being led or should I say, being mislead like this will make it very easy for the shareholders to be hoodwinked into thinking this is a good idea, the BIA is off the hook in the long run and the shareholders will then have to be at the mercy of the Osage Nation government when the 1906 Act created headright beneficiary Trust comes to an end and the Osage Nation is finaly in a position to reshufffle the deck as to who will be getting a check from the proceeds of the mineral royalties and who won't. A word of warning, you had better live in Osage County by the time this is decided or you'll be out in the cold if the Osage Nation isn't eating through the minerals income with adding a huge bureaucracy to handlle a minerals department they don't even need due to current market conditions. The salary and benefits for the employees will come first, the Osage Nation will be the recipient of the income that will come into the Osage Nation Treasury and unrelated costs for things like the property taxes owed for this much owned land will come out of the minerals income proceeds if they can get away with it along with anything else they can charge off too. It will be just like how they spend gaming and other income proceeds today. A million to one, this is the plan or something very similar to it, being cooked up behind closed doors and if you let them get away with it as a headright owner today, you deserve what happens in the future.

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    13. There is a distinction to be made. The Osage Tribe and the Osage Nation are not synonymous when it comes to the ME. The Osage Tribe named in the 1906 Act consists solely of those Osage who hold headrights. The Osage Nation consists of all headright holders plus other members since admitted.

      It doesn't matter where anyone lives, the 1906 Act has forever established the identity
      of the "Osage Tribe" it names as beneficiary of the trust. In many pieces of federal legislation, "members of the Osage tribe" is construed to mean only those Osage who were allotted.

      Section 3 of the 1906 Act reserved oil, gas, coal and other minerals to the Tribe for a period of twenty-five years and provides that “leases for all oil, gas, and other minerals . . . may be made by the Osage tribe of Indians through its tribal council, and with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe.” 34 Stat. at 543. This reservation of the mineral interests to the Tribe has been routinely extended over time,5 and it was made a reservation in perpetuity by the Act of October 21, 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-496, 92 Stat. 1660.

      If the extension of the 1906 Act is broken, then the subsurface mineral rights will not inure to the benefit of the Osage Nation as a whole but will revert to the current owner of the surface land as originally intended.

      There's a saying that goes, "Be careful what you ask for because you just might get it."

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  14. Election Information -->>>
    http://osagenews.org/en/article/2016/02/03/revised-election-code-and-rules-remain-tabled-congress/

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  15. What is the Potential the Fletcher case may bring about? The first year 13 yrs ago when the case first started out and should Judge Fizzell allow us to go back to as far as to the date of 1980? The potential with interest could be a billon in this case if not more right? If you go back to the list of those unclaimed names in the known where abouts list in the Cobell case all have a ring of familiarity. Is there corruption that will be revealed in this case, the Fletcher case? You bet. My question why is the Federal Government taking so long to come up with an accounting? They had the accounting in the HPP case right, how else could we agree to the 380,000,000 judgement? In the Cobell case, GCG did the homework for the Federal Government, the accounting, so what is taking the Federal Government so long to come up with the accounting for Judge Fizzell in the Fletcher case? Most importantly how long did Judge Fizzell give the Federal Government to come up with an accounting? So I digress. The Iran deal Sen.Kerry made and the interst on the 400,000,000 deal that paid Iran 1.7 billon. The interst rate somewhere in the 22%. Btw. Will Judge Fizzell reward This class action suit with the potential of a interest amount the same? And punitive damages on top of that can be? Yet to be seen of course. What I am saying is equal Justice. I do believe Judge Fizzell is doing a great job on this matter of equal importance for the Osage headright owners. Thanks to Shield and Amanda Proctor and this goes to all the other firms as well, A big thanks for your commitment and diligence. A big thanks and in remembering the those who past along the way in this case who started out in this case the Plaintiffs Cora Jean, Mr Pratt and Betty Woody will not be forgot..RIP..a big thanks to Mr Fletcher..we woukd not be here without all of you..This Osage Indian is very Thankful for the truth always reveals itself not always at first.

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  16. I also give thanks to all involved with the Fletcher case. I wait for any news on it. I am still astounded by Judge Fizzell accounting that shareholders have an individual right. I agree with him that we cannot go back as far as first requested and that it would take too long. I'm 68 yrs old, when I was young before computers I went to the Sac and Fox with a letter saying I was 1/4 Sac and Fox on my father's side. I waited too many many years to go talk with them for info. They denied the letter, said they had no record of my father. All I wanted was a little information to research my father's S&F side,cause they don't accept duel citizenship, wasn't trying for duel money, ha. I believe somewhere in an old warehouse is/was my father's records in an old box, buy now destroyed by time. Records: I've been going to the courthouse there in Pawhuska over years and getting copies of my fathers relative's papers (like will's, etc.). I asked the lady in charge there if copies were made of all these records, she said "No," -- only what was considered important, she was very nice and informative, but she let me know that if anything happened to them, like fire, natural hazards, they would be "permanently" gone. That's why I agree with the Judges decision on starting with a later date, cause old records are probably gone forever. PS, I was told that my father's records may be in another state like Kansas, but may be the same situation, boxed, then thru time, destroyed by corrosion, etc. I really am looking forward to any conclusion or accounting to any of those names on the list of non-Osages.

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    1. to Feb 3 10:50 am --Taxes--isn't that what Kerry tried to do years ago, tried to park his yacht in another state to avoid high taxes? In Arizona your suppose to report on your state tax form if you purchased merchandise in another state without paying that state's tax, then Arizona will tax you for that merchandise. There's a Tribe in NE Iowa that owns their land (Deed). As of now haven't we lost a "reservation" status in the Oklahoma state court of law? If we was a real reservation couldn't we evict the non-Osage homeowners off our land? If there's no extension some day, many of us may have to come to live of the newly purchased land (Ted Turner)in tents with no income. I've got my fingers crossed and prayers now that I won't lose my car between now and the September quarterly. If I have to chose between my car and an apt., I'll take the car.

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    2. Feb 2 at 11:45 am the term 'extension' means there's an coming to an end or a stop, and the MC may be prematurely bringing this about. I'm going to listen to the last meeting again this weekend now that you've confirmed what I thought they were saying about the 'taxes' is what I really did hear, did not believe it could be so. Oklahoma gets so much money from our taxes. There would be so many repercussions for OK a chain reaction starting with job losses on down the line, like what's happening to Osage Cty now. With the Chief's intelligence and his attorney's knowledge, that he has to be listening to the meetings, after all, he is the Chief of the whole Nation. Yes, I absolutely agree with you he is between a rock and a hard place, and nothings going to change until the MC starts interacting with him in a "professional, business matter," which is what the MC really is, a multi-million dollar business. I don't mean the Chief should be the CEO, but if the MC becomes a petroleum business office (which I hope is soon), the Chief has the "right" and "obligation" to know what's happening that will involve the nation at any point. It's right to me that the MC has a lawyer (Fredericks), but something is missing in the picture that obvious, the "Chief." Shenanagans is a good term for this last meeting, if the MC isn't "rescued" soon, there really may be a "Oklahoma Corporate Commission," before the dust settles as someone mentioned on this blog. It was mentioned in the meeting (special mtg) that the taxes they're trying to get would be for engineers and other specialty people needed to get job done right, I understand, I think just about any one else agrees that if these qualified people were here a long time ago, we'd be sitting on a gold mine (oil mine) already. If they go through this tax begging, I hope it doesn't get on Indianz.com.

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    3. I happen to agree that the M.C might be putting the horse before the cart..but there is a part of the puzzle that is missing and maybe not..I have a theory but I am not going to say anything until the M.C gets in knee deep you know what..I just can't believe that they the M.C would jeopardize the status quo.

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    4. Boone and Erwin are looking for a fast buck. They aren't smart enough to know that this would be the last buck. If we lose perpetuity, it's all over. Thank God for Yates, Crum, and Waller. And thanks to the other 3 who apparently didn't have time to attend the meeting. This is some representation we have here.

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    5. Thank you for the current update.

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    6. To 7:41 pm..your answer in essence to evicting...thats part of a problem we have here some of these policies need to be updated to protect the asset..I would venture to say there ia a penalty..and the extreme as not being able to get on someones property is concerning when it comes to workovers and so forth , I cannot per say disagree on this matter for I would keep my gates locked and I would give a key to the super for future use..compliance is a issue weather real or not a complaint from a surfaceowner should never go unregarded..they are our eyes and ears so repect should be recognized by everyone who is involved..this is the failure on the M.C part. Integrity starts at home. Compliance goes both ways...as a community we need to come together..Part of the problem is as we are finding out the BIA should have would have could have but didn't. These issues are so rudimentary and we have to work towards fixing a solution that is more or less more fitting to the century we are in.

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    7. To Feb 5 6;08 from 7:41 pm never was suggesting "eviction" of some good people there, was discussing about the Nation having a "reservation," I was trying to think of examples to show that we are not a reservation. When people leave their land in their will to the Nation, does the nation really own that land, or is it in Trust? Does the Cobell buy back land that goes to the Nation, is it now owned or in another "status" (i.e. government, Trust)? I really don't know, I'm trying to "learn," to "know," I like this Blog, and Jenny, I miss your website, I'm not a leader or a follower, I'm trying to keep up to see where we may be going and how we are going to survive as a Tribe. When all the stuff with the Cherokee and the Freedmen started, a Black government woman tried to disband the Cherokees with her rantings about it. We are in many lawsuits, I think in the last meeting of the MC someone asked "How many lawsuits do we have?, I think she murmured maybe 5? Will someone post on this Blog if they know, what the lawsuits that are active now in the MC?

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    8. To the poster at 7:29 PM. When land is willed to the Osage Nation, it does belong to it. However, that does not make it part of a reservation any more than transferring it to the BIA by way of a land into trust conversion. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has definitively upheld a ruling that the reservation was disestablished by Act of the U.S. Congress in 1906, and all appeals were exhausted when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the matter. The only part of Osage County still reserved to the Osage Tribe (which is not the same as the Osage Nation) is the Minerals Estate.

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    9. The Osage Nation is the legal survivor to any and all of the assets of the Osage Tribe that was disestablished with the take-over Constitutional government when it was ratified by a vote of the Osage people who voted, not just the then members of the Osage Tribe. This is the current legal narrative according to the Osage Nation government and the DOI?BIA.

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    10. If the new Osage government could be unseated legally, and made to be invalid on its face and from day one, it might reverse all legal actions brought by it, thus returning to us the reservation status we had prior to the fateful court opinion from the Irby tax case.

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    11. Thats what I am thinking.

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    12. If we have all the Documents to support the easement in perpetuity?

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    13. What easement are you talking about? The entire Osage county has the mineral rights reserved to the Osage Tribe/Nation in perpetuity as per the 1978 Amendment to the 1938 Amendment that amended the original 1906 Allotment Act.

      Delete
    14. Thank you. Was worried for a moment.

      Delete
    15. To the poster on February 7, 2016 at 7:50 PM. Unfortunately, the decision in the Irby case would stand even if the Osage Nation ceased to exist. The judge who handed down the original ruling did not make new law, he simply rendered a sound legal opinion after very thorough review of the 1906 Act and all other relevant laws and historical documents.

      Delete
    16. To the posters at February 7, 2016 at 1:49 PM and 1:53 PM. As noted, not only the members of the Osage Tribe (i.e., headright holders) voted to form the Osage Nation but also Osage people who had no voting rights. In accordance with federal laws and regulations then in effect, only those original Osage on the rolls or those others with headrights were permitted to vote.

      It has been claimed by several members of the Osage Tribe that they were never notified of the upcoming election, thus were not afforded an opportunity to vote against the new government. If an audit of the vote to organize is conducted and, after ruling out the votes of "Osage people" who did not have voting rights, a majority of the Osage Tribe voted against organization then the Osage Nation can be legally set aside.

      The members of the Osage Tribe (as defined by federal law) can file a class action suit against the BIA, as it was responsible to ensure fair and proper elections were conducted.

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    17. Thats exactly right! I am one who is a headright holder and I did not get a vote and yes we can file a class action suit and I think we should because my rights have beedn abrogated. When I spoke with constituent sevices..I asked how we came about being a Government, they said the ballots were in tne newspaper and I did not even know we had a newspaper and that day 2006 is when I signed up for a subscription. I bet a Judge would say that how these mailers how they were sent was improper...and I would be the first to sign and I know there are others that will say the same thing.

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    18. 31st Council government claimed that it couldn't get hold of all the shareholders who were Osage because the BIA wouldn't give them the mailing list. Yet, the BIA was missioned with helping the Osage government with the reform process. Such help would include a current mailing list of Shareholders so I never bought that argument. In a conversation with Hepsi Barnett, she made reference to the fact that the Shareholders didn't want to give up control to non-shareholder in a government environment. With this depth of prejudice against, the Shareholders, she should not have been hired in the capacity she was in as the coordinator of the OGRC. She should have been impartial and she most definitely was not. If we had never changed governments, we wouldn't be in the shape we are today.

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    19. Thats hogwash..just on that merit alone would not stand in a court of law...the 31st council could not speak for our voting rights and thats individual and if I remember correctly the voter turnout was relatively small...thats what gave me a clue this current administration in 2006 was betting on. From the errs of the BIA has cost the Shareholders and the rightful descendants of the original allotties have been abrogated in the worse way..My what it would mean to put the controlling interest and revert it back to the Council. What a concept. We get the corruption and I get a distinct taste of discrimination. It is my belief that a lot of our elders were hoodwinked because I certainly know that this Goverment was meant for the People not the other way around to mirror the U.S government. And thats is exactly what is happening here..this not what we wanted or visioned for our People..A very disappointed Tallcheif.

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  17. http://www.newson6.com/story/31149601/obama-wants-10-a-barrel-oil-tax-to-fund-roads

    VOTE TRUMP! He’ll work with congress to lift these binding regulations placed on the oil businesses by the Obama Administration. This tax proposal set out by Obama will not go through on Trump’s watch. Jobs will be restored and the oil will be allowed to flow. ------Democrats tout “everything will be free” such as birth control, college educations, etc.-----Always remember. Nothing is free. Someone will pay and it will be every tax payer in the United States of America along with companies and corporations. Especially with a tax of $10.00 a bbl! If you want to get our country out of this quagmire, VOTE TRUMP!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenny, the audacity of Obama and his green agenda based on junk science is a proven fact..Solar city with our billon dollars to that company and no profit made supported by subsidiaries is what is so wrong along with solyndra and the scandal behind them as well. Wind farm now on our estate you bet I am voting for Trump...a lot of people in my circle thinks he is a creep but I believe him when he says we will bring America to the Industry that we once were...

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    2. Tired of the Corp wellfare...let them standalone and they woukd fail..

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    3. I'm not voting for Jenny or Trump. I remember her from OSA and how she only spoke to certain people, that lost her a lot of votes, too. She used the other blog everyone talked on, for her campaign, drove people nuts.

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    4. She worked her heart out and did 1000% more than any candidate did in that election cycle. Probably scared everyone to death that she would be a real worker as opposed to the usual bunch who care a whole lot more about their full time jobs than being a member of the Osage Nation Congress.

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    5. I sure do love her passion and I concur.

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    6. Amen to that!!!

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    7. This isn't Jennys web site. Let her get her own site....PLEASE!!

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    8. Jenny is welcome here as are all of you who are concerned about Shareholder matters.

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    9. TRUMP he's one of the two I'm interested in, I think it's going to take someone with business savy to get businesses hiring, Obamacare helps some and hurts some, with an Obamacare overhall, even doctors may start their practices again. Bernie Sanders is the other I am considering, his age is the biggest obstacle I think, but he has mentioned the Trade Agreement (would change it), I have lost factory and clerical jobs to Mexico and India. One factory job people left from their area to the office and never came back, when it was my turn I found out it was because they got a big severance pay not to file suit, nice check? I signed and went out the door too. On a clerical data entry assignment (temporary agency) one hour after working, the door opened and a man told us all to go home that the company was moving to India.

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    10. Bernie is out of the question he's a socialist and will continue to tax which the Middle class will eventually end up paying, not big corporate but pass it to the consumer. Obama care is a boondoggle from the beginning in fact the Supreme Court ruled it a Tax..wages if raised will come back to haunt the consumer. Bernie is a part of a problem that at has plagued our Country in the last 30 years..Corporate America is leaving because of over regulations, Corporate Taxes are to high and cheep labor..Trump will bring back fair trade again...watch and see...mostly we need to get our Industry back to what it was once again. Over 270,000 jobs have been severed. Yes Trump is rough around the edges but he'll undo the very bad Policies set forth by this current President...The worst President ever, Obama..like him as a perso not his views.and lies. I did like Bernie but his age and what he believes in is more of the same..and we can't have more of the same..

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    11. Trump is a spoiled brat carnival barker with the tact of a three year old who doesn't when to quit while he's ahead. It's written all over the nasty look on his face. There. I've said it and I mean it.

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    12. The only way the Repubs will work is if you graft two or three of them together. Hilly will mean mr. Bill back in the WH. OH NOOOOOO! Bernie is out of the question. The fact that both of these political parties would let it come to this...they both should be taken out to the woodshed and beaten until they have the sense knocked back into them if there is any there at all to begin with. Stink stink stink to high heaven!!

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    13. Trump may be spoiled but he will bring our industry back..

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    14. Trump is not a team player. You play on his team or no team at all. This won't fly with a three part form of government plus the fact that he villainizes everyone who doesn't agree with him. The job of POTUS involves and requires more than just business interests and related skills. It also includes the ability to behave as a skilled negotiator which is crucial with the gridlock problems we have with governmental affairs both in county and internationally. Trump has no skills on this basis whatsoever as he has proven time and time again. He's a pit bull and there's nothing wrong with that if the arena is right for such skills. The Federal government is the wrong and worst possible place for a guy like The Donald.

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    15. I am the skilled negotiator and accountant and have seen what in the last 30 years where we are at. Obama has done some real damage in the light of his agenda and to be honest I like Trump..I like the right to bear arms..I like to have a strong Military thank you very much...Military Brat and have several members of my family in the Army...Air Force and I like the fact he is going to bring back AMERICAN values. He knows what he is working with he's no fool. He admits when he is wrong as well..Love Pit Bulls no challenge can't keep us from moving forward as long as you we here your Truth.

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  18. To February 5, 2016 at 8:49 AM.

    The Osage government wants to use the minerals estate as corporate welfare to supplement the casinos when they begin to lose revenue due to the failing American economy. But hey, gotta get that buffalo ranch, right? Instead of a per cap can I get a buffalo?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, I second that...I have been saying all along we have bottom feeders in this de facto Government built on a lie..the source of the intended income of the Casino was originally thought a per-cap would be generated,and building our infrastructure our surrounding communities to bring our economy back to our surrounding neighborhoods and build a stronger economy for our Black Gold,unfortunately that did not happen..I have tapes and literature to support this. My father sat on the M.C during when George TallChief was Chief..I Personally asked Jim Gray when he thought this would happen and the answer I got was when Government is in a better position to do so,in so many words. Lol. When is a Government ever settled so Thats when I got the first glimpse of the lie that waited for us..and thats when I lost respect for him..A Government is about supporting big Government and not the People, The Nation can try try and cry cry when we get that per-cap on the Ballot. The Osage People have to start fighting for what is theirs rightfully. Even if its 300 a month thats a car payment..groceries in your area for a month for a lot of you..a utility bill for heating, a day care in house support for our elderly whos family members have to work to take care of their elderly..thus another holiday goes by yet without a turkey voucher saying thank you for your money spent otherwise to the greed of big Government. The M.E can't be touched by the Nation..nor can they speak on behalf of the Headright owners..my theory as to why hit restart regarding the Gross production taxes and so forth..to take away the Nation and put the resources back into the hands of the M.C the original Government. Ever since we became a Government politics became the rule of thumb a thumb up yours in a big way of a snub..in front ans center. Each and everyone of you who started the sham ogf a Government knew my father and respected him and was hoping one day he would be Chief, so much his picture hangs in our Casino..I am for that Dream..you either vote for more of the same or you get that answer from our next Chief and it shou look d be not open for debate it should be a given right as our Government thinks its their born right.

      Delete
    2. When US Congress releases the oil rights back to the land owners, the Osage Nation will have that to drill on plus what's already there. This chief has a plan.....

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    3. I do not see this as of right now, not that what you are saying cannot have some truth to your words.I am looking at both sides of the coin Nation/M.E. The politics so prevalent to the point lets not lose sight of what the opportunistic proposal by both parties and how these proposal will maximize the benefit to the constituency by the purchase of Ted Turner's property/how the GPT and how this will maximize to the benefit of the M.E and not management. Management sometimes and most times are looking for ways that will save their cost but in the long run it did nothing to maximize its resource. That resource is for A lot of shareholders who plan on taking it and using it for retirement..or college fund for their children and so forth. So I am very concerned about the outcome and am planning as well to take steps that we move in a direction that will secure our future..we need to be fare but on the face of this and in light how poorly and no communication from our M.C of which is very disconcerting and disturbing. We are not living in the past anymore we are here front and center the 21st century and the biggest lie that is circling is our M.C is feckless, untrustworthy, incompetent and are responsible for in as much the BIA is complicit for a reputation that is persona non grata in the oil Industry..this is no accident and this is what happens when you have armchair coaching going on from part time members getting paid 1500 dollars a meeting a far cry from 75 dollars a meeting to lord knows what per diams and retirement plan they have. So how is 60,000 dollars a year for each counci member working for the M.E for the benefit of the Estate, so how is it working for us.

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    4. Didn't the Congress recently try to get an extra $6 million from the casinos because of their short budget? but it was cut because of a vote on it. Does the Chief have to get approval from Congress for purchases like that building in downtown Pawhuska and the Ted Turner land? To me buying land is an asset, but is he still trying to build a million dollar statue (that's a gamble, will the Nation get the revenue back and then profit?) I think it was on the East Coast up around New York area, one of those little states, a Tribe put in millions for renovations and extension and now their in trouble. What other money does the Nation live (I didn't use the word survival, cause they been spending big time) off of besides casinos, and a little government supplement, what "other" means do they have if they ever lose the casino money or the revenue is cut in half like our quarterly. If the Nation suffers, I don't believe they can by the 1906 law get any mineral money by force or not? Before the new government (2006), didn't the Nation get money for what they needed (budget), then the leftover money went to shareholders?

      Delete
    5. Paw... downtown looks so bad they ought to make it a permanent set for zombie movies and get hollywood under permanent contract to use it.

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    6. I get what you are saying, long over due we work to build the infrastructure.

      Delete
  19. Chesapeake stock loses half its value; trading halted

    Read more: http://journalrecord.com/2016/02/08/chesapeake-stock-loses-half-its-value-trading-halted-energy/#ixzz3zb74jp3H

    ReplyDelete
  20. As if we don't need any more bad news, Obama is submitting his budget with a $10/barrel tax on crude oil. Obama hates fossil fuels and this action reinforces his position. This also explains a lot of why the BIA is on a mission to cripple the M.E. Orders from the top!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dead on arrival in his lame duck year.

      Delete
    2. You sued the Federal government. They are not your friends if they ever were to begin with. The SOI Sally Jewell redefines what the meaning of a fiduciary relationship where the Indian Tribes are concerned and the U. S. Congress is so negligent, they let her do it and the U.S. Courts stand by and let it happen too. These two branches of government probably have no idea what this woman is even up to because no staffer has been on top of it to alert any of them. I doubt they even care. Believe me, if this was tried out in the real world, the outcry would be substantial and the response would be swift and overwhelmingly effective. If you are a fiduciary, you work for the one you have a fiduciary obligation to, not with, not in and not collaboratively.

      "
      While the Court has ruled that the United States' liability for breach of trust may be limited by Congress, it has also concluded that certain obligations are so fundamental to the role of a trustee that the United States must be held accountable for failing to conduct itself in a manner that meets the standard of a common law trustee. "This is so because elementary trust law, after all, confirms the commonsense assumption that a fiduciary actually administering trust property may not allow it to fall into ruin on his watch. 'One of the fundamental common-law duties of a trustee is to preserve and maintain trust assets."' United States v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 537 U.S. 465, 475 (2003)(internal citations omitted)."

      http://www.bia.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/text/idc1-027607.pdf

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    3. No argument there..we get the Trust is so mismanaged...we get what needs to happen. We get ones agenda? With a new President he will pick his cabinet and pick someone else for her position. That and Gina McCarthy as well..I get fare and balance but these people are control freaks. And should not be able to create policy and its called legislation. Unfortunately the DOI has a proven History to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Which hurts us in the long and short term..

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    4. This is so because elementary trust law, after all, confirms the commonsense assumption that a fiduciary actually administering trust property may not allow it to fall into ruin on his watch. 'One of the fundamental common-law duties of a trustee is to preserve and maintain trust assets."' United States v. White Mountain Apache Tribe, 537 U.S. 465, 475 (2003)(internal citations omitted. This was issued in 2014 after the Cobell suit. Then we won our HPP suit and the same criteria was put forth or promise and look at where we are at. Worse position ever..epic fail.

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    5. There is a whole body of law with regard to estate trustees fully developed beyond common law that the BIA is supposed to be governed by as well. Taking it to the lowest common denominator to explain the trust responsibility is interesting but it isn't all the entire story by any means.

      Delete
  21. Did any of our M.C members attend the meeting with Sen Lankford on Jan 6th? Just read the Osage lastest News.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is the News just reporting this event so late..most importantly is our M.C I n the same page the Chief is on?

      Delete
  22. Beautiful!
    http://omeleto.com/221212/

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  23. Word has it, the new deputy is busy buying furniture, destroying records and supervising his wife. No time to process permits even if they knew how!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What is this I hear of problems with Burbank?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why do you post a incomplete statement? Or is it just rumors?

      Delete
    2. It's not incomplete. I posted what I know that I heard there were problems at Burbank. I asked on this forum thinking someone might know or heard more.

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    3. Thank you, keep us in the loop if you can...I can only imagine.one thing the lease is null and void? The oil Prices are not sustainable and the company is putting this on the back burner or permitting problems...all of the above? Alot of companies are prioritizing and cutting JOBS and assets. And we can see stagnation may be here and worse A Depression. World markets are finally coming to a bubble and we are in this mix of a tale spin with the BIA..unreal.

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  25. I think it's time to cut ties with the BIA.

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    Replies
    1. Ha! That would be like slitting your own throat. You have to earn it to own it and the Osage Nation has earned nothing but our derision and contempt. $19 million lost and counting. Never forget that because their skills at doing anything useful haven't improved an iota in ten years. Past is prologue with these greedy politicians and their preposterous ideas. Look at that new directory they've sent out. If they get their hands on the mineral estate, that's just the tip of the iceburg.

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    2. I think when we cut ties with the BIA, we will lose our head rights, and the oil will go to the land owners.

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    3. 10:59PM, what are you basing that on?

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    4. Simply put, but that's about right...

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    5. If not in complete agreement, without the BIA we will be fighting with every single landowner in Osage County to open their gates and make their property available for oil and gas production and that have to will be in State Court. You can have the mineral rights all day every day but without the legal chops to keep the lease property available to the producers, you'll have a hell of a time getting the oil and gas out of the ground.

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  26. Agenda for tomorrow morning's MC meeting is located at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/3rd-minerals-council-meeting-information

    ReplyDelete
  27. $3,500.00 is being reported as payment for this quarter. This is unofficial.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Maybe someone will make it official now. I want to know when June pymt. cut off is, some say Dec.31, and some say March 31.

      Delete
    2. I read once that it's always exactly 3 months prior to the quarterly, giving the producers ample time to get their figures together. So, to me? most likely end of this month would be cutoff for the producers to have getting in the figures June payment? I think I got that from one of the newsletters the MC use to send out. I don't have my notes but I believe it was on oil price.net website that said this certain type of drilling when it got down to the price of barrel of $20 that it wasn't worth for the producers to continuing on, better for them to close well, and it cost too much to open/start over again. Its a type of drilling done in Osage Cty, I'll look for the name, already started this reply and don't know how to cancel it. Also, without notes? doesn't the MC have some type of rule that helps the producers, like a decrease in the amount of royalty they pay when it's that low ($20/barrel)? Also, do you think the Judge would clarify those producers who are drilling now without any legal problems would stop them like he did with Chapparel, because the BIA using previous rules? Meaning, if it's not brought into court are they safe, are we safe to get a payment in Sept., since May would be the cutoff time for the producers for Sept., lots can happen march, april, may.

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    3. this is Feb. 14 at 1:32 am - Found notes -- Correction! the price is $15 a barrel (not $20) when the rules pop in. From my notes: Stripper wells -- "if oil drops below $15 a barrel, operator does not have to pay the 7% Gross Production Tax (causes reduced Royalty rate)." so I thought it was the MC rule, but now I see its a standard rule. From note: "once a stripper well is closed, it's often permanent as reopening is not worth it economically because profit is so small." This March payment doesn't cover my expenses, but I'm more worried about the Sept. quarterly than I am June.

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    4. That's interesting. I didn't know the gross production taxes paid to the State didn't have to be paid if the price of oil drops to a certain level.

      Delete
  28. This thread is now closed. Go to: http://osageblog.blogspot.com/2016/02/osage-shareholder-matters-february-2016.html

    ReplyDelete