Comments continued from: http://osageblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/osage-shareholder-matters-july-2017.html
Anonymous August 26, 2017 at 11:04 AM The 1906 Allotment Act as amended specifies that approval is required by the 1938 Act to Amend the 1906 Act and it reads as follows verbatim: "The Secretary of the Interior and the Osage Tribal Council are hereby authorized and directed to offer for lease for oil, gas, and other mining purposes any unleased portion of said land in such quantities and at such times as may be deemed for the best interest of the Osage Tribe of Indians..." I don't see any such authorization by the State of Oklahoma or the government of the Osage Nation to even put forth any legal agreement associated with a single solitary mineral in Osage County. This is laid out and so specified by Acts of the United States Congress and signed by the President of the United States, therefore, any such agreement between the parties of the State and the Nation is illegal and thus null and void on its face.
To further these facts of Congressional statutory public law, The current Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) states this verbatim: "§ 226.2 Sale of leases. (a) Written application, together with any nomination fee, for tracts to be offered for lease shall be filed with the Superintendent. (b) The Superintendent, with the consent of the Osage Tribal Council, shall publish notices for the sale of oil leases, gas leases, and oil and gas leases to the highest responsible bidder on specific tracts of the unleased Osage Mineral Estate. The Superintendent may require any bidder to submit satisfactory evidence of his good faith and ability to comply with all provisions of the notice of sale. Successful bidders must deposit with the Superintendent on day of sale a check or cash in an amount not less than 25 percent of the cash bonus offered as a guaranty of good faith. Any and all bids shall be subject to the acceptance of the Osage Tribal Council and APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT."
The 1978 Act also says verbatim: "The Secretary (of the Interior) is hereby authorized to remove from the council any member or members for good cause, to be by him determined, after the party involved has had due notice and opportunity to appear and defend himself. The tribal government so constituted shall continue in full force and effect until January 1, 1984, and thereafter until otherwise provided by Act of Congress."
Good cause is working out an illegal deal that waives the right of the Minerals Council and the BIA to collect royalties on oil, gas or other mineral in Osage County of any kind on the part of the Osage Nation with the State without a lease and without the express approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Violation of Federal law is a crime, make no mistake and this appears on its face to be a flagrant violation, pure and simple on paper in black and white.
Cause and effect, if in the end the headright owners rights have been infringed upon, then we have no recourse to tke each and every member of our council and BIA to just. And yes we can with june right around the corner I suggest we start looking i to replacing them with people that are capable of running a large estate like this.
You need to follow the money. Standingbear and his handlers want to but the M.E. What sort of political favors is the Chief getting out of this? He has less than a year to fulfill his Harvard masters' wishes so they are going to turn up the heat and force him to accomplish their goals. We are going to see more of the illegal moves until election time. Standingbear is a bane to the Osage people and a direct threat to the Shareholders.
Any party whether in the Osage congress or the Mineral Council who is corroborating with Standingbear knows or should know they are in violation of the ethical and legal values they are sworn to protect. The Osage Nation government was born out of fraud and will collapse from the indignities of the people running the government. The Nation is not about governance, rather it is about the larceny of those who control the purse strings. Those fools on the hill ruined the reservation status and through their folly will eventually wipe the Osages from the map of the earth.
Our current problems needs to be addressed now. No waiting for a miracle election.
Simply E-mail Congress and ask the question "Where is it written that gave Congress the legal right to make a mineral estate dealing with the state?" And then resend it two or three times a day.
Was it just a year ago some lady politician was talking about capturing the excessive gas and selling it? Yes, I believe this can really get away from us if we don't get some answers from Congress, and the mineral council. Not going to get any answers from the Superintendent unless she's confronted with the question while in a minerals council meeting. Like, does she know about this, if so, was is legal?, did Congress go over her responsibility has our Trustee? Mama doesn't have to love us, but she's our legal guardian.
In the last mineral council meeting there was mention of the next Newsletter getting started, e-mail the Chairman and copy the other members and maybe we'll get an answer from one of them, ask if someone would respond on what they know about what Congress did about the "gas" deal with the state, like what was that all about. (Because it's not like it's not any of our business.)
Where is this Agreement referred to and what are the terms and conditions of it? ONCR 17-32, A Resolution to support and authorize the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the Osage Nation and the State of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to repair a dangerous natural gas seep at Pawhuska High School and to provide monetary assistance; and to authorize a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. (Buffalohead) You can find the document without the Agreement attached here: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/congress-legislative-branch/legislation Why did Kugee change his vote when he was the one who voted against it until he saw the vote would fail and then turned tail and voted for it. He was the one who read it out on the air in Appendix "A" that, if voted for, it waives the right of the Minerals Council to collect a royalty on natural gas from all geothermal wells, not just the one in particular at the Pawhuska school which is what the Minerals Council wanted that was changed by the Osage Nation by either the Chief or the Osage Congress, I’m not sure which. Maria Whitehorn made this change very clear without questions being asked of those who needed to be there prior to a the final vote of the Congress on this legislation and she shook her head looking dismayed at Kugee, as if he is somehow deranged, when he said he would vote no unless the vote failed to pass the resolution, at which point, he planned to change his vote to yes which he actually did and as a result, waiver of the right of the Minerals Council to a royalty on natural gas from geothermal wells included, the resolution passed by his one vote. You'll find this segment about 4 minutes into the tape here: Congressman Kugee is the man wearing the Hawaiian shirt.
Plus, the Osage Congress approved this agreement with a $50,000 payoff? This well in question was non-oil and gas related and was dug by the school system for heating their schools and has nothing to do with our minerals or us at all. The kids we're already going back to school safely before the Osage Congress ever voted on this resolution!
This Public Statement appeared on the Pawhuska Public Schools Facebook page TWO DAYS BEFORE the Osage Congress voted on ONCR 17-32 : "Pawhuska Public Schools August 23 at 3:46pm · The Pawhuska Public Schools are scheduled to start classes Monday, August 28, 2017. Both the State Fire Marshal and the EPA have confirmed there are no current air quality hazards. Elementary and Indian Camp schools will have welcome tables set up Monday morning, in place of back to school night. We would like to again, thank our patrons for your continued patience and understanding." I observed that more than just Maria looked at Kugee like he'd lost his mind.
Kugee must be accepting bribes. He too is a sellout. How much money is he getting to vote the way he does? All Osages have very serious issue the the Osage government. Give the Chief and certain members of congress and the M.E enough money they would gladly dissolve the Osage Nation and ruinate the Osage people.
Look at Jim Gray with his lies and illegal vote. He made millions with his plot to eliminate the Shareholder. Pipestem made millions arguing that the HPP award go to the government rather than the Shareholders. Osages out of state have no benefits or viable input to Osage matters.
The Osage Nation should go into the restaurant business as their specialty is cooking the books up there on the second floor.
Hate to tell you but the Osage Nation took what the MC had agreed to and that was for one geothermal well and one well only located at Pawhuska High School and drop kicked that provision of the Agreement right into the trash can. Listen to the comments of Maria Whitehorn...
Osage News has the story: http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/26/chief-standing-bear-signs-agreement-occ-plug-geothermal-well-near-phs/ "“As I told Chief Standing Bear, I hope this remarkable cooperation between tribal, state, and federal agencies will lay a path for us to continue to work together in the future.”" I'll just bet they want to work with us in the future especially since it includes all geothermal wells per this agreement that should have only specified the one well in question at Pawhuska High School. Take note that the article in the Osage News does not give any reactions from the members of the Minerals Council! StandingBear is supposed to protect the interests of the Nation including those of the Shareholders first and foremost. If the well was dug by the City or County government, then it's their responsibility to cure the problem and to indemnify us from their actions, not the other way around. I can only hope this pompously gratuitous action on the Chief's part and the open cowardice of certain members of the Osage Nation Congress, flip floppers included, hasn't ushered in the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Courts in the State of Oklahoma into Osage County. Time will tell...
HA! With the Osage Nation now involved in trying to fix the problem, it will be November 1st before the high schoolers in Pawhuska can get back into the classroom! I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the well doesn't blow up. This will be our first test of how well the Osage Nation can perform in the running of the Osage minerals estate. https://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3&theater
So... now we find out the rest of the story... According to Susan Foreman, "There are 28 geothermal wells at PHS permitted by the OWRD drilled to 350’ in the Cochahee gas sand. There is a Town Hall Meeting at the Dave Landrum Community Center in Pawhuska at 6PM tonight." Not just one geothermal well but 28. These were permitted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Again, insufficient and therefore substandard reporting from the Osage News as to a full and fair telling of the story. According to Congresswoman Whitehorn, speaking during this Special Session, this was not the agreement that was passed by the Minerals Council's resolution because it had language specific to one well and one well only on the PHS ball field. It was changed in the Osage Nation Congressional version to all geothermal wells, waving the Minerals Councils right to collect royalties and could therefore invite a question as to whether the natural gas being flared on all these wells should be looked at in each situation and location where there is a geothermal well involved as to whether a royalty on this natural gas should be being paid out. This leaves open the question as to whether this situation is being handled properly where the shareholders with a headright are concerned. Apparently there are 28 geothermal wells at PHS alone being reported by Susan Forman on a facebook site just recently. "ONCR 17-32 passed with two “no” votes from Congress members James Norris and Maria Whitehorn." ...After Kugee changed his vote on this resolution, of course. http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/30/osage-congress-approved-three-items-aug-25-special-session/
Duplication of information services because of the Osage Agency Policy. If the money comes from the Mineral Council, it comes from the drawdown and if it comes from the drawdown then it comes out of Headright money. Remember the days, not so long ago, when not all of the $1,000,000 drawdown was used and what was left over was distributed to the Headright owners? Not since the new government has been in play though. Not one dime back to the shareholders for the last 11 years... http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/28/minerals-council-working-digitizing-records-aid-oil-producers-hindered-foia/
Duplication of information services because of the Osage Agency Policy? If the money comes from the Mineral Council, it comes from the drawdown and if it comes from the drawdown then it comes out of Headright money. Remember the days, not so long ago, when not all of the $1,000,000 drawdown was used and what was left over was distributed to the Headright owners? Not since the new government has been in play though. Not one dime back to the shareholders for the last 11 years... http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/28/minerals-council-working-digitizing-records-aid-oil-producers-hindered-foia/
How do you take control of our own "property" if it's held in Trust? The Trustee always controls the property on behalf of and for the benefit of the beneficiaries in every legal trust arrangement on this side of the planet, especially at the Federal level with an Indian Trust relationship handled and administrated by the BIA. Do you really want our Chief going to Washington, D.C., to end the Mineral Estate Trust we have now with the BIA exercising some kind of hybrid trust responsibility out in limbo somewhere that won't include any legal protection in Federal or State Court and us having to legally defend every move we make with attempting to get paid on the oil and gas taken out of the ground with attorneys like Gentner Drummond telling all the land owners to lock up their gates and the Osage Nation running things like they've run the Osage, LLC at a loss of $19,000,000 and hundreds of thousands of dollars going to the Osage Nation Energy Services LLC which hasn't done a single thing but collect hefty paychecks monthly for the Board Members and buy a building? Another coup is taking place right out from under us, people, and don't think it isn't. See Jim Ryan to OSAGE FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY on July 19, 2017. Beginning with the statement: "Because this statement is so relative and important,I am reposting here."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/234024393278360/
If you think the Osage Nation won't make an absolute mess of our minerals estate, read this:
There is more pomposity in this photograph than you will see anywhere else in the entire world. These two Osage Nation elected officials are the culprits who are attempting to take away your current Mineral Estate Trust now managed by the BIA and the Office of the Special Trustee, make no mistake about that!
As bad as that is with the BIA, and indeed it is very bad, try and wrap your mind around what a catastrophe it will be with the Osage Nation in charge.
Under a new regime, the minute we try to run to the BIA to protect us they will say and rightly so, “Sorry, you wanted to run it, you’ve got it now so you protect yourselves, just like everyone else does in the business world.”
If nothing else, remember this: Pride is not competence!
Poor Jim Ryan. He really appears to be such a dupe. I once had a conversation with StandingBear where he said everyone was going to move home. I thought he was delusional at the time but what I believe he was really indicating to me was this; if we want any money coming from the Osage Tribe now the Osage Nation, we'll have to move home to get it. Does Jim Ryan plan to move back to Osage County, does anyone know?
So what do we get in benefits from the $800,000 in raises for FY 2107 for Osage Nation employees that the members of the Osage Nation Executive Branch and members of The Osage Nation Supreme Court so righteously support? I don't see that we benefit at all. The employees eat up the funds with raises and unearned bonuses in the Osage Nation Treasury that should be going to all of us in membership benefits and then there is nothing left to fund the health and education member benefit programs.
How much did we pay out for this sucker to the detriment of member health and education benefits? https://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3 The thing looks like it's there to advertise the Motel Super 8! Only the Osage Nation government elected officials would buy into this...
Shannon Edwards said they, meaning the Executive Branch, ignored a safeguard in Osage Nation law that requires the Osage Nation Treasurer to verify the sufficiency of funds in the Treasury before it is appropriated. If the Chief, who is a lawyer and an officer of the Court, will ignore something as staggeringly important as this, what else will be up for grabs in the future? Did certain members of the Osage Nation Congress ignore this safeguard too?
Time to hold those responsible and make a few amendments in our Constitution allows for this to happen other wise we risk moral integrity to our Tribe forever hold your peace that we don't get a Chief that welcomes accountability and transparency. A deep audit into each Dept.would be a beginning.
How much did we pay out for this sucker to the detriment of member health and education benefits? https://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3 The thing looks like it's there to advertise the Motel Super 8! Only the Osage Nation government elected officials would buy into this location...
Nice placement of the arrow. https://www.facebook.com/osagetraillegacy/photos/a.1695244944038459.1073741830.1654036954825925/1997906853772265/?type=3&theater
"ignored a safeguard," "verify the sufficiency of funds in the Treasury before it is appropriated."
Keep this statement in mind at all times, don't forget about the large loss of LLC and how long it went on without regard to "ALL" headright owners. (It happened from our elected, not the gov.)
Our past has to do why this blog page is so important, it is "NEEDED," and that's a proven.
The Congress and Nation gives me the feeling I'm on welfare.
We have to stay on guard to protect waste and greed of our "inherited" interest and that inheritance is written in our ancestors blood, broken treaties, murder, and theft.
The oil revenue comes from mother earth, not the Federal government like the Nation gets.
In the past, we have made a number of recommendations to take action to contact members of the Osage Nation Congress, the BIA and the U.S. Congress on items that we haven't liked or thought were the wrong thing to do and as a result, those things haven't gone forward or changes have been made that we have supported that are all to the good. Go back and read past threads at http://osageblog.blogspot.com/ In the past four years, right here at the Osage Blog, we’ve taken proactive positive action to provide information to turn back the proposed CFRs that were so deleterious to the oil and gas producers in the field in Osage County along with two other facebook sites of other concerned and involved Osages around the country. From Texas, Jim Ryan's Facebook site is very good for exactly this reason at https://www.facebook.com/groups/234024393278360/ and Yancey Red Corn's site is also very interesting and available too with a focus on member Osages who actually live in and around Osage County. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/yanman/ Jim Ryan went all out to make certain that the Osage Nation government took legal action against those responsible for the massive losses at the Osage, LLC as did we and as a result of the public outcry, the Osage Nation got involved and filed a lawsuit against Carol Leese and others who were involved. If it was up to the Osage Nation alone, I don't believe it would have ever happened because the breadcrumb trail leads right back to the elected Osage Nation officials and the managing Osage, LLC Board at the time who continued to fund or request funds for the thing when they knew or should have known after the first year or so that it was a bad investment in and too high a risk use of public Osage Nation funds especially when a number of these officials were warned both by phone and in various locations online time and time again against throwing more and more millions after a business non-starter that sure enough descended into what now appears to be criminal behavior with one loan of a million dollars of our money to individuals who are now being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for fraudulent use of the money which they substantially took and back-pocketed. Our niche here is that everyone can post anonymously where with facebook, such is not by any means, the case. Truth to Power is our theme here to keep the Osage Nation government honest. Public opinion is important and it really matters. Recently, it has helped when the Chief attempted to hand out leases on the Bluestem Ranch without the approval of the Osage Nation Congress and more importantly, outside of the purview of the Bluestem Ranch Business Enterprise Board that was put in place to run the ranch, in violation of Article X, Section 8. “Independence of Boards and Commissions” of the Osage Nation Constitution (ONC). Osages all over the country were calling for Chief Standing Bear to be removed from office for that one under ONC, Article XXII - “Removal”. Don't think your opinion doesn't matter because it does and it makes a huge difference at times with how the Osage Nation government is run or not run depending upon what Osage Nation members want to have happen or not happen in government.
Having the power and control isn't competence either. Why would we want to give managerial control over to Standing Bear and Raymond Red Corn? They did the budgeting and they are the ones who are now coming up short on funding for member benefits when they initially made representations that the money was there and available when originally budgeted in the first place. Those in the know are now are saying the organization in government there in Pawhuska, in-house, is in complete disarray with some employees getting paychecks from two or three different divisions at the same time every month! It's a colossal mess and I just heard yesterday that the Realty Compact the Nation is running is really screwed up now too. They always say they are going to hire professionals but at this point their reputation is so bad, open speculation is that no real and true professional will work with them at any price. That's just the turn of phrase they run by everyone though because in reality, they almost always hire people from the inside because anyone from the outside who is actually qualified and finds out how screwed up things are and has tried to make the necessary changes in the past has gotten fired fairly early on with the excuse that they weren't the right mix. A classic example of exactly what I mean is what happened to Norma Merriman. Read this--->>> http://osagenews.org/en/article/2012/04/11/former-health-and-wellness-division-leader-testifies-congressional-hearing/ The ones they claim are so professional who are the anointed ones have had mid-level management jobs with companies they have worked for if that, with no real serious Senior Executive Level management background or work experience for a period of years numbering more than ten. They want the money but they don't really want to work for it. Stories continue to surface of how 20% or more of the Osage Nation government work force are making a show of coming in but not on time, leave with some excuse for a long lunch or leave early before the close of business hours, in effect, stealing time day in and day out from the Osage Nation government, therefore, from the Osage people and to one degree or another, all of them are reported to be doing it! Can't run a business effectively this way or a government either. I'm so sick of the "give them a chance" philosophy. A chance to what? Fail again? They're not doing anything different so why should we give them any more chances to run anything else that involves a business or money? It's just foolish and stupid to think they can do better -- and this is very important --especially when they behave like they really don't care whether or not they succeed or fail as long as the money keeps rolling in. This generation of Osage Nation elected and appointed officials and employees have no earthly right to decimate by dereliction -- and by that I mean, the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations to the Osage people successfully -- all of the fiscal resources of the Osage Nation in the here and now, thereby destroying the financial future of and the possibility of benefits for those who are yet to be born.
Thank you it seems moral obligation has gone by the way side and they who are earning a check just because they can those Depts who are abusing the system and now it seems its sestemic and a huge waste of our money. Hmm. Smh. Which Depts in paticular are we talking about.
Not to be too cynical but in the event of another world war, where do you think they will be coming for oil? If it can happen once, it can happen twice. Just saying... http://osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/07/chief-standing-bear-selected-joint-civilian-orientation-conference-pentagon/
More of a chance of cival war before a world war. Once again I repeat it will not happen. For one, China has to much vested in the U.S. Then you have all our allies that if we don't react to N.K first they will because they are closer.
Has anyone heard the outcome of the WILLIAM S. FLETCHER, et al., vs THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,et al., ? I believe the judgment was for a full accounting starting from 2002 until current. I thought the court gave the government an 18 month extension starting 01/27/16.
I have not checked the Indianz.com archive past May 4, 2017, so there may be an update, I will check the archives this weekend, it's so time consuming the way it is set up.
indianz.com May 4, 2017 - "Osage Nation beneficiaries still fighting for accounting despite a setback in court"
[the setback is the court's decision to say we are not entitled to go back to 1906, but instead "2002"] Hearing was on March 22, 2017 in Denver, CO, and the decision on April 21, 2017. The appeal decision is available at end of this article, it's 11 pages.
It's an appeal full of verbal harshness toward us, they are going to fight in everyway possible to stop or hinder this lawsuit. We are seeking justice and they could care less, to them it's all about the green bill.
Here are some quotes from the appeal: page 10 -- "...nothing in Fletcher II requires the government to produce all electronic records." [to me, records means "all records]
page 11 -- "Every headright yields on average $7,975 per quarter..." [what year are they talking about, not 2017]
page 11 -- "...court reasoned that restoring a single headright...would only increase each headright..less than $15 per year."
page 11 -- "Plaintiffs now suggest yet another starting point - 1972 - ..."comes too late."
[I've seen no mention of a next court date? I believe whenever there's a final legal document, getting details in order, A. Proctor will have to do another appeal to address the lawsuit to a monetary lawsuit in the future. But we are still an active case!]
I heard that that Proctor woman who is the attorney in the lawsuit representing the plaintiffs wanted to have the Judge award her some kind of court costs at which point, the Judge made the case that Proctor's representation is on a contingency basis and that she should be expecting to get these fees from the client per her legal representation agreement with the plaintiffs and not from the court. I think it may be bogged down there as far as I know. Correct me if I'm wrong and post an update if you have one available. It's a lost leader anyway because the plaintiffs have really been going for getting back the headrights that have gone out to others than family and non-Osages and legal persons including churches and banks and the like. No Federal Judge will ever let that happen so it should grind to a halt. The Osages alive today in the Osage seem to live in an alternate reality on this issue which is really dangerous for them and their children. What's even more terrible is, I don't think they really care no matter what comes of it as long as they can get that mineral estate income back. If a thing like this ever happens, I predict that it will make the Osage Murders during the early period of the last century look like a gopher shoot. Mark my words on this. I kid you not and that's a shame for all Osages who live back home who are are actually capable of letting bygones be bygones who aren't so greed driven on this issue.
Don't think for one minute that these people who currently own headrights that are generating income will take this lying down. What even most of the Osages who live back home don't know is this very concrete fact associated with one of the amendments to the 1906 Allotment Act; if an entity known as the Osage Tribe wasn't created as a legal person back in 1906, the mineral rights reserved to the Osage Tribe would have been tied to the land and every Osage original allottee would have been able to sell them, will them, or give them away after the first 25 years prior to the various extensions, including the last one reserved in perpetuity. In the 1938 Act to Amend the 1906 Allotment Act, it specifically states about the income from the mineral rights, "belongs to the Osage Tribe." This is, of course, correct from a legal standpoint because you have to have an owner of property before it is transferred and taken into Trust. This is a correct following of the law in this situation created by the 1906 Allotment Act and its subsequent amendments. Now, what most land owners in Osage County don't realize as well is this: if the Federally held trust is terminated by the United States Congress unilaterally and the 1978 Act to amend the 1938 Act to amend the 1906 Allotment Act and this provision on prevails with the current assets taken out of trust, by operation of this very Act of the United States Congress signed by the President in 1978, the minerals income must be returned to the original named owner that is still in existence today that is in the entity of the Federally recognized Osage Nation. It is at the exclusive and absolute option of the Osage Nation what will happen at that point and that income must be given back to the Nation and deposited in whatever vehicle the Osage Nation creates per operation of Federal law, be it placing the income in the Osage Nation Treasury or a new trust account created by the Osage Nation with an entirely new group of Osage shareholders with no obligation whatsoever to the non-Osages who currently receive Osage Mineral Estate income. The Nation will likely have two options at that point; to create a new trust with the current set of Osage Shareholders that will create a sure and certain internal crisis as those current members of the Osage Nation without a headright won't stand for a special class of Osages to be created by the Osage Nation that will receive minerals income or they will have the option to create a new set of shareholders with a totally different criteria determined by them and them alone that may or may not include all current registered Osage Nation members, as an example; only those who live in Osage County. The final option will likely be the one chosen and that is for the Osage Nation to keep all the Minerals income and deposit it in the Treasury and let it go at that, at which point, one way or another, all of the legal persons like churches and banks in addition to all non-Osages will be cut out of the herd. Imagine what a scenario like this will create and what will ensue with both Osages and non-Osages alike in Osage County and throughout the State of Oklahoma. Imaging too what will happen with all Osage and non-Osage headright owners who don’t live in Oklahoma losing their income as well. Not good to say the very least. In short, the bitter legacy of Lottie Pratt and her litigious son Charlie, will get a whole lot more bitter before the dust settles.
From the Act of June 24,1938 (52 Stat. 1034, 1035): "That all that part of the Act of June 28, 1906 (34 Stat. L. 539), entitled 'An Act for the division of the lands and funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma, and for other purposes', which reserves to the Osage Tribe the oil, gas, coal, or other minerals, covered by the lands for the selection and division of which provision is made in that Act is hereby amended so that the oil, gas, coal, or other minerals, covered by said lands are reserved to the Osage Tribe...and all royalties and bonuses arising therefrom shall belong to the Osage Tribe of Indians..." From OCTOBER 21, 1978, PUBLIC LAW 95–496, 92 STAT. 1660 c) The fourth paragraph of section 3 of the Act of June 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 1034, 1036) is amended by striking the phrase " January 1, 1984" and inserting, in lieu thereof, the phrase " January 1, 1984 and thereafter until otherwise provided by Congress". RE: The section of the 1938 Act that has been amended by the 1978 Act giving the Federal government the ability to unilaterally opt out of continuing forward with the Mineral Estate Trust and the Trust relationship with the Osages that it is currently bound by today: "The lands, moneys, and other properties now or hereafter held in trust or under the supervision of the United States for the Osage Tribe of Indians, the members thereof, or their heirs and assigns, shall continue subject to such trusts and supervision until January 1, 1984, unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress." The last part of this sentence now reads, "January 1, 1984 and thereafter until otherwise provided by Congress." What is up in the air is what is actually meant and required by the text of the last phrase, "until otherwise provided by Congress." We know what an Act of Congress means and requires. What we don't know is what is required when the United States Congress "provides" for the trusts and supervision or decides to no longer provide for them.
1) The Osage County mineral rights belong to the Osage Tribe in perpetuity.
2) The income from the Mineral rights belongs to and is owned by the Osage Tribe, now known as the Osage Nation, should the current Federal Mineral Estate Trust now in place be terminated by the United States Congress unilaterally and the rights to that income be handed back to them once they have been brought back out of trust as the legal owner of record unless the United States Congress provides for and creates another new and separate Osage Mineral Estate Trust in the future.
3) The mineral rights throughout all of Osage County are reserved to the Osage Tribe, now known as the Osage Nation, in perpetuity, without reference to the current Federal Mineral Estate Trust now in place or any other Trust or Osage County land ownership now and in the future. The mineral rights reserved to the Osage Nation are standalone per the 1906 Allotment as amended.
So What you're saying is that the ME belongs to the Osage Nation Government. Pipestem made the same argument in court with the HPP award. The Judge recognized Pipestem's error and was well aware that the HPP award go to the Shareholders.
The "Osage Tribe" and Osage Nation has historically has been used interchangeably. The Proponents of the 2006 Osage Government are playing word games to confuse the matter by saying that the 2006 Osage Nation government rids the 1906 Act of it's meaning and intent.
Jim Gray et al failed in their attempt to wrestle the ME from the Shareholders with an illegal vote, failed to convince the Judge on the HPP matter, and are now in Washington greasing the palms of Congressmen to entice them to put aside the 1906 Act and declare the Osage Nation Government the rights to the ME.
Merely Changing the name, or rather using the term Osage Nation does not dispel the 1906 Act or any other law protecting the Shareholders from take over.
PL108 does not eliminate the 1906 Act. In fact it REAFFIRMS the 1906 Act. PL108 states the the Osage Tribe a.k.a the Shareholders can create a new government IF THEY WANTED TO AND THAT THE SHAREHOLDER ALONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREATE A NEW GOVERNMENT. Jim Gray et al allowed non-shareholder Osages to illegally vote to create a new government. Worse yet, many Shareholders were kept in the dark and were continually being misinformed of the proposed change.
The latest actions of Standingbear giving large sum of money away and rubbing shoulders with Washington is yet another attempt to eliminate the Shareholder and gain the ME revenue for the "Osage Nation" which diabolically only includes members of the Osage government, their families, and whomever they deem worthy of sharing the ME revenue...which means no one else but the small group of people in Pawhuska.
The ME is held in trust in perpetuity for the Osage Shareholders but NOT the Osage Nation government.
The 1906 Allotment Act says that in the absence of the income Trust that was created by it for the original allottees, their heirs and assigns as amended by subsequent Acts of the U.S. Congress, everything belongs to the Osage Tribe now Nation. This IS the 1906 Allotment Act as amended. Read all of the Act of the U.S. Congress that pertain to the 1906 Allotment Act including the Act itself and you will find all of this in there in the text of these documents. Where you are confused is that the income was owned to the Headright owners because it was they who lost the income along the way due to the failure of the BIA to live up to the Trust responsibilities due as a result of the legal fiduciary relationship between the headright owners as beneficiaries of the Trust and the BIA and Secretary of the Interior as the Trustee of the Osage Mineral Estate. The Judge in the HPP case had no other choice or option but to repatriate the lost income back to the beneficiaries who lost it due to the actions or inactions of the OME Trustee and the BIA.
What I believe that can't actually be proven is that Pipestem wanted the total amount of the lawsuit settlement to be distributed to the Osage Nation so that it could be given out to the Osage headright owners only and not to the non-Osages and organizations that have ownership of one or more headrights.
Boy oh boy poster at September 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM, you really want that ME revenue for yourselves their up om the hill. Your government types are salivating at idea of ending the shareholders. There will NOT be a distribution to the proper Shareholders. The money will only go to the Nation. You claim I am confused because the issue was between the BIA and the Shareholder. If that is the case then why was the Nation involved demanding the HPP award go to it instead of the Shareholder? The Nation hijacked the case hoping to reap the award. The Judge issued her ruling based on the 1906 Act and the law - NOT simply because of a new Nation government.
The idea being that the Osage Nation would be in control of who would get the HPP settlement proceeds once it had the total settlement proceeds in hand and the scuttlebutt at the time was that this was being aimed for so the Nation could then turn around and give it out to Osages only with a headright or a percentage of one. This would have cut out about a third of those who actually receive headright income who are not Osages including organizations and institutions like banks and churches that currently own headrights and receive quarterly checks. Makes sense from the Osage point of view but it didn't work out that way.
With Russia vacating the Russian Embassy in San Francisco and burning their documents as I write this comment, and the report of Klaxon sirens going off in Japan in the last 24 hours, I’ve got to tell you, I am getting to be largely concerned about this situation. In the event of a thermonuclear war, see the map for missile silo sites that are considered to be prime targets if Russia should join the fight. See http://diyprepping.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/life0602.jpg Driving away from these locations if war is declared by either North Korea, Russia or the USA may well be the only option to avoid drifting fallout unless you are within range of an area that is subject to an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) and everything electronic becomes no longer operational including vehicles. A very bad business indeed if the balance shifts and the scales tip in the wrong direction...
In the "Notice of Pendency of Class Action" (2015) - Numeral II, Section A "The Claims in the Lawsuit" states: "The Plaintiffs allege that if the Defendants cannot account then the Defendants should be required to restore the Osage trust funds "placed to the credit of the individual members of Osage Tribe."
I kept a copy of the list of entities, it list 52 entities with one no longer existing. It looks to me to be about five different categories: humanitarian (e.g. Tulsa Boys' Home), churches (e.g. Osage Indian Baptist Church), banks (e.g. Wells Fargo Bank), oil companies (e.g. Southland Royalty Company), and good-wills (e.g. Institute of American Indian Arts Foundation). I don't see any "individual" names on this list.
Page 3 states "...various tribal members sold--and others gave away or bequeathed--their royalty interests...or portions of them (..."fractionalization")."
So it was known of and approved of by the BIA before headright owners started to be displeased about non-tribal members conveying their interests. I don't think this question has been answered yet, and that is, "was the U.S. responsible for the royalties 'after' they were disburse to the IIM accounts?" So the BIG question is "was the recipients 'Eligible or Ineligible'."
This is truly a confusing and complex lawsuit. If these 51 entities had names like "Joe's Barber Shop," or "Tim's Liquor Store," "Dan's Tattoo Parlor," I think the gov. would be more willing to look into this but I can't see the gov. stopping payment with the entities on the list (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, et al). If this case was won, they would have to.
Banks -- I've read in Indian history books how Osages owed money--so maybe that accounts for the "banks."
Oil Companies -- even in today, I think oil companies would buy out Osages interest if they legally could. I see on the internet royalty companies advertising to buy out royalty lands/investments. Back then, oil companies maybe offered to the Osages buyouts.
Except for the oil companies and banks, it looks like those Osages were good Christians donating from their heart (St. Joseph's Orphanage, New Mexico Boys Ranch, Masonic Homes of California).
On the "Appeal" document dated April 21, 2017 Page 8 states: "Plaintiffs ultimately hope to prove that the government has sent money to persons ineligible to receive headright shares.. and, in this way, improperly diminished their pro rata share." "Even now Plaintiffs state that they will likely bring back their misdistribution claim after the government performs the accounting."
If this case is won, get ready for new rules and regulations from the BIA again to cover themselves, and the BIA having more control over our royalties after disbursement to our IIM account.
So wrong it isn't funny. Once that money leaves the Federal Trust account it becomes the personal property of every single one of the headright owners outright period whether it's sent by U.S. Treasury check or automatic deposit to non-Osages or organizations or entities or deposited into IIM accounts which are also the exclusive personal property of each and every Osage who has one. Where these lawyers are coming up with all this nonsense is beyond me. If money leaves the Federal Trust account, it belongs to whoever it's sent to and they have the absolute right to dispose of it as they wish unless they are Osages who fall into restricted status. Then things work differently with only a portion of the money available after initial disbursement,
"If this case is won, get ready for new rules and regulations from the BIA again to cover themselves, and the BIA having more control over our royalties after disbursement to our IIM account." - poster at September 4, 2017 at 2:53 AM.
Ah yes, the solution is to allow the Osage Nation government to control the ME and the revenue distribution. Come on, the Nation will not distribute one penny to the proper Shareholders. Again, Pipestem argued that the HPP award go to the "Osage Nation" government - not the Shareholders. That is the government's stance.
The Osage Government wants to consider itself the one and only shareholder thus ending the individual Shareholders. The Nation has no intention of distributing anything. The per cap controversy is an example of the Nation's mentality.
The obsession with returning shares going to entities that could receive them is another example of the voraciousness of certain Osages. It was not illegal for Shareholders in the past to bequeath their share to a recipient of their choice. Yet, for some some reason it is now "illegal" for those entities to own a share that was previously bequeathed?
The BIA may be difficult to deal with but at least they can be held accountable in a court of law. Whereas the Osage Nation Government cannot be brought to the Osage Nation court due to it insulating itself in the ON constitution. If the Nation were to succeed in controlling the ME and its revenue and in turn refuses to distribute any funds to the Shareholders, the Shareholders have no recourse to address their complaint. If the Shareholders wish to bring a matter to the federal courts, the Nation will argue sovereignty status. Whether the sovereignty matter is up for debate being that Indian nations are not truly sovereign.
If the Fletcher case is successful, the Osage Nation will hold to its nature and attempt to find a way to confiscate the award for itself - or we shall say confiscate the award for certain Osages within the government?
What's all this about the definition of acceptable adult birth certificates, Congressman Tillman? ONCA 17-91, An Act to amend 21 ONC §1-102 of the Osage Nation Membership Act to define birth certificate; and to establish an alternate effective date. (Tillman)
I guess we'll never know because, according to the Legislative Calendar for today, they held two committee meetings of the Osage Congress at the same time right after the Session and taped only one of them. The Rules and Ethics Committee got broadcast. The Membership Committee meeting did not. I guess they thought we don't need to know about what happened in that one.
This doesn’t sound too good. I sure hope if Chairman Waller starts to feel the Shareholders aren’t being fully represented or the Chairman starts to feel he is in ‘Over His Head’ he asks for backup. I noticed already Oklahoma is not listed as a ‘Primary Members’ state or under ‘Tribes’ we are the last listed ‘Primary Member’ & the only ‘Tribe’ not in bold letters. Are we getting updates from the Royalty Policy Committee? Any thoughts … http://nativenewsonline.net/currents/interior-secretary-appoints-eight-american-indians-royalty-policy-committee/
You are wrong there. Waller is listed as a Primary Tribal Member. http://www.ladailypost.com/content/zinke-appoints-members-royalty-policy-committee I question that we are even represented because the Osage Mineral Estate is legislatively and legally controlled by the 1906 Allotment Act as amended with the roll-out as per the current Code of Federal Regulations. These other Tribes probably come under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act somehow but with us, this does not apply. Waller is such a fathead too, I hate to see him representing us. I wish the Minerals Council would get some backbone and put someone else in as Chairman because the word is that he's over a barrel for "certain reasons" and because of it, Standing Bear runs him around like the carpet sweeper. If the Osage Nation gets that Minerals income ownership returned if it's brought back out of the Federal Trust and put back into private ownership per the terms of the 1938 Amendment to amend the 1906 Allotment Act, we can kiss our quarterly payments bye-bye.
If they close the Trust account because the Federal OME Trust is terminated then we can have headrights all day long but with nothing in the closed Trust account, it will be zip, nada, zero dollars distributed people. In one respect, if this proves to be the case in the future, it would almost be worth it to see Sonny Abbott's flushed face when he finds out he's been just as had as all of the rest of us.
Waller is feckless period....and the 1906 as amended is a solid document not open for interpretation and means exactly what it says. Stop the fear mongering. Besides we are 5000 strong and I would have them in court faster than ypu could count on behalf of all of us. Let them try they would lose.
FYI - indianz.com, Sept 6, 2017 - "Secretary Zinke appoints tribal representatives to committee for royalty policy"
"The committee's first meeting takes place Oct. 4 in Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public and the department will provide a web and teleconference broadcast for those not able to make it in person"
www.doi.gov/rpc (FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act, describes the whole organization and members, etc.)
Lately from reading on Indianz.com, I have seen it mentioned several times that even though a tribe is described as a sovereign Nation, there will always be "Federal oversight." so, it looks to me that there is no "total" sovereign Nation?
Ah you read a post of mine and I came to the same conclusion that really in terms its a word all to often used like a wet sponge. Sovereign. And really its not the Government that is Sovereign it is the people of the Tribe who is Sovereign. Today is really no different than yesterday because we may be in better shape than we were yesterday. There is a solution and to break all ties from the Federal Government since we are a Nation State so we claim but in reality no one wants to cut off the umbilical cord. In our case and the 1906 act is solid and the responsibility should not fall into the wrong hands especially if we cannot hold those responsible for their actions by our Constitution and howmit is written but thats going to change asap. That is with w new Chief and Congress members who will do the diligence and stop being afraid of each other and do what is right for the people and notntheir wallets. Wait and see folks.
So ask those guys who were involved in the Cora Jean Jech Lawsuit against the Osage Nation government and what the BIA finally said to them in the highest Administrative Court at the Bureau, the Interior Board of Appeals.
In summary, the Feds have said that this is an interior matter and must be reviewed in the Tribal Court of the Sovereign Tribal Nation.
Then look at this paragraph in the Osage Nation Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4. Remedies: No person shall be entitled to an award of monetary damages, as a form of relief, in the Osage Trial Court for any violation of these rights; unless the Osage Nation Congress may by law provide for monetary damages as a form of relief for such violations, when relief would best serve the interests of the Osage Nation or that of justice."
When do you think the Osage Nation Congress will ever see "the interest of justice" go against the Osage Nation and for the Shareholders to award monetary damages? A cold day in hell when that will happen, I tell you. Let me summarize it all for you: The Osage Nation is now the player not the Osage Tribe. The Osage Nation is sovereign and we at the BIA cannot meddle in their internal affairs. Bring up your legal issue with the Osage Nation. If the Nation breaks ties with the Feds altogether, good luck with getting access to the property in Osage County with all the gates locked up and no access available to the oil and gas producers. There will be no Federal oversight where internal Tribal matters are concerned between the membership and the Tribal government. If you think there will be, you're kidding yourself. We have precedent in this matter set on this issue some years ago.
..."If the Nation breaks ties with the Feds altogether, good luck with getting access to the property in Osage County with all the gates locked up and no access available to the oil and gas producers...."
That is not a metaphor, it is part of the overall plan for the State of Oklahoma and more precisely the long burn of the Federal government to ruinate the Osage Nation. The folks back east have all the patience and resources they need to outwit, outwait, and outmaneuver, the Indians. The trap was set when Jim Gray "donated" money to Sen. Jim Inhofe to bring the casino matter to the U.S. congress.
Why do you think the Osage Nation lost he reservation status? The nation nation never stood a chance because the plan is to take over the mineral property rights so companies like Shell and Exxon can buy all the access rights from the land owners. No Osage Nation = full access and control to the oil in Osage....COUNTY.
All that matters to to foolish Osage politician is getting his silver coin no matter what damages are caused upon him or those around him. The Osage politician cares nothing about a good reputation and serving the Osage people but rather far more concerned about developing relationships to the one's with the power and authority. Either way the Osage politician will lose everything. He stabbed the Osages in the bach and in turn the Feds/Wall Street will stab him the back.
Did Jim Gray et al know this back in 2006? If so, that make him (them) the Judas Iscariot of the Osages. If not, then they are merely the fou du roi of the Feds and Wall Street.
Either way Osages lose, Feds win. But at least Jim Gray et al got their silver coin.
NO! NO! NO! The 1978 Act to Amend the 1906 Allotment Act clearly states that the Mineral Rights are reserved to the Osage Tribe/Nation in perpetuity! This is whether or not the land or the income is in trust! The U.S. Congress has given up the right to amend this section of the 1906 Allotment Act as amended forever or until the USA is no longer a government. The land owners will NEVER own the mineral rights in Osage County no matter what happens EVER unless the government of the United States no longer exists and there's an end on it.
The 1906 act is extremely binding. And it is Congress who has plenary power and we the Headright owners love the fact that we are not going to change the status quo.
Today's Session is located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=8ty6EJw8w3Q The Gov/Ops Committee Meeting will be held today from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Listen in at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media
Question for the members of the Supreme Court of the Osage Nation:
What does this passage indicate and suggest in the Osage Constitution as to the power of the Legislative Branch to make changes to line items in fiscal budgets for all branches of the Osage Nation government?
Article VI - Legislature, Section 13 Paragraph 2: "If a bill presented to the Principal Chief contains several items of appropriation of money, he may veto one or more of the items while approving the bill. At the time the bill is signed, the Principal Chief shall append to it a statement of the items vetoed, and the vetoed items shall not take effect. If the legislature is in session, he shall transmit to Congress a copy of the statement, and the items vetoed shall be separately reconsidered. If on reconsideration, any item is approved by three fourths (3/4) of the members elected to Congress, it is a part of the law notwithstanding the objections."
I submit that the Osage Nation Congress has the power to make adjustments to any and all budgets on a line item basis whether the Judicial or the Executive Branch likes it or not. Furthermore, these legal opinions on this subject of the Osage Nation Supreme Court are in and of themselves unconstitutional and have robbed the Osage people of the power to have a say through our Legislative Representatives as to how our money is being spent! VOTE AGAINST RETAINING EVERY SINGLE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OF THE OSAGE NATION IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION IN JUNE OF 2018 !!!!!!!!!!! I am sickened unto death of this continuous Osage "Gavotte" that the Executive and Judicial Branches have been doing on top of the heads of the members of the Osage Nation Congress and therefore, on all of us members of the Osage Nation. Here's one Osage precedent we can set and that's to throw all three of these Supreme Court Justices right out the front door of the Judicial building to land flat on their keesters.
Some Constitutional passages outlining some things the members of our esteemed Osage Supreme Court and Big Chief/Little Chief are unfamiliar with it seems: LINE ITEM VETO of the Chief LINE ITEM VETO OVERRIDE OF THE CONGRESS
If the Osage Congress can't make changes to the budget line items in any way it sees fit, why is this passage, Article VI - Legislature, Section 13, Paragraph 2 included in the Osage Nation Constitution?
From the Campaign of the Osage Nation Membership to oust the current sitting Supreme Court Justices of the Osage Nation. Add your voice here and vote against retention of these three Justices come June of 2018.
To read both Slip Opinions of the Osage Nation Supreme Court where our Congress is all but denuded of its principal and primary power of the purse which is the most important, serious and vital function of our Legislative body giving it the ability to curb and control government overspending. go here: https://turtletalk.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/osage-nation-supreme-court-decision-in-separation-of-powers-issue-redux/
Do yourself a big favor. Read these Slip Opinions which also involve legal precedent where the SC Justices have indicated that we don't have to follow legal precedents in other courts. Campaign of the Osage Nation Membership to oust the current sitting Supreme Court Justices of the Osage Nation
"Just as in Whitehorn, the Court put emphasis on the fact they were not going to consider standards created by the federal or state government and would be developing “a uniquely Osage jurisprudence.” http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/14/supreme-court-issues-opinion-declaratory-judgement-case-nations-budgeting-practices/
SCO-2016-01 STANDING BEAR V PRATT SLIP OPINION 8-11-17 SCO-2015-01, STANDING BEAR V. WHITEHORN, 03-08-2016 SLIP OPINION Posted here too https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/judicial-branch/supreme-court
And they wilt see every dime in the Treasury spent on themselves and as little as possible on us all. We must call attention to this corruption and especially to call for an audit with legal costs and fees listed on paper spent year by year by the Osage Nation since the new government took over in 2006 to find out if the NIGC finds such outlandish and unnecessary spending to be within the parameters set by the National Indian Gaming Act. $15 million? $20 Million in total? What about those Boards and Commissions and added spending on study groups and task forces as a total figure as well from the very beginning. Another $10 or $20 million? I'm convinced now that the only way to stop these Osage Nation government people is to appeal to the FBI to come together with the NIGC to conduct a joint investigation of how the money coming from gaming has and is being spent. Salaries 130% higher in some instances that what the average person in Osage county receives with little more than a high school education if that? When will we start to see our officials not trash out the financial health of our government in order to be reelected to office? When they realize that we will do everything possible to see them cooling their jets in a jail or prison cell?
Didn't one of the Justices have to stand down and recuse themselves in this last Slip Opinion because she was working too closely with one of the lawyers hired by the Executive Branch? Was this the case in the first Slip Opinion as well? Too many of these lawyers up on the Hill playing footsie with one another from the standpoint of legal issues surrounding the Osage Nation Constitution, you ask me. When is the line crossed into legal collusion between the Judicial and the Executive Branch to keep the Osage employees in the chips big time with pockets being sumptuously lined year in and year out while we members go without on a daily basis? Huge raises every year and huge merit bonuses too and the Osage people through our Legislative representatives have no say whatsoever in this kind of institutional corruption with our money because two or three power mad people in the Judicial Branch start unfairly manipulating sections of the Osage Constitution as to what is "Constitutional" and what isn't when clearly we the Osage people lose power in our Branch of government and our fair share of gaming proceeds as dictated by Federal NIGA law, all the while those hired by the Osage Nation government benefit to our detriment? I don't think so. Let’s do everything we can to get these Supreme Court Justices out of office in the upcoming election by voting NO to reappoint them to the Supreme Court.
The merit bonus bill, ONCA 17-105 by sponsor Maria Whitehorn, is for $352,100! what merit is there in giving all of the employees 1%-3% a year when they don't really deserve it unless they actually earn it? With no way to know who is stealing time from the Nation with clocking in and out machines, how many of these people are taking off work when they shouldn’t be? Don’t they already get about a whole month in days off as it is already when other non-Osage employees do not? ONCA 17-99, again by Sponsor Maria Whitehorn is An Act to provide an appropriation to the Executive Branch of the Osage nation for Fiscal Year 2018 in the amount of sixty one million four hundred fifty three thousand twenty four dollars ($61,453,024)!!! She won’t come up for election until 2020. Funny that isn’t it? Do these members of Congress shift these spending bills around to one another so that those who are coming up for election don’t have to pay the price in the ballot box come election time in June? Well that didn’t exactly work out with John Jech or John Free now did it? How much of this budget for the Executive Branch alone is being spent on items that don't directly benefit the Osage Nation members like:
salaries for Boards and Commissions with members who, in some instances, have behaved in the past toward those elected officials in the Legislative Branch like they are fools at best and idiots at worst running to the Executive Branch to whine and complain when they don't get what they want in funding or to seek cover when don't want to answer wholly legitimate questions that should be answered and should have been answered in the past, funding for LLCs with CEOS, CFOS and COOS who do nothing but eat up money every day of the year with no legitimate profit showing and therefore, no possible hope of a return on our investment
legal fees across the board for lawyers who rig the government system in favor of themselves and those who directly benefit monetarily with putrid excuses like "I have the say as to what is spent where and how much," when the power of the purse is clearly in the hands of the Osage Congress and the Osage people in the Constitution placing us in an "us against them" model no matter what the cost or how much it goes over the Constitutional mandate of the Osage Congress not to go above projected income which number by the way, moves around like a firefly in the dog days of Summer.
All in, a filthy disgrace upon our Tribal Nation, our entire community of Osage members and the Osage Nation government as an institution. People make government move forward in one direction or another because they run it and we must rid ourselves of every single one of them who have and continue to take us down this corrupt and derelict path that we have been on since the Osage Nation took over.
"...what merit is there in giving all of the employees 1%-3% a year when they don't really deserve it unless they actually earn it?"
The merit is not earned. It is awarded simply for being there. The Nation cuts funding for programs because "There is not enough money" yet they can afford a $2,000 bonuses. The Osage Nation has 14,000 members but only the government workers benefit. Also, there are non Osage employees who enjoy all the government bonuses while Osages who truly need help are ignored. Standingbaer loves the ladies and he pays them very well at despite no formal education or experience. All a young woman has to do is sit on the chief's lap and wiggle and the next day she's got a job and a $50,000 paycheck. Yes, we know who you are, sweeties.
Oh boy, what a doozy of a post. Non the less how many of you fell for that pie in the sky attitude that everything in Government is honky dory? So lets create a Government for the sake of pocketing our money and this is just a tip of the iceberg, lets not forget travel expenses paid, the per diems and so forth. And less should we forget the Osage llc and how corrupt all it was? Haven't heared lately how our land into trust is going concerning the Bluestem Ranch? BIA paying for the clean up fees? Yep when we get a new Chief we need to hold him or her to hold our Government to a higher standard or rewrite our Constitution and there you have it everyone call Congress and ask for the Amendments in our Constitution to be able to hold each and everyone of you accountable and that means freezing assets and all. Now this will keep corruption away.
Top of the meeting is the Audit presentation today in Congressional Session. Live now at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media Unmodified opinion on financial statements.
This is a must listen on demand when it becomes available at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/congress-legislative-branch/sessions. It's very interesting especially since there is a question about why the Diabetes grant accounting was not up to snuff and other items that were reported as well. Congressman Supernaw is on it as usual this is good. There was also an unresolved matter brought up by Congresswoman Edwards as well.
Still by God struggling with the projected revenue number as a result of the Executive Branch! 13 years have gone by and we still don't have a resolution to this all important Congressional mandate in the Constitution. Great bill introduced by Congressman Edwards today with reference to some controls being set on the Supreme Court and their wide ranging lack of Judicial focus and discipline as to specific questions to prohibit them from expansion on such questions brought before the Osage Nation Supreme Court. This does not go far enough however, as we need an Osage Nation statutory complaint process made available to the Osage people when they cross the line on items in their Slop Opinions.
Great post slop opinions why is it so hard to go a step further in the process to protect the greater interest of the Osage. That being said it becomes redundant because you know we will vist this issue again and again if we do not get this right the first time. So I say this what is the hold up correcting the issue fully the first time? And I do agree we need a complaint process to hold thos accountable who go above and beyond the duty to help someones agenda as opposed to looking out for the constituents,their money. I have always said we create legislation to prohibit or we change the language in our Constitution that allows for this behavior to continue we are in a new election year and we need to close these loopholes.
Yes. I believe we have had quite enough of this "Heart of Darkness" scenario with our government when it was supposed to include us all in how the money is spent and on what and at what price tag. Since this renegade Osage Nation Supreme Court started tipping the scales of Justice, if you could call it that, by taking away our rights along with the rights of the Osage Legislature to control the purse strings, that is our only representatives in the Osage Nation government, I'm for dumping the whole bunch of them in the ballot box come June. We did it with John Jech and John Free. We can certainly get these marauding people off the bench and no longer seeing the interests of themselves in the Judicial Branch and Executive Branch government workers put before that of our own.
If you figure that raises and merit bonuses per year have run at a rate of half a million dollars a year since fy2007, that's $6,000,000 right there that could have been available to benefit all of us. We might as well have a resolution style of government with only a Chief, Assistant Chief and eight members of Council. We have the same control over the money spent and membership benefits as we did before since the Osage Supreme Court took away our rights to control the purse through the Osage Congress so what's the point of even having a government so large when it only serves itself and not us? Just saying. Think about it. With a much smaller government and fewer elected officials to pay, there will be a lot more money for direct benefits to the Osage Nation members and less going out to the government fat cats in Pawhuska.
We have the same level of control now and no better than we did with the old government and that is to throw them out of office when election time comes around. I'd sooner see all this money they throw around and spend on themselves going to benefit our membership in general and our kids and grandkids State wide than continue to watch this disgrace and contemptible betrayal of what was promised to us Osages continue happen to us day in and day out.
Right I see the forest for the trees alright Anybody who knows our culture understands our history and the crooked pokitics that have played out since 2006,and before then. For me not geting my vote in 2006 was no accident and I find that disconcerting to say the least, all it takes is one person to go to the Courts and explain to them how this happened and my bet I am not the only one who did not get their vote and can turn this Government back over to the M.C. I brought that up a while back. Fiscal management is out of control.
Important Appropriation Committee Meeting! Data gathering information for how they come up with these outrageous figures for compensation pay scales for base salaries, raises and bonuses for our employees in spite of what we can actually afford at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media We need to start looking at the size of the pot for yearly distribution before we insist on being competitive with pie-in-the sky pay scales as to the science (?) of how they come up with these figures. If these employees directly service the Osage people where it concerns direct services to the entire membership then such employees become valuable and also the fact that they hire from within on average is another consideration. Why is it even necessary to be so focused on being competitive as a justification when they don't usually hire from the marketplace outside the Tribal community especially since there is Osage preference to begin with? You apply these employment "science" measures on a scale based on who you need to hire if you can afford to hire them. The value of an employee is directly related to how well they service the Osage Nation member with government services and if they are needed to provide direct services to the membership. If the income is fixed and the services are not increased to the membership, at some point, this eventually gets turned upside down where the cost of the employee is denying the membership the increases they need to have yearly improvements to or more direct services made available for them as a whole. Where in the “merit metrix” increase and market scale "science" for that analysis? Don’t the membership “merit” first and foremost? Services to the people first and employees to service those direct services to accommodate those services next. Any other plan is turned on its head. At what point do these employees become harmful to the future of direct services and therefore harmful to the entire membership? When is someone going to come up with the “science” for that metric where the employees just flat out just cost too much for what service they provide to the point to where direct benefits have to be scaled back in order to be able to afford all these employees who cost too much in the first place? Give me the percentages and value for that metric and then you will be making sense for once in the midst of all this dismal convoluted nonsense to provide excuses to justify the full scale robbing and looting of the Osage Nation Treasury on the part of greedy government employees and and those who justify that greed with scientific analysis metrics and models that are nothing other than smoke and mirrors. Listen on demand when available here http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/
My pist earlier didn't post but my point is how much have we spent since 2006 to date and to date where is the capital to off set this spend thrift Government and again is iur Codified?
Yes please explain the model which can be modified anytime to fit ones agenda, experience? Is it in alignment with the cost of living in your area, no. So in detail please tell us, so we can understand?
When does leprosy become cancer? FROM THE TREASURER, WE ARE NOW EIGHT POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS OVER PROJECTED REVENUE WITH LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!! THE CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BECAUSE THE BUCK STOPS WITH STANDING BEAR FIRST AND RAYMOND REDCORN SECOND.
SALARIES TAKEN OUT OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE? DOES THIS MEAN DIRECT SERVICES? WHAT DOES DOING THIS MEAN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE OSAGE NATION? IF THE OSAGE MEMBERSHIP SEES A DOWNGRADE TO DIRECT SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL COST OF THESE FAR TOO EXPENSIVE EMPLOYEES, THE CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS. AT SOME POINT, PANDERING FOR VOTES FROM THE OSAGES WHO LIVE BACK HOME TO THE DETRIMENT OF ALL OSAGE NATION MEMBERS NATION WIDE IS GOING TO BACKFIRE ON YOU CHIEF BECAUSE THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF OSAGE COUNTY OUTNUMBER THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE OSAGE BY A RATIO OF TEN TO ONE. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH BUDGETS FOR YOUR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT ARE WITHIN THE LAWFUL PARAMETER SET BY THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF. TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM EVERYTHING WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO DIRECT SERVICES FOR THE TOTAL POPULATION OF OSAGE NATION MEMBERS. THIS ISN'T A REQUEST -- IT'S AN INSTRUCTION!
OMG! And they sit through this BS and politely object with what makes sense (we can't afford it) and let the reporter of this report, peppered with all these preposterous cutting edge buzzwords that whirl all around them, without saying out loud with finality that there is no money to justify these "to scale" base pay structures, yearly raises and merit bonuses because we don't have the money to pay for them. They wonder why we think they are stupid. It's because they behave as if they are. Who in the world is this polite when their intelligence is being so grossly insulted and they are being treated like such fools?
Absolutely poster @12.32 pm. I concur, Chief get it together or forever lose your position and there is no time like now to recall you and Redcorn. Oh wait in just a few months bye bye don't let the door hit you where it cojnts good riddance.
The data gathering and matrices for employment boils down to this:
1) Who do you know? 2) Who are you related to?
That's it.
If you are related to any of the nice folks in the HR department then you are guaranteed a job. If a position is not open, they will create one for you.
Employment at the Osage Nation is more of a family affair but close friends can apply for a job as well. The Osage Nation list job openings on their site but that's just a formality. The position is already filled by a friend or family member despite other applicants qualifications.
The Osages Nation government is primarily focused on the families and friends within Pawhuska who are related to elected officials and government personnel. The Osage Nation government is not concerned with efficient operations or budget controls. The casinos are a cash cow and the "special Osages" are going to make sure they milk the cow for all she's worth.
The Osage Nation government is not about helping the Osage people but rather only those who control the purse strings. Osages can have a properly functioning government but greedy and fraudulent people have no morals or ethics and will eventually ruintate the Osage Nation.
The Osage Nation government stole from the Shareholders, diminished their rights and are now trying to eliminate the Shareholders and take their property away. The Osage politicians and bureaucrats are no different than Washington D.C.
They know this to be true. It's all a dog and pony show to act in front of the membership like the Congress really wants to be in a position to say no to what these Osage County Osages want money spent on up on the Hill. The Judiciary is involved in it as is the Executive and they have it all set up to work that way and make it look like they don't when they do. They aren't one bit stupid. They are doing exactly what they want with the outcome they want and getting their hands on the money they want as the end goal. We're stupid for putting up with it and for believing for more than a second that they don't want what is happening because it's us all along who are the ones who have been and are being set up by the elected and appointed officials of the Osage Nation government while they laugh all the way to the bank with our money.
Republicans revive Indian energy measure woth more friendly president in office. White House Committee on Natural Resources is meeting this week to consider H.R.210, the Native American Energy Act. It's the only Indian bill on the schedule for the markup session, which begins on Tuesday afternoon and concludes on Wednesday morning. Wow,this is grest news. This will alow for streamlining our accounts without the cumbersome wait times. wwwIndianz.com
Today, I want to pay tribute and my deepest respects to the Cassini Mission to explore the planet Saturn that ended earlier this morning when the spacecraft, in its Grand Finale, entered the atmosphere of Saturn and was no more. I want to share the photograph of those shown in the URL below who worked on this science mission with a spacecraft of their creation that actually ascended and descended through the very rings of Saturn among so many other things that it accomplished in the furtherance of our knowledge of Space science. Think about that and try to wrap your mind around it…
What I learned from this mission is that there are extremely intelligent, mature and forward thinking people on this planet who can come together and work toward a dream that they could make not only come true but happen in wondrous ways that not even they could hope to imagine. Yes, Star Wars and Star Trek and cartoon characters are fine entertainment but these men and women of the Cassini mission are the real action figures, the real action heros, the real Titans of our times, make no mistake, and I don't want this very important fact of our lives to go without credit and without being honored, especially today with the end of the Cassini mission. These are the people on this planet whose leadership by example should be emulated by those who are at the high school, college and at the university level in this country and who are at comparable educational levels world wide and I sincerely hope that this mission will direct the attention of all those who provide guidance for these young people to have them look very seriously in the direction of these very human beings who, in cooperation together, have accomplished such an astonishing marvel on earth and in the heavens. https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7696/
And to the magnificent Cassini Spacecraft, because it is known as a "she," while clapping and standing on my feet, I shout aloud, "BRAVA!" https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/3121/nasas-cassini-spacecraft-ends-its-historic-exploration-of-saturn/
$30,000 + for a new Osage Nation Foundation web site? I don't think so... More money for items we really don't need. We have a Cultural Center for what this person on the phone is talking about and the last thing we need to do is duplicate services here. This is a perfect example of unnecessary spending that is rampant and widespread in every single budget we have in government. What I see here is just fine and nothing more is needed. http://www.osagefoundation.org/
Hahahahaha! The man on the phone in the Congressional Commerce Committee meeting is the man (Mr. Webb) who handles the web site now so I take it that he will directly benefit from this $30,000 + amount to be spent on a new web site for the Osage Nation Foundation. Boo-yah for him! Zip for the Osage Nation members!
Get out of town on that pricey expenditure, Mr. Bill "Webby" Webb. You hardly offer enough to the public on the web site I'm looking at as it is and that includes what little you have for sale at the store in the time you've been around which is a number of years. This guy is listed as the Executive Director of the Osage Nation Foundation.
This is price gouging the Osage and it needs to stop Chief I can build you one for $15.00 and I am educated this is just unbelievably abuse of the Osage mo ey Chief and we are calling you out stop this spending as if its money jn your Wallet !!!!! What a scam !!!!!
There are sites that will show you how to build your own web for free. Like I said its to easy to install anti-virus software and e-mails and so forth. In thiss day and age and working with computer softwa4e is easy. Yreah remember John Red Eagle IT guy and the money he got away with for absolutely doing nothing? No invoices to rpove what he did. Who forgets about the waste and fraud that has been brought upon us. And they think we are stupid.
good example of NO ACCOUNTABILITY. Currently 'yearly budgets' are a 'given.' At end of year, what is known is: (a) the monies are gone, (b) no receipts or invoices (NO TRANSPARENCY and no one is entitled to question their spending cause they are covered by the way the Constitution is written, change/correct the wording and we can 'legally' take corrective action when there has been a 'wrong' doing.)
Wrong doings can be: (a) planned (b) stupidity (c) greed.
Web sites: I've known of people who set up their own web sites for their new business. I met someone who did it for other people. Even "GO DADDY" advertises it on TV, custom made. I get my own anti-virus software from Walmart and put it in, what kind of super anti-virus is going to be used, if it's that great someone tell the government or that credit score company thats just been hacked. I'm sure my name is included, this makes the third time I've been affected, the other two were government (Personnel Management) over the last 10 years. The higher the price is not going to gurantee against any hacking.
Oh good! More of the same words this year as last year and the year before and the year before that from the Osage Nation Energy Services, LLC to the tune of $102,373.
The only heavy lifters around here are the members of the Osage Nation who pay for an entity that does nothing but spend the Osage people's money while we go without. We have heard start up information about how they are going to structure themselves years ago when this damned thing was formed five or more years back. Give us a break will you? I should have known when I saw who's sitting there who's on the Board...
HEY! We seriously committed ourselves to economic development $20,000,000 ago, Eddy Red Eagle, when you and the other certain members of the Osage Nation Congress gave the Osage, LLC all that seed money years ago. Who do you think you're kidding? Not me, so you can hit the road with this hooey, pal!
HOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY! WE WON THE WIND FARM DECISION AT THE 10TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS: Osage Nation secures landmark decision in dispute over construction of wind farm https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/09/18/osage-nation-secures-landmark-decision-i.asp
Minerals Meeting Tomorrow: https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/3rd-osage-minerals-council-meeting-3 What is important to note is this sentence: “The Osage Nation, acting through OMC [Osage Minerals Council] in fact owns the beneficial interest in the mineral estate that is the subject to the appeal,” Judge David Ebel wrote in the panel’s 27-page decision. “The district court’s decision forced OMC to watch from the sidelines as Osage Wind disrupted the mineral estate…”
I read the above sentence to mean that from a governance standpoint, the Osage Minerals Council is firmly in predominance and therefore in the cat bird seat where the running of the OME is concerned and any other part of the ON government including the Legislative, the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch of the Osage Nation must proceed through the OMC where and when matters of minerals are concerned. This chain of command is now firmly established in a Federal Court decision at the appellate level. Federal law and clarifications on that law trump Tribal law period. The decision is located at https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/09/18/15-5121.pdf See also http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/09/19/10th-circuit-rules-osage-minerals-council-can-seek-damages-wind-farm/
Yes, I read that to. Because the Nation would not exisit without the M.C and M.E. That being said, Federal Law trumps is exactly right. Mant times such as the HPP case as well the Judge said this will go to the Headright owners. What I would like to see is that they take down them eye sores to teach them a lesson and for that matter look at Mustang Wind? Then you have the Oklahoma commission who approved this without concent right? Are we going after them as well?
When in Rome, Enel? You ain't in Roma. You in the Osage now and the verdict has come down from on high in the Queen City of the High Plains.
Hey Chief. Get out your beggin' bowl. Wheel and deal all you want with the Osage Court and end run your agenda through the Congress but STAY OUT OF MINERALS BUSINESS!
I say, hit every deep pocket you can find. This clearly appears to be a squatter's trespass in a pure act of attempted theft from the Osage Nation on the part of Enel. I knew that when they sped up their construction to get those ugly spires up in the air. Cut 'em off at the knees. No mercy. Teach these companies from foreign nations who try and take advantage of us how the cow eats the cabbage. Damages and a continuing rental amount due monthly and payable on every single wind turbine built on the land underneath as a result of not being able to drill there to find oil and gas with a proper lease to an oil and gas producer which is permanent loss of income as a result.
And to think we had prospects for that area like American Shoreline was interested and we lost out to Enel. Either we own those Turbines or we have them removed can't see our wildlife being sacraficed for those hideous turbines. Didn't Drummond have something to do with this?
But...but...but the Chief can do whatever he wants because he's chief "King of the Osages." He can create jobs for his honeys out of thin air. He can have the Treasurer cook the books at will. He is above the gaming commission's laws. He can give $50,000 bribes to out of state politicians. He can steal money from casino employees for his own needs. He is .........GOD..........
So, to summarize, we have an elected official at the highest level who has charge of the Osage people's public money and who is responsible for proper stewardship to insure continued public trust over our public money who cannot be trusted? Yes? How many other elected officials would you say fall into the same category?
I knew at some point that corrupt Justice in the Federal Court in Tulsa would get his decision reversed. This is a sound and solid rebuke from the Appellate Court and with this reversal, we may also have grounds to file a judicial conduct or disability complaint against him. The name of the Judge is James H. Payne. Is he the one who took away our reservation by going off in the hinterland by writing that he didn't need to rule on whether an employee of the Tribe was exempt from paying taxes because we no longer have a reservation (in his opinion) in the first place? We should complain about that too and the Justices from the 10th Circuit who upheld that decision as well.
Not Drummond. THE ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS OSAGE WIND, LLC, ENEL KANSAS, LLC and ENEL GREEN POWER NORTH AMERICA, INC: MODRALL, SPERLING, ROEHL, HARRIS & SISK, P.A. Lynn H. Slade -- Attorney William C. Scott -- Attorney Post Office Box 2168 500 Fourth Street, N.W., Suite 1000 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-2168 Telephone: (505) 848-1800
What happened to the $1,000,000 Gray took from the Minerals Account? He gave that money as a bribe to the 2006 Osage congress members play along with his scam. Blackmailing is the name of the game in politics. Osage politicians are just as corrupt as Washington politicians. Osage politicians and Osage government officials have been stealing from the accounts since day one. Why do you think they made laws to give them immunity from being brought to court? The judges are bought and paid for by the Osage government. There is no way the Osage courts will ever allow an accounting of any sort whatsoever.
Sorry Poster 6:31 am was not privy to this information about Gray and the million dollars can you expound and wasn't that what the Osage people were saying the M.c was dojng the smae before we became a Government? And I have always said the Osage Government was made on the backs of the M.E. and if this is true they are beholding they were not sovereign and had I known I would have taken our Constitution that was written to a outside source to verify and do the diligence before the the dotted line was signed and this is why I think there were other voters besides myself that did not a get a vote or forever hold your peace.It is bad enough this Tallchief did not get a Vote in this Government and this is serious, so lets be clear that this is not funny in the least which proves a lot about what I have been saying for some time. There are no accidents. My point now is look at where we are at with the M.E and prices are up? Any new developments or prospects? You know what is insane how nothing is a secret with our Government remind you of any other Government?
Reference to Sept. 19 at 9:44 am and Sept. 19 at 10:07 am.
Also in the Sept. 18th article is a connection to the "amended complaint for damages" filed 12-12-14.
Page 12, No. 4, "...and severally liable for damages, in an amount to be proven..."
Page 12, No. 5, "...and an order that structures or materials placed, without authorization, in the mineral estate must be removed."
Page 13, No. 7, "Enter a judgment awarding damages, with interest, ... plus any applicable multipliers, additions, penalties and accruals to date of judgment."
Page 13, No. 9, "Award such other and further relief as the Court determines to be just and proper."
(I don't think the government would have the turbines removed, more likely I think a contract with Enel for a revenue to the OME or the BIA might give them a lease, but then there's no income in a lease with them?) (and to what account will this "relief" monies go back to?)
I would say 222 million dollars a year for the life of this wind farm would be equitable. That would cover the lease, or we just own them right out. There will be a settlement if these turbines are not removed and yes they can be removed. They tresspassed on our right to mineral development they know it and now everyone of theses people in the corporate world will know they have to get permission first let this be a lesson not what to do in Indian Country. But what I find troubling, is the Osage county commissions has onus in this to, shame on them as well. So who got paid under the table to approve this in the first without going to the BIA? And then why did we have to sit on the side lines and watch these hideous things go up without getting a injunction ?
At the time they were planting the turbines, Obama was in full swing of pushing forward wind farms and solar. They evidently thought someone "HAD THEIR BACK" in ignoring the BIA.
The BIA was handling the lawsuit as our Trustee, it was not necessary for the ME to intervene, it was near the end of the suit when it was announced the suit was not going to a higher court, since the ME is the owner it was justifiable to "then" intervene.
OMC votes to sue Osage Nation over M.E. All I have to say it is long over due. I have always said the 1906 act is extremely binding. And as I always said our rights have been usurped. For some more than others. I didn't get my vote for this Government and I can testify to this. And I am sure there are others who did not get their vote either if it happened to me you could be sure it happened to other Headright Owners. The impact is felt. I have always said the true reservation is the M.E and this lawsuit could open and pave the path to put this Government back to the rightful owners and to simply put the M.C back in charge again, which I said needs to happen. So why obstruct the vote from Waller, Yates and Crum? What excuse can they come up with in the face of this lawsuit could they cut there nose to spite their face? Why would they not vote for in the name of interest of the Headright owners? Or better yet whats there take in this? Usually when someone obstructs its because they have something to hide or there of. Doesn't make sense. And actually sends red flags up. We bought and paid for this land. And how is it we have casinos because the dirty secret is they borrowed off the M.E. meaning they really belong to all the Headright owners. Wait and see. This could run deep.
One point brought up in the meeting for not pursuing it, was "cost of lawyers." This concerns all shareholders. Chairman Waller said he would get a vote from the shareholders before taking action on this.
Why not vote on it? But come to think of it, I don't recall getting to vote on any pass lawsuits, so why now ask me?
Not only were many Shareholders left out of the vote but non-Shareholder were illegally allowed to vote. Grey's actions were a gross violation of PUBLIC LAW 108–431. PL108-431 REAFFIRMED the 1906 Act - It did not replace anything. The Osage Nation is a de facto government.
The lawsuit is idiocy. This is what happens when you have incompetent people in positions of power. Once again, instead of actually doing something useful for the shareholders they find a way to throw even more shareholder money at lawyers. We need to get rid of the minerals council all together and just form a business entity focused on turning a profit. Get these idiots out of there and keep them out.
We will be in the courts system forever and a day if we do not make clear who we are, are you apart of the establishment, because to be honest this is the right direction to take. My rights have been abrogated and usurped. I get that maybe we should fire all the council members and replace them, well with the exception of Erwin. I see her skills and her faith is as strong as mine in the 1906 Act. I cannot understand why it has taken this long for action to take place I can take a gander but thats another story in itself. The lawyer fees is a past tactic used like a wet sponge as an excuse not to go into the right direction on all of our past litigations. Won't work come up with a justifiable excuse that we can really have a dialogue. Tired of the excuses.
What I see is a group of self important people once again wasting money that isn't theirs. We will indeed be in the courts forever because there is always going to be a line of lawyers more than happy to take shareholder money while telling these inflated egos whatever they want to hear.
Hmm...sounds like poster at September 26, 2017 at 10:31 AM is all for busting the ME. Very suspicious commentary I might add. Perhaps everyone should just follow the federal laws and for the Nation government to stop doing everything they can to diminish or even outright eliminate Shareholder interest altogether. Who's going to run the business entity? Osages? Osages can't even run a meatpie stand without dipping into the till and hiring their relatives at exorbitant salaries and massive benefits. Being Osage myself, I must say that some of my fellow tribal members (especially the government operators) are some of the most jealous, petty, and crooked people one would ever hope not to meet. The Nation government has demonstrated they are willing to rip away some Shareholders' only source of income in order to fill their own bellies of greed. We need to get people in the ME with a backbone get others who collude with the chief out of office.
You do realize Osages are running the minerals council right now? Those same meatpie vendors have been the council since its inception. So hows that worked out so far? We have a government with a semblance of checks and balances, and now all the minerals council has to focus on is turning oil into cash dollars. And yet, instead they are using minerals money to try and get their hands back into that casino till. Maybe if they actually focused on the one job they have those checks wouldn't be so light.
Great comment. I thought the same. Listen do not be fool hearted. We all know the truth why this Government was formed. And you can be sure that this is about something bigger than you or me. Ignorance is bliss. A semblance of checks and balances,right more like right into their pockets. We had that semblance when we had the 8 council members in Control and not this big bloated bureaucracy. Who are you kidding not the majority thats for sure. Only yourself and thats pure selfishness on your part so, let me see are you one of the creaters of this flawless Constitution besides Harvard? And I mean that sarcastically of course. You know the truth just admit it. This was a sub group of Osages who decided apon themselves without the real vote from the shareholders all in the name of sovereignty amounts to a De Facto Government and that is the bottom line. I wasn't born off the turnip truck yesterday, so tell me a different story that will make sense. Because I know the truth and the truth always shows its face and in this case it will be in the federal courts. And the reason why I asked if our Constitution was codified was because anything that comes from the Osage courts can be nullified or their opinion is just that and only that. So lets not play games here.
"We have a government with a semblance of checks and balances" You have got to be kidding me.
This Nation government was created to control the casino revenue and ensure that Shareholders as per the 1906 Act never see one dime of that money applied to them. Gray et al knew very well what they were doing violated PL108-431. It is the Nation government that seeks to get there hands on the ME revenue.
Your comment "they are using minerals money to try and get their hands back into that casino till" shows your paranoia of truly following PL108-431.
Thank you for exposing your true mentality on the matter. This is why we will never have a per cap and that you government types intend to retain the casino revenue solely within the coffers of the Nation's control.
You folks on the hill give yourselves huge salaries and unwarranted bonuses and those who are related to the right people get several raises a year.
You desperately fear having to properly spend any revenue for the Osage people since that may cut into your government perks.
You are a liar and a thief and an enemy of any sense of morality and ethics.
"You are a liar and a thief and an enemy of any sense of morality and ethics." Because I expect the minerals council to do minerals business and stop wasting my money on frivolous lawsuits. Thanks for clarifying that point.
Please cite examples of the Nation trying to bust the ME. Then we can ask the ME to give us a dollar amount of headright income wasted on this subject.
Yeah...we can start with 2006. You know the story. Cut the crap with the "citations." People have loose lips on the hill. You guys claim you own the ME. You hijacked the HHP case. You claim that the Nation should run the OME. It's common knowledge that you guys are a bunch worthless bureaucrats that can't run a proper budget. We Shareholders are not the one's on trial here. You are elected elected officials. You answer to us. We do not answer to you. Prove to the Shareholders that you have no intention of ever interfering with the ME or ever diminishing the Shareholder rights. You lying crooks already violated PL108-431. Oh, and how about that per cap that was promised in 2006?
Now, get back to work and do something to earn that $60,000 salary.
Amen now thats the truth. Tell me how the Casinos started? Ah lets see,on the backs of the shareholders and that's the truth. So tell me it isn't so? You cannot. We know what Gray did and now we have this Chief that thinks he is king of our kingdom. Well kingdoms fall as sure as ours will come back to the rightful owners od said Casinos. I can testify to this and there are more witnesses to the fact. My father was comprised and kept in the loop with our Casinos and all I know is and was his hope and the true intent was to build our districts, bring a robust economy and a per-cap was all in the name of Sovereignty not this form of Government was not the intent you know it and so do I. I just love how our 25 year strategic plan has failed enormously.
So how much has our Government squandered since 2006? And that is exactly right loose lips sink ships, we have leakers in our Government and it is no secret what has transpired since 2006. It is with great disdain we have for this crooked Government especially for me a Tallchief not getting a Vote in this Government, had I known, I would have taken our Constitution to a Lawyer. So you tell me our Government was not hijacked? Calling you out poster. Answe% this question you cannot and I am as others can prove otherwise. Where was the ethics and morality in that?
Still waiting for those examples of the Nation trying to bust the ME. As usual its all hyperbolic nonsense. The issue is simple, the Minerals Council is pulling down a salary to do one job: Turn oil into headright money. Apparently there is some kind of mental block that sets in once they get one of those seats where doing anything, anything at all, is more important than turning oil into headright money.
Probably the black mold. Better higher some lawyers to look into that.
Still waiting for that per cap. Answer the question.
That actions of Gray et al. up to this day speaks volumes of the Nation government's intentions. Ah...but you want video testimony and confessions written in blood to satisfy your "evidence"
Speaking of "hyperbolic nonsense." I remember quite well that Gray et al. was claiming that the Osages will become non-existent if a new government wasn't created. I also recall how non-shareholders and even supporters of the then new government was excoriating shareholders by calling them greedy, selfish and paranoid for merely trying to defend the ME.
Having a Nation government per se is not the issue. The matter is the people running the government. They only care about there own pockets, Executives bribes, outrageous bonuses, nepotism, etc.
The politicians said that the new government would bring jobs to Osages. The firing of the janitorial staff to outsource the work shows the government is not a government for the people but a business whose only concern is the bottom line. How many other departments are going to be defunded, eliminated, or outsourced?
The Chief needs to stop intimidating and coercing the minerals council. They need to focus on their job without interference from congress or the executive branch. Raymond Redcorn claim that the Osage Nation owns the ME. Ask him for yourself.
All I can say is do what you mean and this has not happen. A Government for the people of the people and by the people and what did we get? A bunch of overpaid Osages, all you have to do is look at the cost of living in your area to know exactly who is getting the shaft. Perception is reality. Man they must think some of us was born yesterday and it isn't so. I think it would be beneficial if the Nation decides to change the Constitution as Erwin stresses to read as follows the Osage M.E is owned by the Headright owners period. I say this because, we have had this huge conflict which is no secret the rhetoric concerning the interest of the M.E and said development for decades shared by my elders and all of you know this to be true. This endless roundtable, when in truth this belongs to the Headright owners. Bought, paid for and passed on. It is time for we end the cronyism and nepotism, and get that per-cap out. As that was the intent until we got this Government. So to any one who is against a per-cap you are a liar because no one in their right mind would say otherwise. I say this it would be better our Government clarify in our Constitution so it is clear once and for all or this action will open doors to shutting this De facto Government bh this binding Document the 1906 Act. These lawyers are to be taken seriously who are working in our favor. Erwin and Boone have been staunch supporters of the 1906 Act and in the end our rights have been abrogated and usurped.
Funny we had a Government all along it was the Mineral Council, 8 members with a Chief and Ap Chief. According to the 1906 Act. Funny how this Government we have now, the reason for this Government was to allow more Osages membership and a vote? And, to federal funding. But when that happened you usurped the rights of the Headright owners by allowing those who are not a Headright owner a vote jn the ME affairs. We are not apart of the Government. We are a seperate entity and if this Government borrowed off this entity the dire consequences is? My predictions say that this suit can open more doors as oppose close them.
John can you tell me in your words what will bring peace, in my words the 1906 Act is binding. To restore the Government back to the 8 council member per the 1906 act. Cut out the Government bloat. Transparency and accountability is long over do. Realizing that so much more is needed to bring back our Faith in our Government, to rid the cronyism and nepotism is a huge problem in itself.
Again, there is absolutely no proof of anyone trying to take or break up the minerals estate. At all. None. At all. The only thing there is actual proof of is the same hysterics followed with throwing headright money at lawyers. You have a bunch of crazy old women who get each other torqued up repeating the same disinformation to each other like its fact. This wouldn't matter except that they are wasting other peoples money with their crazy. Wasting my money, on their crazy. MY MONEY! So if your cool with that, start a fund and use your own money to support your crazy. But stop using mine.
Yes...yes, of course. Where women are concerned, stupid men too often confuse courage with insanity. Could you possibly be more boring and predictable?
I still have some old candidate brochures, etc. The following quotes are directly from Galen Crum's candidate brochure years ago, no date. I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE "UPCOMING" MC election is no guarantee that we will continue to prosper and advance into today's technology. We, the shareholder's, NOW, TODAY, are the one's who need to "initiate" change, like "how should the Constitution wording be changed "to" what Councilwoman Erwin spoke of?
First, someone, or Councilwoman Erwin, please write it on this blog or in the newsletter, how you think it should read! If there might be a vote, then we need the "wording" to vote on.
Councilwoman Redcorn, you agree with her, "how would you have it to read" to be politically correct pertaining to legal status between the Nation and the ME." LET'S DO IT !! Let's vote, it's our right.
QUOTES FROM G. Crum's candidate brochure for MC election: "When the Osage people started the process of forming a more inclusive government, an extraordinary thing occurred. A group that enjoyed complete control of their government sought to delegate much of that power to others. These Osage Annuitants willingly started a process that would render themselves MINORITY VOTERS. They only asked one thing in return, that the Mineral Trust be left in their control, to be governed by representatives elected solely by them as it always had. SADLY, THE OSAGE CONSTITUITION DIDN'T DELIVER ON THIS SIMPLE AGREEMENT."
"If elected I promise to: "Start the amendment process necessary to make lasting, meaningful changes."
"Four years ago I saw that the new Osage Constitution didn't live up to the basic bargain made with the Osage Shareholders. That of leaving the administration of the Mineral Trust alone and essentially unchanged. I realized these shortcomings would cause many problems for all our people IF ALLOWED TO STAND. The Congress would need to act on Constitutional amendments to RIGHT THESE WRONGS."
"What was harder to foresee is how large a role the MC would be called upon to play IN INITIATING THE NEEDED CHANGES, and protecting the political interests of their constituents. It is very plain to see our Council members need to be more than just good people that can make sound leasing decisions. They also need to be politically aware enough to understand the dangers of not fighting hard to PROTECT THEIR RIGHTFUL POWER to administer trust business. They need to understand that when they cede away their power WITHOUT A FIGHT, it's actually the ANNUITANTS' rights they are relinquishing. Our current MC failed us miserably this regard."
"The Congress ..."but since the Council failed to even consider any REMEDIES, none were INITIATED."
"The Council has ceded away more Trust administrative power than even the POORLY WORDED Constitution required. And no attempt has even begun to bring about the AMENDMENTS necessary to return Mineral Trust control to the Annuitants."
This is very powerfully well written poster 10:14 pm, well stated. Holding our council members to a standard is long over due. We might just kick the entire council to the curb and hit restart. Accountability and transparency is so badly needed. I have to say to Stephanie Erwin for taking this huge long over due task to move our agenda to put once and for all that we are not apart of this Government if anything the Government is a part of us and not the other way around. Tell me differently and my prediction, you cannot.
The fact that we had a Government for the People who were the 8 council members and a Chief and Ap Chief and look at where we are at because it was a illegal take by the the definition of 1906 Act. The fact that our money was used to create this Government and build our Casinos off our backs the Headright owners, who are you kidding poster at 9:10 am. It all had to come from somewhere right. Argue with me please or are you going to play chicken.
There is no rhetoric. You keep making the same argument over and over again as if it somehow justifies using shareholder funds for your windmill tilting. It doesn't. There isn't anything to argue. Just the straight outrage that the minerals council is wasting shareholder money on this "crazy cat lady" project.
I thought they got a loan to build the original casinos? I'm confused. What shareholder money was used to fund the "new" government? If memory serves me the Mineral Council for years took bribes for leases, got on to the BIA workers (in the parking lot after work) for writing up the producers for pollution and stealing, and hired their relatives who were not qualified to run the Agency. I don't see any difference between the Mineral Council and the "new government" as far as management.
The 1906 act is just that a act of US Congress.yes it had support direction from the principle chief of the 1881 consistution.but the US congress approved and finulizded Osage membership 2229+or-.Decendants today are who we are and collective we represent Osage past,present and hopefully the future.Acts of Congress,come and go and yes there have been many acts of Congress concerning the Osage and most likely there will be more.for sure the Osage have many problems but these are the same for many decades.to have federal courts to decide the future of the Osage can be good but at the same time it can be very very bad.so can we work things out among ourselves and build a better and stronger Osage future?
I have been posting on the OSA since 2006 and most i have posted I still believe to be of truth and a lot have been refined as conditions changes. What to me would bring about certain areas of peace--- since I have children of my own to leave my per cent of shares to, I have thought about dividing one share into a million units.Take 70,000 units,create and manage 70,000 accounts.Each account going to each descendant- Osage Descendant-would this act of giving satisfy conditions of the OME ownership in simple fee.Right now there are of the Osage,who believe they alone own the OME because they are shareholders.But they are a whole class of Osage and non-Osage shareholders and I for one believe that non-Osage shareholders have no right of ownership what so ever to the OME,period.
How do you think the money was borrowed, off our backs. So thats black and white and you jnderstand how this Government was formed and not by my vote and no accident there. John we are clear on this matter the 1906 is Binding and no one really thought to really challenge the validity of the document..I did in 2006 on the dld on the OSA site. I am for reform of this Government or return it to the original Government who was the 8 council members and in this day and less is more and our Government writes checks as if its there right to do so when in reality thats our money they are spending. Challenge that one folks? Yes the thought was get a per-cap out, build our infrastructure and allow for more membership so those that were and are OSAGE can aquire federal funding and so forth.
..."so can we work things out among ourselves and build a better and stronger Osage future?
The answer is unequivocally "NO"
Many Osages are inherently petty. Add money and politics to the equation and Osages become greedy savages. The Osages in government are the worst of the Osages. Galen Crum is an example of insidious corruption. It's no secret he's on the side of the executive branch to undermine shareholder concerns and to disrupt the MC's governance. One must wonder how much money he's taken under the table.
And yes, there are others who are deliberately passive when it comes to the relations between the Osage government and the MC. Certain council members have relatives on the Nation's payroll. If the council members don't play along with the Osage government, the relatives could (will) lose their jobs.
Jim Gray and the Harvard boys must sure be proud of themselves and laughing all the way to the bank.
And the picture just gets darker as the truth of how deep the nepotism and cronyism and it is true how pettiness got us where we are at and its time to step up to the plate to either hit restart or draw up a Constitution that has sound policies to ensure we can trust in our Government to a higher standard but as it is written now and can you believe the overhead we have because some of these Osages have more than one job at the Nation? Talk about the swamp that protects their own as opposed to do what is right for their own People. I call our Government a sham and B.S had they lived up to their goals we would be having a different conversation.
I AM SO PROUD OF GALEN CRUM, EVERETT WALLER, AND ANDREW YATES FOR TRYING TO STOP THIS LATEST IDIOCY THRUST UPON US BY OUR MINERALS COUNCIL!
AND JUST WHERE WAS THE ILLUSTRIOUS, NO GUTS TALLEE RED CORN? HIS VOTE COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS IN IT'S TRACKS, OR AT THE VERY WORST, SHOWN US WHERE HE STOOD. DON'T KID YOURSELF, EVERY COUNCIL PERSON HAD BEEN GIVEN A COPY OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. HOPE THE SNIVILING COWARD GETS OVER HIS RUNNY NOSE.
THIS CAN BE STOPPED BEFORE THE SUIT IS FILED, BUT IT TAKES 5 VOTES TO DO IT NOW. A TIE VOTE IS A NO VOTE, SO NOW, IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE RECENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE LAWYERS TO PROCEED WITH THE FILING. THIS WOULD LIKELY COST THE SHAREHOLDERS MILLIONS, AND WHAT WOULD WE WIN? THESE SAME LAWYERS HAVE ALREADY TOLD US WHO OWNS THE MINERAL ESTATE.
All I have to say is stop the fear mongering. The Osage Headright owners will hardly notice a change in thier checks. And if you are so proud of these individuals who we call obstructionist then you are apart of what is so wrong and you do not deserve a Check from our M.E This is about so much more about our rights and is bigger than you and I and surly will open doors of which we need to get to the bottom of the barrel sorta speak. So, I guess one, you are apart of this resistance to progress and to our rights or you fully do not understand the politics that is involved here and or you have something to hide because any Headright owner would want progress and this is just one step to opening other doors for the M.E It is bad enough we have beenn at a stagnation for awhile where it concerns the M.E by over regulations that have no business on our Reservation and the BIA not working in tandum for the Estate just adds more insult to injury and it is bad they are so enept. Not to mention the Nation would like nothing better to get there hand on the M.E. No thank you. This tug a war has been going way to long but I do have to say and as I have said before this should not be a excuse to do nothing, waiting for the Government to do something, well we know that song and dance right? Bottom line our M.C hands are not tied and they have much onus in this matter as well. I used to call her Mrs. Kravitz, Cynthia Boone, but people do change there minds. Now I see the writing on the wall, my eyes keep on getting bigger and bigger as sure as the sun is brite our blight will see the day light as the sure as the truth is always revealed. It was only a matter of time. Yes, there is a great inequity that has occurred in the first place, we have a binding document which is the 1906 Act and it was all of failures to not recognize that very fact. Giving a vote to everyone in the M.E affairs was so wrong when they have no part in the M.E was a illegal take and that is a fact. And Erwin is stepping up and God Bless her. This is just one step to taking back what was our to begin with. Thank you!!!!
Once upon a time,we were non-Osage shareholders and for decades still seeing Osage trying to maintain a lower class of human beings.There truly seems inter-tribal fighting among the decedents of the 1906 act will continue.
If anyone had a elder you would know this to be true, if you understood our culture you would know this to be true and in truth the corruption needs to stop because the bleed is to much not to not heed. Its time we take the lead only to succeed and only then we can aspire to our culture in our desire for the truth because it is there for eyes to see can we finally hear our plea. To do nothing would be a failure once again for the Osage Shareholder's the M.E and everything that we are and can be. Our future is before our very eyes their lies the answer is today, is yesterday's past today is already our future our future already our past lets not delay. Support those on our MC who voted yes!!!!
"All I have to say is stop the fear mongering. The Osage Headright owners will hardly notice a change in thier checks."
So how low do the checks need to get? You honestly don't think that they are already low enough? This is straight "Crazy Cat Lady" logic. Get these nuts out of there and away from anything involving the minerals estate. The Minerals Council has one job, turning oil into headright money.
Turning Headright money into lawyer fees isn't part of the job description.
Like you would notice much in first place missing from your check. We can agree that I to feel the same way you do and my prescription would be to advocate as opposed to not doing anything about it as in a suggestion go to the Courts and file against the suit that your right are being infringed upon,exactly what I thought all talk. I know my rights have been abrogated and I have a leg to stand on. The difference between you and is we really want the same thing ok, leave the Nation out of it right nothing wrong with following through on this promise right? After all it is for the preservation. I am for good sound policies to ensure the viability of the ME. And I also understand our inside politics because I am family and I am so familiar with our rich History thanks to my elder. She said to me you will see that one day you will be in this fight for what has been so wrong with the Osage. Truth be known someone said we cannot have two Tribes anybody that understands our history would know it was known by settlers along the Missouri river we had what was considered two tribes the Great Osage and down river the Little Osage. Why were known as the great Osage bec6of our Height. My point is, There are not going to be two tribes with in the Osage. Just simply the ME belongs to the aires, the headright owners, once and for all let it be settled so, we can aspire to be great again. And my bet you are scared what doors this suit will open, and how it can benefit the Headright owners. These steps that should have been taken in 2006 or before the Constitution was written. The truth be known had anyone done the diligence we would not be having this conversation. I brought the attention a while back weneed to get ourselves out if the court of opinion and move this ME forward and if their is Black Gold to be had we have to ask ourselves why has Bakken been so prosperous and we have the potential yet I have to aske why because it refects what we do in the outside world. In other words our reputation and our Culture , who we are we haven't seen much representation other in the coutrs of opinion. To establish a working body we must identify who we are, a separate entity. When the nation opened up its own energy dept it did send hairs down my spine. This is important. Lastly, it is important that one the BIA in truth should be notifying the Headright owners of these said deductions, how long it will be and so forth, and we really should be voting on this but until we can clarify who we this can not hapen and still is corrupt. But he way the Constitution is written only impedes our growth. All the same then we can take a look at what has been really going on. The truth always reveals itself you don't have to look to far.
So all of us crazies need to take note of one very important fact of life if the OME Trust is busted by the efforts of certain Osage elected officials running back and forth to Washington, DC: With a new Osage Nation public Trust created, Federal taxes will be due and payable yearly on quarterly payment funds. 15% to 25% or more right? Take us for crazy but don't take us for stupid. Isn't one of those officials now over a barrel because his daughter was caught embezzling funds and then put back to work for the Nation in another department with very little restitution asked and no charges or jail time required? One source you hear this from is good. Two and you have confirmation.
Keep your sox on! Talee and Katherine before him have been trying to get a trust asset accounting, as to what belongs to Minerals in the Trust and what belongs to the rest of the Osage Nation, from the Nation from day one since the time the Osage Nation government took over and arbitrarily appropriated all Osage Nation assets in trust or otherwise. What's sad that they have to finally sue the Bureau to get this determination. Try and keep up with what has happened in the past that has lead us to where we are today. Call Katherine and Talee if you don't believe me.
I should have written: "... from day one since the time the Osage Nation government swept in, took over and arbitrarily appropriated all Osage Nation assets in trust or otherwise." Emphasis on "swept in".
Comments continued from: http://osageblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/osage-shareholder-matters-july-2017.html
ReplyDeleteAnonymous August 26, 2017 at 11:04 AM
The 1906 Allotment Act as amended specifies that approval is required by the 1938 Act to Amend the 1906 Act and it reads as follows verbatim:
"The Secretary of the Interior and the Osage Tribal Council are hereby authorized and directed to offer for lease for oil, gas, and other mining purposes any unleased portion of said land in such quantities and at such times as may be deemed for the best interest of the Osage Tribe of Indians..."
I don't see any such authorization by the State of Oklahoma or the government of the Osage Nation to even put forth any legal agreement associated with a single solitary mineral in Osage County. This is laid out and so specified by Acts of the United States Congress and signed by the President of the United States, therefore, any such agreement between the parties of the State and the Nation is illegal and thus null and void on its face.
To further these facts of Congressional statutory public law, The current Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) states this verbatim:
"§ 226.2 Sale of leases.
(a) Written application, together with any nomination fee, for tracts to be offered for lease shall be filed with the Superintendent.
(b) The Superintendent, with the consent of the Osage Tribal Council, shall publish notices for the sale of oil leases, gas leases, and oil and gas leases to the highest responsible bidder on specific tracts of the unleased Osage Mineral Estate. The Superintendent may require any bidder to submit satisfactory evidence of his good faith and ability to comply with all provisions of the notice of sale. Successful bidders must deposit with the Superintendent on day of sale a check or cash in an amount not less than 25 percent of the cash bonus offered as a guaranty of good faith. Any and all bids shall be subject to the acceptance of the Osage Tribal Council and APPROVAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT."
The 1978 Act also says verbatim:
"The Secretary (of the Interior) is hereby authorized to remove from the council any member or members for good cause, to be by him determined, after the party involved has had due notice and opportunity to appear and defend himself. The tribal government so constituted shall continue in full force and effect until January 1, 1984, and thereafter until otherwise provided by Act of Congress."
Good cause is working out an illegal deal that waives the right of the Minerals Council and the BIA to collect royalties on oil, gas or other mineral in Osage County of any kind on the part of the Osage Nation with the State without a lease and without the express approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Violation of Federal law is a crime, make no mistake and this appears on its face to be a flagrant violation, pure and simple on paper in black and white.
DeleteCause and effect, if in the end the headright owners rights have been infringed upon, then we have no recourse to tke each and every member of our council and BIA to just. And yes we can with june right around the corner I suggest we start looking i to replacing them with people that are capable of running a large estate like this.
DeleteYou need to follow the money. Standingbear and his handlers want to but the M.E. What sort of political favors is the Chief getting out of this? He has less than a year to fulfill his Harvard masters' wishes so they are going to turn up the heat and force him to accomplish their goals. We are going to see more of the illegal moves until election time. Standingbear is a bane to the Osage people and a direct threat to the Shareholders.
ReplyDeleteAny party whether in the Osage congress or the Mineral Council who is corroborating with Standingbear knows or should know they are in violation of the ethical and legal values they are sworn to protect. The Osage Nation government was born out of fraud and will collapse from the indignities of the people running the government. The Nation is not about governance, rather it is about the larceny of those who control the purse strings. Those fools on the hill ruined the reservation status and through their folly will eventually wipe the Osages from the map of the earth.
Our current problems needs to be addressed now. No waiting for a miracle election.
ReplyDeleteSimply E-mail Congress and ask the question "Where is it written that gave Congress the legal right to make a mineral estate dealing with the state?" And then resend it two or three times a day.
Was it just a year ago some lady politician was talking about capturing the excessive gas and selling it? Yes, I believe this can really get away from us if we don't get some answers from Congress, and the mineral council. Not going to get any answers from the Superintendent unless she's confronted with the question while in a minerals council meeting. Like, does she know about this, if so, was is legal?, did Congress go over her responsibility has our Trustee? Mama doesn't have to love us, but she's our legal guardian.
In the last mineral council meeting there was mention of the next Newsletter getting started, e-mail the Chairman and copy the other members and maybe we'll get an answer from one of them, ask if someone would respond on what they know about what Congress did about the "gas" deal with the state, like what was that all about. (Because it's not like it's not any of our business.)
Your absolutely right call the executive office as well and then flood the M.C lines as well.
DeleteWhere is this Agreement referred to and what are the terms and conditions of it?
ReplyDeleteONCR 17-32, A Resolution to support and authorize the execution of an intergovernmental agreement between the Osage Nation and the State of Oklahoma for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to repair a dangerous natural gas seep at Pawhuska High School and to provide monetary assistance; and to authorize a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. (Buffalohead)
You can find the document without the Agreement attached here:
https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/congress-legislative-branch/legislation
Why did Kugee change his vote when he was the one who voted against it until he saw the vote would fail and then turned tail and voted for it. He was the one who read it out on the air in Appendix "A" that, if voted for, it waives the right of the Minerals Council to collect a royalty on natural gas from all geothermal wells, not just the one in particular at the Pawhuska school which is what the Minerals Council wanted that was changed by the Osage Nation by either the Chief or the Osage Congress, I’m not sure which. Maria Whitehorn made this change very clear without questions being asked of those who needed to be there prior to a the final vote of the Congress on this legislation and she shook her head looking dismayed at Kugee, as if he is somehow deranged, when he said he would vote no unless the vote failed to pass the resolution, at which point, he planned to change his vote to yes which he actually did and as a result, waiver of the right of the Minerals Council to a royalty on natural gas from geothermal wells included, the resolution passed by his one vote.
You'll find this segment about 4 minutes into the tape here:
Congressman Kugee is the man wearing the Hawaiian shirt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0FTC4bkVTU&feature=youtu.be
We will take this to the courts thats it had enough of this BS coming from the Nation and not one word from the M.c on this matter?
DeletePlus, the Osage Congress approved this agreement with a $50,000 payoff? This well in question was non-oil and gas related and was dug by the school system for heating their schools and has nothing to do with our minerals or us at all. The kids we're already going back to school safely before the Osage Congress ever voted on this resolution!
DeleteThis Public Statement appeared on the Pawhuska Public Schools Facebook page TWO DAYS BEFORE the Osage Congress voted on ONCR 17-32 :
"Pawhuska Public Schools
August 23 at 3:46pm ·
The Pawhuska Public Schools are scheduled to start classes Monday, August 28, 2017. Both the State Fire Marshal and the EPA have confirmed there are no current air quality hazards. Elementary and Indian Camp schools will have welcome tables set up Monday morning, in place of back to school night. We would like to again, thank our patrons for your continued patience and understanding."
I observed that more than just Maria looked at Kugee like he'd lost his mind.
Kugee must be accepting bribes. He too is a sellout. How much money is he getting to vote the way he does?
DeleteAll Osages have very serious issue the the Osage government. Give the Chief and certain members of congress and the M.E enough money they would gladly dissolve the Osage Nation and ruinate the Osage people.
Look at Jim Gray with his lies and illegal vote. He made millions with his plot to eliminate the Shareholder. Pipestem made millions arguing that the HPP award go to the government rather than the Shareholders. Osages out of state have no benefits or viable input to Osage matters.
The Osage Nation should go into the restaurant business as their specialty is cooking the books up there on the second floor.
Hate to tell you but the Osage Nation took what the MC had agreed to and that was for one geothermal well and one well only located at Pawhuska High School and drop kicked that provision of the Agreement right into the trash can. Listen to the comments of Maria Whitehorn...
DeleteOsage News has the story:
Deletehttp://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/26/chief-standing-bear-signs-agreement-occ-plug-geothermal-well-near-phs/
"“As I told Chief Standing Bear, I hope this remarkable cooperation between tribal, state, and federal agencies will lay a path for us to continue to work together in the future.”"
I'll just bet they want to work with us in the future especially since it includes all geothermal wells per this agreement that should have only specified the one well in question at Pawhuska High School. Take note that the article in the Osage News does not give any reactions from the members of the Minerals Council!
StandingBear is supposed to protect the interests of the Nation including those of the Shareholders first and foremost. If the well was dug by the City or County government, then it's their responsibility to cure the problem and to indemnify us from their actions, not the other way around. I can only hope this pompously gratuitous action on the Chief's part and the open cowardice of certain members of the Osage Nation Congress, flip floppers included, hasn't ushered in the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Courts in the State of Oklahoma into Osage County. Time will tell...
Right does this set the precedent and I would like to hear from Crum and Cynthia on this matter. Regardless what Nona Roach says.
DeleteHA! With the Osage Nation now involved in trying to fix the problem, it will be November 1st before the high schoolers in Pawhuska can get back into the classroom! I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the well doesn't blow up. This will be our first test of how well the Osage Nation can perform in the running of the Osage minerals estate.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3&theater
So... now we find out the rest of the story...
DeleteAccording to Susan Foreman, "There are 28 geothermal wells at PHS permitted by the OWRD drilled to 350’ in the Cochahee gas sand. There is a Town Hall Meeting at the Dave Landrum Community Center in Pawhuska at 6PM tonight."
Not just one geothermal well but 28. These were permitted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.
Again, insufficient and therefore substandard reporting from the Osage News as to a full and fair telling of the story. According to Congresswoman Whitehorn, speaking during this Special Session, this was not the agreement that was passed by the Minerals Council's resolution because it had language specific to one well and one well only on the PHS ball field. It was changed in the Osage Nation Congressional version to all geothermal wells, waving the Minerals Councils right to collect royalties and could therefore invite a question as to whether the natural gas being flared on all these wells should be looked at in each situation and location where there is a geothermal well involved as to whether a royalty on this natural gas should be being paid out. This leaves open the question as to whether this situation is being handled properly where the shareholders with a headright are concerned. Apparently there are 28 geothermal wells at PHS alone being reported by Susan Forman on a facebook site just recently.
Delete"ONCR 17-32 passed with two “no” votes from Congress members James Norris and Maria Whitehorn." ...After Kugee changed his vote on this resolution, of course.
http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/30/osage-congress-approved-three-items-aug-25-special-session/
Woah thus is (sic) So, lets get deeper into this. I smell a rat thats all I have to say why not protect the interest of the Headright owners?
DeleteDuplication of information services because of the Osage Agency Policy. If the money comes from the Mineral Council, it comes from the drawdown and if it comes from the drawdown then it comes out of Headright money. Remember the days, not so long ago, when not all of the $1,000,000 drawdown was used and what was left over was distributed to the Headright owners? Not since the new government has been in play though. Not one dime back to the shareholders for the last 11 years...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/28/minerals-council-working-digitizing-records-aid-oil-producers-hindered-foia/
Right and we have a right to know where that drawdown is being spent M.C ? Call them and ask?
DeleteDuplication of information services because of the Osage Agency Policy? If the money comes from the Mineral Council, it comes from the drawdown and if it comes from the drawdown then it comes out of Headright money. Remember the days, not so long ago, when not all of the $1,000,000 drawdown was used and what was left over was distributed to the Headright owners? Not since the new government has been in play though. Not one dime back to the shareholders for the last 11 years...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/28/minerals-council-working-digitizing-records-aid-oil-producers-hindered-foia/
How do you take control of our own "property" if it's held in Trust? The Trustee always controls the property on behalf of and for the benefit of the beneficiaries in every legal trust arrangement on this side of the planet, especially at the Federal level with an Indian Trust relationship handled and administrated by the BIA. Do you really want our Chief going to Washington, D.C., to end the Mineral Estate Trust we have now with the BIA exercising some kind of hybrid trust responsibility out in limbo somewhere that won't include any legal protection in Federal or State Court and us having to legally defend every move we make with attempting to get paid on the oil and gas taken out of the ground with attorneys like Gentner Drummond telling all the land owners to lock up their gates and the Osage Nation running things like they've run the Osage, LLC at a loss of $19,000,000 and hundreds of thousands of dollars going to the Osage Nation Energy Services LLC which hasn't done a single thing but collect hefty paychecks monthly for the Board Members and buy a building? Another coup is taking place right out from under us, people, and don't think it isn't.
See Jim Ryan to OSAGE FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY on July 19, 2017.
Beginning with the statement: "Because this statement is so relative and important,I am reposting here."
https://www.facebook.com/groups/234024393278360/
If you think the Osage Nation won't make an absolute mess of our minerals estate, read this:
https://www.facebook.com/EdwardsOsageCongress/photos/a.1018517008240344.1073741827.261039170654802/1431290890296285/?type=3&theater
There is more pomposity in this photograph than you will see anywhere else in the entire world. These two Osage Nation elected officials are the culprits who are attempting to take away your current Mineral Estate Trust now managed by the BIA and the Office of the Special Trustee, make no mistake about that!
https://www.facebook.com/osageofficeofthechiefs/photos/a.205194073238823.1073741828.201021936989370/321678568257039/?type=3&theater
As bad as that is with the BIA, and indeed it is very bad, try and wrap your mind around what a catastrophe it will be with the Osage Nation in charge.
Under a new regime, the minute we try to run to the BIA to protect us they will say and rightly so, “Sorry, you wanted to run it, you’ve got it now so you protect yourselves, just like everyone else does in the business world.”
If nothing else, remember this: Pride is not competence!
Poor Jim Ryan. He really appears to be such a dupe. I once had a conversation with StandingBear where he said everyone was going to move home. I thought he was delusional at the time but what I believe he was really indicating to me was this; if we want any money coming from the Osage Tribe now the Osage Nation, we'll have to move home to get it. Does Jim Ryan plan to move back to Osage County, does anyone know?
DeleteSo what do we get in benefits from the $800,000 in raises for FY 2107 for Osage Nation employees that the members of the Osage Nation Executive Branch and members of The Osage Nation Supreme Court so righteously support? I don't see that we benefit at all. The employees eat up the funds with raises and unearned bonuses in the Osage Nation Treasury that should be going to all of us in membership benefits and then there is nothing left to fund the health and education member benefit programs.
DeleteHow much did we pay out for this sucker to the detriment of member health and education benefits?
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3
The thing looks like it's there to advertise the Motel Super 8! Only the Osage Nation government elected officials would buy into this...
Shannon Edwards said they, meaning the Executive Branch, ignored a safeguard in Osage Nation law that requires the Osage Nation Treasurer to verify the sufficiency of funds in the Treasury before it is appropriated. If the Chief, who is a lawyer and an officer of the Court, will ignore something as staggeringly important as this, what else will be up for grabs in the future? Did certain members of the Osage Nation Congress ignore this safeguard too?
DeleteTime to hold those responsible and make a few amendments in our Constitution allows for this to happen other wise we risk moral integrity to our Tribe forever hold your peace that we don't get a Chief that welcomes accountability and transparency. A deep audit into each Dept.would be a beginning.
DeleteHow much did we pay out for this sucker to the detriment of member health and education benefits?
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/OsageNews/photos/a.153834188010750.33094.134873493240153/1546784158715739/?type=3
The thing looks like it's there to advertise the Motel Super 8! Only the Osage Nation government elected officials would buy into this location...
Nice placement of the arrow.
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/osagetraillegacy/photos/a.1695244944038459.1073741830.1654036954825925/1997906853772265/?type=3&theater
"ignored a safeguard," "verify the sufficiency of funds in the Treasury before it is appropriated."
DeleteKeep this statement in mind at all times, don't forget about the large loss of LLC and how long it went on without regard to "ALL" headright owners. (It happened from our elected, not the gov.)
Our past has to do why this blog page is so important, it is "NEEDED," and that's a proven.
The Congress and Nation gives me the feeling I'm on welfare.
We have to stay on guard to protect waste and greed of our "inherited" interest and that inheritance is written in our ancestors blood, broken treaties, murder, and theft.
The oil revenue comes from mother earth, not the Federal government like the Nation gets.
This is not the Government our people wanted for our people change is needed in the worst way.
DeleteThis site is needed but what and how has this been proactive? Its avoice formsure but now we need to walk the talk.
DeleteIn the past, we have made a number of recommendations to take action to contact members of the Osage Nation Congress, the BIA and the U.S. Congress on items that we haven't liked or thought were the wrong thing to do and as a result, those things haven't gone forward or changes have been made that we have supported that are all to the good. Go back and read past threads at http://osageblog.blogspot.com/ In the past four years, right here at the Osage Blog, we’ve taken proactive positive action to provide information to turn back the proposed CFRs that were so deleterious to the oil and gas producers in the field in Osage County along with two other facebook sites of other concerned and involved Osages around the country. From Texas, Jim Ryan's Facebook site is very good for exactly this reason at https://www.facebook.com/groups/234024393278360/ and Yancey Red Corn's site is also very interesting and available too with a focus on member Osages who actually live in and around Osage County. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/yanman/ Jim Ryan went all out to make certain that the Osage Nation government took legal action against those responsible for the massive losses at the Osage, LLC as did we and as a result of the public outcry, the Osage Nation got involved and filed a lawsuit against Carol Leese and others who were involved. If it was up to the Osage Nation alone, I don't believe it would have ever happened because the breadcrumb trail leads right back to the elected Osage Nation officials and the managing Osage, LLC Board at the time who continued to fund or request funds for the thing when they knew or should have known after the first year or so that it was a bad investment in and too high a risk use of public Osage Nation funds especially when a number of these officials were warned both by phone and in various locations online time and time again against throwing more and more millions after a business non-starter that sure enough descended into what now appears to be criminal behavior with one loan of a million dollars of our money to individuals who are now being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for fraudulent use of the money which they substantially took and back-pocketed. Our niche here is that everyone can post anonymously where with facebook, such is not by any means, the case. Truth to Power is our theme here to keep the Osage Nation government honest. Public opinion is important and it really matters. Recently, it has helped when the Chief attempted to hand out leases on the Bluestem Ranch without the approval of the Osage Nation Congress and more importantly, outside of the purview of the Bluestem Ranch Business Enterprise Board that was put in place to run the ranch, in violation of Article X, Section 8. “Independence of Boards and Commissions” of the Osage Nation Constitution (ONC). Osages all over the country were calling for Chief Standing Bear to be removed from office for that one under ONC, Article XXII - “Removal”. Don't think your opinion doesn't matter because it does and it makes a huge difference at times with how the Osage Nation government is run or not run depending upon what Osage Nation members want to have happen or not happen in government.
DeleteHaving the power and control isn't competence either. Why would we want to give managerial control over to Standing Bear and Raymond Red Corn? They did the budgeting and they are the ones who are now coming up short on funding for member benefits when they initially made representations that the money was there and available when originally budgeted in the first place. Those in the know are now are saying the organization in government there in Pawhuska, in-house, is in complete disarray with some employees getting paychecks from two or three different divisions at the same time every month! It's a colossal mess and I just heard yesterday that the Realty Compact the Nation is running is really screwed up now too. They always say they are going to hire professionals but at this point their reputation is so bad, open speculation is that no real and true professional will work with them at any price. That's just the turn of phrase they run by everyone though because in reality, they almost always hire people from the inside because anyone from the outside who is actually qualified and finds out how screwed up things are and has tried to make the necessary changes in the past has gotten fired fairly early on with the excuse that they weren't the right mix. A classic example of exactly what I mean is what happened to Norma Merriman. Read this--->>>
Deletehttp://osagenews.org/en/article/2012/04/11/former-health-and-wellness-division-leader-testifies-congressional-hearing/
The ones they claim are so professional who are the anointed ones have had mid-level management jobs with companies they have worked for if that, with no real serious Senior Executive Level management background or work experience for a period of years numbering more than ten. They want the money but they don't really want to work for it. Stories continue to surface of how 20% or more of the Osage Nation government work force are making a show of coming in but not on time, leave with some excuse for a long lunch or leave early before the close of business hours, in effect, stealing time day in and day out from the Osage Nation government, therefore, from the Osage people and to one degree or another, all of them are reported to be doing it! Can't run a business effectively this way or a government either. I'm so sick of the "give them a chance" philosophy. A chance to what? Fail again? They're not doing anything different so why should we give them any more chances to run anything else that involves a business or money? It's just foolish and stupid to think they can do better -- and this is very important --especially when they behave like they really don't care whether or not they succeed or fail as long as the money keeps rolling in. This generation of Osage Nation elected and appointed officials and employees have no earthly right to decimate by dereliction -- and by that I mean, the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations to the Osage people successfully -- all of the fiscal resources of the Osage Nation in the here and now, thereby destroying the financial future of and the possibility of benefits for those who are yet to be born.
Thank you it seems moral obligation has gone by the way side and they who are earning a check just because they can those Depts who are abusing the system and now it seems its sestemic and a huge waste of our money. Hmm. Smh. Which Depts in paticular are we talking about.
DeleteMaybe the swamp needs to be cleaned from our Government.
DeleteOsage for fiscal responsibility!!!!
Not to be too cynical but in the event of another world war, where do you think they will be coming for oil? If it can happen once, it can happen twice. Just saying...
ReplyDeletehttp://osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/07/chief-standing-bear-selected-joint-civilian-orientation-conference-pentagon/
More of a chance of cival war before a world war. Once again I repeat it will not happen. For one, China has to much vested in the U.S. Then you have all our allies that if we don't react to N.K first they will because they are closer.
Deletefyi - update on N. Korea -- Today N. Korea shot a missle over "JAPAN" (per CNN)
ReplyDeleteHarvey flood -- with refineries down, how does this affect the Osage ME?
ReplyDeleteThe prices of oil goes up. Predictions are a $0.25 raise on or before the labor weekend. Won't be much.
DeleteHas anyone heard the outcome of the WILLIAM S. FLETCHER, et al., vs THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,et al., ? I believe the judgment was for a full accounting starting from 2002 until current. I thought the court gave the government an 18 month extension starting 01/27/16.
ReplyDeleteThis will be interesting to say the least the outcome of this accounting. I would think we are near the ooutcome of thos judgenment.
DeleteI have not checked the Indianz.com archive past May 4, 2017, so there may be an update, I will check the archives this weekend, it's so time consuming the way it is set up.
Deleteindianz.com May 4, 2017 - "Osage Nation beneficiaries still fighting for accounting despite a setback in court"
[the setback is the court's decision to say we are not entitled to go back to 1906, but instead "2002"] Hearing was on March 22, 2017 in Denver, CO, and the decision on April 21, 2017. The appeal decision is available at end of this article, it's 11 pages.
It's an appeal full of verbal harshness toward us, they are going to fight in everyway possible to stop or hinder this lawsuit. We are seeking justice and they could care less, to them it's all about the green bill.
Here are some quotes from the appeal:
page 10 -- "...nothing in Fletcher II requires the government to produce all electronic records."
[to me, records means "all records]
page 11 -- "Every headright yields on average $7,975 per quarter..."
[what year are they talking about, not 2017]
page 11 -- "...court reasoned that restoring a single headright...would only increase each headright..less than $15 per year."
page 11 -- "Plaintiffs now suggest yet another starting point - 1972 - ..."comes too late."
[I've seen no mention of a next court date? I believe whenever there's a final legal document, getting details in order, A. Proctor will have to do another appeal to address the lawsuit to a monetary lawsuit in the future. But we are still an active case!]
I heard that that Proctor woman who is the attorney in the lawsuit representing the plaintiffs wanted to have the Judge award her some kind of court costs at which point, the Judge made the case that Proctor's representation is on a contingency basis and that she should be expecting to get these fees from the client per her legal representation agreement with the plaintiffs and not from the court. I think it may be bogged down there as far as I know. Correct me if I'm wrong and post an update if you have one available. It's a lost leader anyway because the plaintiffs have really been going for getting back the headrights that have gone out to others than family and non-Osages and legal persons including churches and banks and the like. No Federal Judge will ever let that happen so it should grind to a halt. The Osages alive today in the Osage seem to live in an alternate reality on this issue which is really dangerous for them and their children. What's even more terrible is, I don't think they really care no matter what comes of it as long as they can get that mineral estate income back. If a thing like this ever happens, I predict that it will make the Osage Murders during the early period of the last century look like a gopher shoot. Mark my words on this. I kid you not and that's a shame for all Osages who live back home who are are actually capable of letting bygones be bygones who aren't so greed driven on this issue.
DeleteDon't think for one minute that these people who currently own headrights that are generating income will take this lying down. What even most of the Osages who live back home don't know is this very concrete fact associated with one of the amendments to the 1906 Allotment Act; if an entity known as the Osage Tribe wasn't created as a legal person back in 1906, the mineral rights reserved to the Osage Tribe would have been tied to the land and every Osage original allottee would have been able to sell them, will them, or give them away after the first 25 years prior to the various extensions, including the last one reserved in perpetuity. In the 1938 Act to Amend the 1906 Allotment Act, it specifically states about the income from the mineral rights, "belongs to the Osage Tribe." This is, of course, correct from a legal standpoint because you have to have an owner of property before it is transferred and taken into Trust. This is a correct following of the law in this situation created by the 1906 Allotment Act and its subsequent amendments. Now, what most land owners in Osage County don't realize as well is this: if the Federally held trust is terminated by the United States Congress unilaterally and the 1978 Act to amend the 1938 Act to amend the 1906 Allotment Act and this provision on prevails with the current assets taken out of trust, by operation of this very Act of the United States Congress signed by the President in 1978, the minerals income must be returned to the original named owner that is still in existence today that is in the entity of the Federally recognized Osage Nation. It is at the exclusive and absolute option of the Osage Nation what will happen at that point and that income must be given back to the Nation and deposited in whatever vehicle the Osage Nation creates per operation of Federal law, be it placing the income in the Osage Nation Treasury or a new trust account created by the Osage Nation with an entirely new group of Osage shareholders with no obligation whatsoever to the non-Osages who currently receive Osage Mineral Estate income. The Nation will likely have two options at that point; to create a new trust with the current set of Osage Shareholders that will create a sure and certain internal crisis as those current members of the Osage Nation without a headright won't stand for a special class of Osages to be created by the Osage Nation that will receive minerals income or they will have the option to create a new set of shareholders with a totally different criteria determined by them and them alone that may or may not include all current registered Osage Nation members, as an example; only those who live in Osage County. The final option will likely be the one chosen and that is for the Osage Nation to keep all the Minerals income and deposit it in the Treasury and let it go at that, at which point, one way or another, all of the legal persons like churches and banks in addition to all non-Osages will be cut out of the herd. Imagine what a scenario like this will create and what will ensue with both Osages and non-Osages alike in Osage County and throughout the State of Oklahoma. Imaging too what will happen with all Osage and non-Osage headright owners who don’t live in Oklahoma losing their income as well. Not good to say the very least. In short, the bitter legacy of Lottie Pratt and her litigious son Charlie, will get a whole lot more bitter before the dust settles.
DeleteFrom the Act of June 24,1938 (52 Stat. 1034, 1035):
Delete"That all that part of the Act of June 28, 1906 (34 Stat. L. 539), entitled 'An Act for the division of the lands and funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma, and for other purposes', which reserves to the Osage Tribe the oil, gas, coal, or other minerals, covered by the lands for the selection and division of which provision is made in that Act is hereby amended so that the oil, gas, coal, or other minerals, covered by said lands are reserved to the Osage Tribe...and all royalties and bonuses arising therefrom shall belong to the Osage Tribe of Indians..."
From OCTOBER 21, 1978, PUBLIC LAW 95–496, 92 STAT. 1660
c) The fourth paragraph of section 3 of the Act of June 24, 1938 (52 Stat. 1034, 1036) is amended by striking the phrase " January 1, 1984" and inserting, in lieu thereof, the phrase " January 1, 1984 and thereafter until otherwise provided by Congress".
RE: The section of the 1938 Act that has been amended by the 1978 Act giving the Federal government the ability to unilaterally opt out of continuing forward with the Mineral Estate Trust and the Trust relationship with the Osages that it is currently bound by today:
"The lands, moneys, and other properties now or hereafter held in trust or under the supervision of the United States for the Osage Tribe of Indians, the members thereof, or their heirs and assigns, shall continue subject to such trusts and supervision until January 1, 1984, unless otherwise provided by Act of Congress." The last part of this sentence now reads, "January 1, 1984 and thereafter until otherwise provided by Congress." What is up in the air is what is actually meant and required by the text of the last phrase, "until otherwise provided by Congress." We know what an Act of Congress means and requires. What we don't know is what is required when the United States Congress "provides" for the trusts and supervision or decides to no longer provide for them.
In conclusion:
Delete1) The Osage County mineral rights belong to the Osage Tribe in perpetuity.
2) The income from the Mineral rights belongs to and is owned by the Osage Tribe, now known as the Osage Nation, should the current Federal Mineral Estate Trust now in place be terminated by the United States Congress unilaterally and the rights to that income be handed back to them once they have been brought back out of trust as the legal owner of record unless the United States Congress provides for and creates another new and separate Osage Mineral Estate Trust in the future.
3) The mineral rights throughout all of Osage County are reserved to the Osage Tribe, now known as the Osage Nation, in perpetuity, without reference to the current Federal Mineral Estate Trust now in place or any other Trust or Osage County land ownership now and in the future. The mineral rights reserved to the Osage Nation are standalone per the 1906 Allotment as amended.
So What you're saying is that the ME belongs to the Osage Nation Government.
DeletePipestem made the same argument in court with the HPP award.
The Judge recognized Pipestem's error and was well aware that the HPP award go to the Shareholders.
The "Osage Tribe" and Osage Nation has historically has been used interchangeably.
The Proponents of the 2006 Osage Government are playing word games to confuse the matter by saying that the 2006 Osage Nation government rids the 1906 Act of it's meaning and intent.
Jim Gray et al failed in their attempt to wrestle the ME from the Shareholders with an illegal vote,
failed to convince the Judge on the HPP matter, and are now in Washington greasing the palms of Congressmen to entice them to put aside the 1906 Act and declare the Osage Nation Government the rights to the ME.
Merely Changing the name, or rather using the term Osage Nation does not dispel the 1906 Act or any other law protecting the Shareholders from take over.
PL108 does not eliminate the 1906 Act. In fact it REAFFIRMS the 1906 Act.
PL108 states the the Osage Tribe a.k.a the Shareholders can create a new government IF THEY WANTED TO AND THAT THE SHAREHOLDER ALONE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREATE A NEW GOVERNMENT.
Jim Gray et al allowed non-shareholder Osages to illegally vote to create a new government. Worse yet, many Shareholders were kept in the dark and were continually being misinformed of the proposed change.
The latest actions of Standingbear giving large sum of money away and rubbing shoulders with Washington is yet another attempt to eliminate the Shareholder and gain the ME revenue for the "Osage Nation" which diabolically only includes members of the Osage government, their families, and whomever they deem worthy of sharing the ME revenue...which means no one else but the small group of people in Pawhuska.
The ME is held in trust in perpetuity for the Osage Shareholders but NOT the Osage Nation government.
The 1906 Allotment Act says that in the absence of the income Trust that was created by it for the original allottees, their heirs and assigns as amended by subsequent Acts of the U.S. Congress, everything belongs to the Osage Tribe now Nation. This IS the 1906 Allotment Act as amended. Read all of the Act of the U.S. Congress that pertain to the 1906 Allotment Act including the Act itself and you will find all of this in there in the text of these documents. Where you are confused is that the income was owned to the Headright owners because it was they who lost the income along the way due to the failure of the BIA to live up to the Trust responsibilities due as a result of the legal fiduciary relationship between the headright owners as beneficiaries of the Trust and the BIA and Secretary of the Interior as the Trustee of the Osage Mineral Estate. The Judge in the HPP case had no other choice or option but to repatriate the lost income back to the beneficiaries who lost it due to the actions or inactions of the OME Trustee and the BIA.
Delete"...Act of the U.S. Congress..."
DeleteSorry.
"...ActS of the U.S. Congress..."
DeleteSorry again.
What I believe that can't actually be proven is that Pipestem wanted the total amount of the lawsuit settlement to be distributed to the Osage Nation so that it could be given out to the Osage headright owners only and not to the non-Osages and organizations that have ownership of one or more headrights.
DeletePL106 was an affirmation, not an amendment.
DeleteBoy oh boy poster at September 2, 2017 at 7:00 PM, you really want that ME revenue for yourselves their up om the hill. Your government types are salivating at idea of ending the shareholders.
There will NOT be a distribution to the proper Shareholders. The money will only go to the Nation.
You claim I am confused because the issue was between the BIA and the Shareholder. If that is the case then why was the Nation involved demanding the HPP award go to it instead of the Shareholder? The Nation hijacked the case hoping to reap the award. The Judge issued her ruling based on the 1906 Act and the law - NOT simply because of a new Nation government.
You can push your rhetoric but we know better.
The idea being that the Osage Nation would be in control of who would get the HPP settlement proceeds once it had the total settlement proceeds in hand and the scuttlebutt at the time was that this was being aimed for so the Nation could then turn around and give it out to Osages only with a headright or a percentage of one. This would have cut out about a third of those who actually receive headright income who are not Osages including organizations and institutions like banks and churches that currently own headrights and receive quarterly checks. Makes sense from the Osage point of view but it didn't work out that way.
DeleteHere we go...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnn.com/2017/09/03/asia/north-korea-nuclear-test/index.html
If this is an explosion, it's caused a fairly big earthquake.
This is insane!
Deletehttp://www.cnn.com/2017/09/03/asia/north-korea-nuclear-test/index.html?adkey=bn
With Russia vacating the Russian Embassy in San Francisco and burning their documents as I write this comment, and the report of Klaxon sirens going off in Japan in the last 24 hours, I’ve got to tell you, I am getting to be largely concerned about this situation. In the event of a thermonuclear war, see the map for missile silo sites that are considered to be prime targets if Russia should join the fight. See http://diyprepping.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/life0602.jpg
DeleteDriving away from these locations if war is declared by either North Korea, Russia or the USA may well be the only option to avoid drifting fallout unless you are within range of an area that is subject to an electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) and everything electronic becomes no longer operational including vehicles. A very bad business indeed if the balance shifts and the scales tip in the wrong direction...
See also https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/SM-65_Atlas_Missile_Sites.png
DeleteIn the "Notice of Pendency of Class Action" (2015) - Numeral II, Section A "The Claims in the Lawsuit" states: "The Plaintiffs allege that if the Defendants cannot account then the Defendants should be required to restore the Osage trust funds "placed to the credit of the individual members of Osage Tribe."
ReplyDeleteI kept a copy of the list of entities, it list 52 entities with one no longer existing. It looks to me to be about five different categories: humanitarian (e.g. Tulsa Boys' Home), churches (e.g. Osage Indian Baptist Church), banks (e.g. Wells Fargo Bank), oil companies (e.g. Southland Royalty Company), and good-wills (e.g. Institute of American Indian Arts Foundation). I don't see any "individual" names on this list.
Page 3 states "...various tribal members sold--and others gave away or bequeathed--their royalty interests...or portions of them (..."fractionalization")."
So it was known of and approved of by the BIA before headright owners started to be displeased about non-tribal members conveying their interests. I don't think this question has been answered yet, and that is, "was the U.S. responsible for the royalties 'after' they were disburse to the IIM accounts?" So the BIG question is "was the recipients 'Eligible or Ineligible'."
This is truly a confusing and complex lawsuit. If these 51 entities had names like "Joe's Barber Shop," or "Tim's Liquor Store," "Dan's Tattoo Parlor," I think the gov. would be more willing to look into this but I can't see the gov. stopping payment with the entities on the list (Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma, et al). If this case was won, they would have to.
Banks -- I've read in Indian history books how Osages owed money--so maybe that accounts for the "banks."
Oil Companies -- even in today, I think oil companies would buy out Osages interest if they legally could. I see on the internet royalty companies advertising to buy out royalty lands/investments. Back then, oil companies maybe offered to the Osages buyouts.
Except for the oil companies and banks, it looks like those Osages were good Christians donating from their heart (St. Joseph's Orphanage, New Mexico Boys Ranch, Masonic Homes of California).
On the "Appeal" document dated April 21, 2017
Page 8 states: "Plaintiffs ultimately hope to prove that the government has sent money to persons ineligible to receive headright shares.. and, in this way, improperly diminished their pro rata share." "Even now Plaintiffs state that they will likely bring back their misdistribution claim after the government performs the accounting."
If this case is won, get ready for new rules and regulations from the BIA again to cover themselves, and the BIA having more control over our royalties after disbursement to our IIM account.
So wrong it isn't funny. Once that money leaves the Federal Trust account it becomes the personal property of every single one of the headright owners outright period whether it's sent by U.S. Treasury check or automatic deposit to non-Osages or organizations or entities or deposited into IIM accounts which are also the exclusive personal property of each and every Osage who has one. Where these lawyers are coming up with all this nonsense is beyond me. If money leaves the Federal Trust account, it belongs to whoever it's sent to and they have the absolute right to dispose of it as they wish unless they are Osages who fall into restricted status. Then things work differently with only a portion of the money available after initial disbursement,
Delete"If this case is won, get ready for new rules and regulations from the BIA again to cover themselves, and the BIA having more control over our royalties after disbursement to our IIM account." - poster at September 4, 2017 at 2:53 AM.
DeleteAh yes, the solution is to allow the Osage Nation government to control the ME and the revenue distribution. Come on, the Nation will not distribute one penny to the proper Shareholders. Again, Pipestem argued that the HPP award go to the "Osage Nation" government - not the Shareholders. That is the government's stance.
The Osage Government wants to consider itself the one and only shareholder thus ending the individual Shareholders. The Nation has no intention of distributing anything. The per cap controversy is an example of the Nation's mentality.
The obsession with returning shares going to entities that could receive them is another example of the voraciousness of certain Osages. It was not illegal for Shareholders in the past to bequeath their share to a recipient of their choice. Yet, for some some reason it is now "illegal" for those entities to own a share that was previously bequeathed?
The BIA may be difficult to deal with but at least they can be held accountable in a court of law. Whereas the Osage Nation Government cannot be brought to the Osage Nation court due to it insulating itself in the ON constitution.
If the Nation were to succeed in controlling the ME and its revenue and in turn refuses to distribute any funds to the Shareholders, the Shareholders have no recourse to address their complaint.
If the Shareholders wish to bring a matter to the federal courts, the Nation will argue sovereignty status. Whether the sovereignty matter is up for debate being that Indian nations are not truly sovereign.
If the Fletcher case is successful, the Osage Nation will hold to its nature and attempt to find a way to confiscate the award for itself - or we shall say confiscate the award for certain Osages within the government?
NOTICE! The Fifth Osage Nation Congress FY2017-2018 TziZho Session begins tomorrow!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/tzizho-session-begin-september-5th
Opening remarks are located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=yf0MH80D75s
DeleteWhat's all this about the definition of acceptable adult birth certificates, Congressman Tillman?
DeleteONCA 17-91, An Act to amend 21 ONC §1-102 of the Osage Nation Membership Act to define birth certificate; and to establish an alternate effective date. (Tillman)
I guess we'll never know because, according to the Legislative Calendar for today, they held two committee meetings of the Osage Congress at the same time right after the Session and taped only one of them. The Rules and Ethics Committee got broadcast. The Membership Committee meeting did not. I guess they thought we don't need to know about what happened in that one.
DeleteThis doesn’t sound too good. I sure hope if Chairman Waller starts to feel the Shareholders aren’t being fully represented or the Chairman starts to feel he is in ‘Over His Head’ he asks for backup. I noticed already Oklahoma is not listed as a ‘Primary Members’ state or under ‘Tribes’ we are the last listed ‘Primary Member’ & the only ‘Tribe’ not in bold letters. Are we getting updates from the Royalty Policy Committee? Any thoughts …
ReplyDeletehttp://nativenewsonline.net/currents/interior-secretary-appoints-eight-american-indians-royalty-policy-committee/
You are wrong there. Waller is listed as a Primary Tribal Member.
Deletehttp://www.ladailypost.com/content/zinke-appoints-members-royalty-policy-committee
I question that we are even represented because the Osage Mineral Estate is legislatively and legally controlled by the 1906 Allotment Act as amended with the roll-out as per the current Code of Federal Regulations. These other Tribes probably come under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act somehow but with us, this does not apply.
Waller is such a fathead too, I hate to see him representing us. I wish the Minerals Council would get some backbone and put someone else in as Chairman because the word is that he's over a barrel for "certain reasons" and because of it, Standing Bear runs him around like the carpet sweeper. If the Osage Nation gets that Minerals income ownership returned if it's brought back out of the Federal Trust and put back into private ownership per the terms of the 1938 Amendment to amend the 1906 Allotment Act, we can kiss our quarterly payments bye-bye.
If they close the Trust account because the Federal OME Trust is terminated then we can have headrights all day long but with nothing in the closed Trust account, it will be zip, nada, zero dollars distributed people. In one respect, if this proves to be the case in the future, it would almost be worth it to see Sonny Abbott's flushed face when he finds out he's been just as had as all of the rest of us.
DeleteWaller is feckless period....and the 1906 as amended is a solid document not open for interpretation and means exactly what it says.
DeleteStop the fear mongering.
Besides we are 5000 strong and I would have them in court faster than ypu could count on behalf of all of us. Let them try they would lose.
FYI - indianz.com, Sept 6, 2017 - "Secretary Zinke appoints tribal representatives to committee for royalty policy"
Delete"The committee's first meeting takes place Oct. 4 in Washington, D.C. The meeting is open to the public and the department will provide a web and teleconference broadcast for those not able to make it in person"
www.doi.gov/rpc (FACA Federal Advisory Committee Act, describes the whole organization and members, etc.)
Lately from reading on Indianz.com, I have seen it mentioned several times that even though a tribe is described as a sovereign Nation, there will always be "Federal oversight." so, it looks to me that there is no "total" sovereign Nation?
ReplyDeleteAh you read a post of mine and I came to the same conclusion that really in terms its a word all to often used like a wet sponge. Sovereign. And really its not the Government that is Sovereign it is the people of the Tribe who is Sovereign.
DeleteToday is really no different than yesterday because we may be in better shape than we were yesterday.
There is a solution and to break all ties from the Federal Government since we are a Nation State so we claim but in reality no one wants to cut off the umbilical cord.
In our case and the 1906 act is solid and the responsibility should not fall into the wrong hands especially if we cannot hold those responsible for their actions by our Constitution and howmit is written but thats going to change asap. That is with w new Chief and Congress members who will do the diligence and stop being afraid of each other and do what is right for the people and notntheir wallets.
Wait and see folks.
So ask those guys who were involved in the Cora Jean Jech Lawsuit against the Osage Nation government and what the BIA finally said to them in the highest Administrative Court at the Bureau, the Interior Board of Appeals.
DeleteTake a little trip down memory lane --->>>
http://docplayer.net/50209791-Plaintiffs-objection-to-report-and-recommendation-come-now-the-plaintiffs-cora-jean-jech-charles-tillman-dudley-whitehorn-joe.html
http://osagenews.org/en/article/2011/03/11/omc-resolve-help-fund-jech-lawsuit-wavering/
http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2015/04/03/interior-board-appeals-rules-osage-minerals-estate-under-osage-nation/
In summary, the Feds have said that this is an interior matter and must be reviewed in the Tribal Court of the Sovereign Tribal Nation.
Then look at this paragraph in the Osage Nation Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4. Remedies: No person shall be entitled to an award of monetary damages, as a form of relief, in the Osage Trial Court for any violation of these rights; unless the Osage Nation Congress may by law provide for monetary damages as a form of relief for such violations, when relief would best serve the interests of the Osage Nation or that of justice."
When do you think the Osage Nation Congress will ever see "the interest of justice" go against the Osage Nation and for the Shareholders to award monetary damages? A cold day in hell when that will happen, I tell you. Let me summarize it all for you: The Osage Nation is now the player not the Osage Tribe. The Osage Nation is sovereign and we at the BIA cannot meddle in their internal affairs. Bring up your legal issue with the Osage Nation.
If the Nation breaks ties with the Feds altogether, good luck with getting access to the property in Osage County with all the gates locked up and no access available to the oil and gas producers. There will be no Federal oversight where internal Tribal matters are concerned between the membership and the Tribal government. If you think there will be, you're kidding yourself. We have precedent in this matter set on this issue some years ago.
..."If the Nation breaks ties with the Feds altogether, good luck with getting access to the property in Osage County with all the gates locked up and no access available to the oil and gas producers...."
ReplyDeleteThat is not a metaphor, it is part of the overall plan for the State of Oklahoma and more precisely the long burn of the Federal government to ruinate the Osage Nation. The folks back east have all the patience and resources they need to outwit, outwait, and outmaneuver, the Indians. The trap was set when Jim Gray "donated" money to Sen. Jim Inhofe to bring the casino matter to the U.S. congress.
Why do you think the Osage Nation lost he reservation status? The nation nation never stood a chance because the plan is to take over the mineral property rights so companies like Shell and Exxon can buy all the access rights from the land owners.
No Osage Nation = full access and control to the oil in Osage....COUNTY.
All that matters to to foolish Osage politician is getting his silver coin no matter what damages are caused upon him or those around him. The Osage politician cares nothing about a good reputation and serving the Osage people but rather far more concerned about developing relationships to the one's with the power and authority.
Either way the Osage politician will lose everything. He stabbed the Osages in the bach and in turn the Feds/Wall Street will stab him the back.
Did Jim Gray et al know this back in 2006? If so, that make him (them) the Judas Iscariot of the Osages.
If not, then they are merely the fou du roi of the Feds and Wall Street.
Either way Osages lose, Feds win. But at least Jim Gray et al got their silver coin.
NO! NO! NO!
DeleteThe 1978 Act to Amend the 1906 Allotment Act clearly states that the Mineral Rights are reserved to the Osage Tribe/Nation in perpetuity! This is whether or not the land or the income is in trust! The U.S. Congress has given up the right to amend this section of the 1906 Allotment Act as amended forever or until the USA is no longer a government. The land owners will NEVER own the mineral rights in Osage County no matter what happens EVER unless the government of the United States no longer exists and there's an end on it.
I second that.
DeleteMe three!
DeleteI'll fourth that.
DeleteThe 1906 act is extremely binding. And it is Congress who has plenary power and we the Headright owners love the fact that we are not going to change the status quo.
DeleteParts 1 and 2 of today's Congressional Session:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcFX9XELT0&feature=youtu.be
Committee Meetings for today are located at http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/
DeleteToday's Session is located at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=8ty6EJw8w3Q
ReplyDeleteThe Gov/Ops Committee Meeting will be held today from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Listen in at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media
Question for the members of the Supreme Court of the Osage Nation:
ReplyDeleteWhat does this passage indicate and suggest in the Osage Constitution as to the power of the Legislative Branch to make changes to line items in fiscal budgets for all branches of the Osage Nation government?
Article VI - Legislature, Section 13 Paragraph 2:
"If a bill presented to the Principal Chief contains several items of appropriation of money, he may veto one or more of the items while approving the bill. At the time the bill is signed, the Principal Chief shall append to it a statement of the items vetoed, and the vetoed items shall not take effect. If the legislature is in session, he shall transmit to Congress a copy of the statement, and the items vetoed shall be separately reconsidered. If on reconsideration, any item is approved by three fourths (3/4) of the members elected to Congress, it is a part of the law notwithstanding the objections."
I submit that the Osage Nation Congress has the power to make adjustments to any and all budgets on a line item basis whether the Judicial or the Executive Branch likes it or not. Furthermore, these legal opinions on this subject of the Osage Nation Supreme Court are in and of themselves unconstitutional and have robbed the Osage people of the power to have a say through our Legislative Representatives as to how our money is being spent! VOTE AGAINST RETAINING EVERY SINGLE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OF THE OSAGE NATION IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION IN JUNE OF 2018 !!!!!!!!!!! I am sickened unto death of this continuous Osage "Gavotte" that the Executive and Judicial Branches have been doing on top of the heads of the members of the Osage Nation Congress and therefore, on all of us members of the Osage Nation. Here's one Osage precedent we can set and that's to throw all three of these Supreme Court Justices right out the front door of the Judicial building to land flat on their keesters.
Some Constitutional passages outlining some things the members of our esteemed Osage Supreme Court and Big Chief/Little Chief are unfamiliar with it seems:
DeleteLINE ITEM VETO of the Chief
LINE ITEM VETO OVERRIDE OF THE CONGRESS
If the Osage Congress can't make changes to the budget line items in any way it sees fit, why is this passage, Article VI - Legislature, Section 13, Paragraph 2 included in the Osage Nation Constitution?
From the Campaign of the Osage Nation Membership to oust the current sitting Supreme Court Justices of the Osage Nation. Add your voice here and vote against retention of these three Justices come June of 2018.
To read both Slip Opinions of the Osage Nation Supreme Court where our Congress is all but denuded of its principal and primary power of the purse which is the most important, serious and vital function of our Legislative body giving it the ability to curb and control government overspending. go here:
Deletehttps://turtletalk.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/osage-nation-supreme-court-decision-in-separation-of-powers-issue-redux/
Do yourself a big favor. Read these Slip Opinions which also involve legal precedent where the SC Justices have indicated that we don't have to follow legal precedents in other courts.
DeleteCampaign of the Osage Nation Membership to oust the current sitting Supreme Court Justices of the Osage Nation
"Just as in Whitehorn, the Court put emphasis on the fact they were not going to consider standards created by the federal or state government and would be developing “a uniquely Osage jurisprudence.”
Deletehttp://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/08/14/supreme-court-issues-opinion-declaratory-judgement-case-nations-budgeting-practices/
SCO-2016-01 STANDING BEAR V PRATT SLIP OPINION 8-11-17
DeleteSCO-2015-01, STANDING BEAR V. WHITEHORN, 03-08-2016 SLIP OPINION
Posted here too https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/judicial-branch/supreme-court
“a uniquely Osage jurisprudence.”
DeleteIn other words “Do What Thou Wilt shall be the whole of the Law“
And they wilt see every dime in the Treasury spent on themselves and as little as possible on us all. We must call attention to this corruption and especially to call for an audit with legal costs and fees listed on paper spent year by year by the Osage Nation since the new government took over in 2006 to find out if the NIGC finds such outlandish and unnecessary spending to be within the parameters set by the National Indian Gaming Act. $15 million? $20 Million in total? What about those Boards and Commissions and added spending on study groups and task forces as a total figure as well from the very beginning. Another $10 or $20 million? I'm convinced now that the only way to stop these Osage Nation government people is to appeal to the FBI to come together with the NIGC to conduct a joint investigation of how the money coming from gaming has and is being spent. Salaries 130% higher in some instances that what the average person in Osage county receives with little more than a high school education if that? When will we start to see our officials not trash out the financial health of our government in order to be reelected to office? When they realize that we will do everything possible to see them cooling their jets in a jail or prison cell?
DeleteDidn't one of the Justices have to stand down and recuse themselves in this last Slip Opinion because she was working too closely with one of the lawyers hired by the Executive Branch? Was this the case in the first Slip Opinion as well? Too many of these lawyers up on the Hill playing footsie with one another from the standpoint of legal issues surrounding the Osage Nation Constitution, you ask me. When is the line crossed into legal collusion between the Judicial and the Executive Branch to keep the Osage employees in the chips big time with pockets being sumptuously lined year in and year out while we members go without on a daily basis? Huge raises every year and huge merit bonuses too and the Osage people through our Legislative representatives have no say whatsoever in this kind of institutional corruption with our money because two or three power mad people in the Judicial Branch start unfairly manipulating sections of the Osage Constitution as to what is "Constitutional" and what isn't when clearly we the Osage people lose power in our Branch of government and our fair share of gaming proceeds as dictated by Federal NIGA law, all the while those hired by the Osage Nation government benefit to our detriment? I don't think so. Let’s do everything we can to get these Supreme Court Justices out of office in the upcoming election by voting NO to reappoint them to the Supreme Court.
DeleteThe merit bonus bill, ONCA 17-105 by sponsor Maria Whitehorn, is for $352,100! what merit is there in giving all of the employees 1%-3% a year when they don't really deserve it unless they actually earn it? With no way to know who is stealing time from the Nation with clocking in and out machines, how many of these people are taking off work when they shouldn’t be? Don’t they already get about a whole month in days off as it is already when other non-Osage employees do not?
DeleteONCA 17-99, again by Sponsor Maria Whitehorn is An Act to provide an appropriation to the Executive Branch of the Osage nation for Fiscal Year 2018 in the amount of sixty one million four hundred fifty three thousand twenty four dollars ($61,453,024)!!! She won’t come up for election until 2020. Funny that isn’t it? Do these members of Congress shift these spending bills around to one another so that those who are coming up for election don’t have to pay the price in the ballot box come election time in June? Well that didn’t exactly work out with John Jech or John Free now did it? How much of this budget for the Executive Branch alone is being spent on items that don't directly benefit the Osage Nation members like:
salaries for Boards and Commissions with members who, in some instances, have behaved in the past toward those elected officials in the Legislative Branch like they are fools at best and idiots at worst running to the Executive Branch to whine and complain when they don't get what they want in funding or to seek cover when don't want to answer wholly legitimate questions that should be answered and should have been answered in the past, funding for LLCs with CEOS, CFOS and COOS who do nothing but eat up money every day of the year with no legitimate profit showing and therefore, no possible hope of a return on our investment
legal fees across the board for lawyers who rig the government system in favor of themselves and those who directly benefit monetarily with putrid excuses like "I have the say as to what is spent where and how much," when the power of the purse is clearly in the hands of the Osage Congress and the Osage people in the Constitution placing us in an "us against them" model no matter what the cost or how much it goes over the Constitutional mandate of the Osage Congress not to go above projected income which number by the way, moves around like a firefly in the dog days of Summer.
All in, a filthy disgrace upon our Tribal Nation, our entire community of Osage members and the Osage Nation government as an institution. People make government move forward in one direction or another because they run it and we must rid ourselves of every single one of them who have and continue to take us down this corrupt and derelict path that we have been on since the Osage Nation took over.
Is our Constitution codified?
Delete"...what merit is there in giving all of the employees 1%-3% a year when they don't really deserve it unless they actually earn it?"
ReplyDeleteThe merit is not earned. It is awarded simply for being there.
The Nation cuts funding for programs because "There is not enough money" yet they can afford a $2,000 bonuses.
The Osage Nation has 14,000 members but only the government workers benefit.
Also, there are non Osage employees who enjoy all the government bonuses while Osages who truly need help are ignored.
Standingbaer loves the ladies and he pays them very well at despite no formal education or experience.
All a young woman has to do is sit on the chief's lap and wiggle and the next day she's got a job and a $50,000 paycheck. Yes, we know who you are, sweeties.
Oh boy, what a doozy of a post. Non the less how many of you fell for that pie in the sky attitude that everything in Government is honky dory? So lets create a Government for the sake of pocketing our money and this is just a tip of the iceberg, lets not forget travel expenses paid, the per diems and so forth. And less should we forget the Osage llc and how corrupt all it was? Haven't heared lately how our land into trust is going concerning the Bluestem Ranch? BIA paying for the clean up fees? Yep when we get a new Chief we need to hold him or her to hold our Government to a higher standard or rewrite our Constitution and there you have it everyone call Congress and ask for the Amendments in our Constitution to be able to hold each and everyone of you accountable and that means freezing assets and all. Now this will keep corruption away.
DeleteTop of the meeting is the Audit presentation today in Congressional Session.
ReplyDeleteLive now at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media
Unmodified opinion on financial statements.
Agenda for today is located at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/congress-legislative-branch/sessions
DeleteThis is a must listen on demand when it becomes available at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/who-we-are/congress-legislative-branch/sessions. It's very interesting especially since there is a question about why the Diabetes grant accounting was not up to snuff and other items that were reported as well. Congressman Supernaw is on it as usual this is good. There was also an unresolved matter brought up by Congresswoman Edwards as well.
DeleteStill by God struggling with the projected revenue number as a result of the Executive Branch! 13 years have gone by and we still don't have a resolution to this all important Congressional mandate in the Constitution.
DeleteGreat bill introduced by Congressman Edwards today with reference to some controls being set on the Supreme Court and their wide ranging lack of Judicial focus and discipline as to specific questions to prohibit them from expansion on such questions brought before the Osage Nation Supreme Court. This does not go far enough however, as we need an Osage Nation statutory complaint process made available to the Osage people when they cross the line on items in their Slop Opinions.
Great post slop opinions why is it so hard to go a step further in the process to protect the greater interest of the Osage. That being said it becomes redundant because you know we will vist this issue again and again if we do not get this right the first time. So I say this what is the hold up correcting the issue fully the first time? And I do agree we need a complaint process to hold thos accountable who go above and beyond the duty to help someones agenda as opposed to looking out for the constituents,their money. I have always said we create legislation to prohibit or we change the language in our Constitution that allows for this behavior to continue we are in a new election year and we need to close these loopholes.
DeleteYes. I believe we have had quite enough of this "Heart of Darkness" scenario with our government when it was supposed to include us all in how the money is spent and on what and at what price tag. Since this renegade Osage Nation Supreme Court started tipping the scales of Justice, if you could call it that, by taking away our rights along with the rights of the Osage Legislature to control the purse strings, that is our only representatives in the Osage Nation government, I'm for dumping the whole bunch of them in the ballot box come June. We did it with John Jech and John Free. We can certainly get these marauding people off the bench and no longer seeing the interests of themselves in the Judicial Branch and Executive Branch government workers put before that of our own.
DeleteIf you figure that raises and merit bonuses per year have run at a rate of half a million dollars a year since fy2007, that's $6,000,000 right there that could have been available to benefit all of us. We might as well have a resolution style of government with only a Chief, Assistant Chief and eight members of Council. We have the same control over the money spent and membership benefits as we did before since the Osage Supreme Court took away our rights to control the purse through the Osage Congress so what's the point of even having a government so large when it only serves itself and not us? Just saying. Think about it. With a much smaller government and fewer elected officials to pay, there will be a lot more money for direct benefits to the Osage Nation members and less going out to the government fat cats in Pawhuska.
DeleteWe have the same level of control now and no better than we did with the old government and that is to throw them out of office when election time comes around. I'd sooner see all this money they throw around and spend on themselves going to benefit our membership in general and our kids and grandkids State wide than continue to watch this disgrace and contemptible betrayal of what was promised to us Osages continue happen to us day in and day out.
DeleteRight I see the forest for the trees alright Anybody who knows our culture understands our history and the crooked pokitics that have played out since 2006,and before then. For me not geting my vote in 2006 was no accident and I find that disconcerting to say the least, all it takes is one person to go to the Courts and explain to them how this happened and my bet I am not the only one who did not get their vote and can turn this Government back over to the M.C. I brought that up a while back. Fiscal management is out of control.
DeleteThe rich feeding the plants.
DeleteThats a pretty bad analogy of what is going on almost as if being paid to keep hush right?
Important Appropriation Committee Meeting!
ReplyDeleteData gathering information for how they come up with these outrageous figures for compensation pay scales for base salaries, raises and bonuses for our employees in spite of what we can actually afford at https://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/multimedia/live-media
We need to start looking at the size of the pot for yearly distribution before we insist on being competitive with pie-in-the sky pay scales as to the science (?) of how they come up with these figures. If these employees directly service the Osage people where it concerns direct services to the entire membership then such employees become valuable and also the fact that they hire from within on average is another consideration. Why is it even necessary to be so focused on being competitive as a justification when they don't usually hire from the marketplace outside the Tribal community especially since there is Osage preference to begin with? You apply these employment "science" measures on a scale based on who you need to hire if you can afford to hire them. The value of an employee is directly related to how well they service the Osage Nation member with government services and if they are needed to provide direct services to the membership. If the income is fixed and the services are not increased to the membership, at some point, this eventually gets turned upside down where the cost of the employee is denying the membership the increases they need to have yearly improvements to or more direct services made available for them as a whole. Where in the “merit metrix” increase and market scale "science" for that analysis? Don’t the membership “merit” first and foremost? Services to the people first and employees to service those direct services to accommodate those services next. Any other plan is turned on its head. At what point do these employees become harmful to the future of direct services and therefore harmful to the entire membership? When is someone going to come up with the “science” for that metric where the employees just flat out just cost too much for what service they provide to the point to where direct benefits have to be scaled back in order to be able to afford all these employees who cost too much in the first place? Give me the percentages and value for that metric and then you will be making sense for once in the midst of all this dismal convoluted nonsense to provide excuses to justify the full scale robbing and looting of the Osage Nation Treasury on the part of greedy government employees and and those who justify that greed with scientific analysis metrics and models that are nothing other than smoke and mirrors.
Listen on demand when available here http://mixlr.com/osage-nation/showreel/
The BS emergency alert system alarm is blaring on this fatuity North America wide!
DeleteMy pist earlier didn't post but my point is how much have we spent since 2006 to date and to date where is the capital to off set this spend thrift Government and again is iur Codified?
DeleteSorry post. Lol fingers bigger than the keyboard on phone.
DeleteYes please explain the model which can be modified anytime to fit ones agenda, experience? Is it in alignment with the cost of living in your area, no. So in detail please tell us, so we can understand?
DeleteWhen does leprosy become cancer? FROM THE TREASURER, WE ARE NOW EIGHT POINT THREE MILLION DOLLARS OVER PROJECTED REVENUE WITH LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!! THE CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BECAUSE THE BUCK STOPS WITH STANDING BEAR FIRST AND RAYMOND REDCORN SECOND.
DeleteSALARIES TAKEN OUT OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE? DOES THIS MEAN DIRECT SERVICES? WHAT DOES DOING THIS MEAN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE OSAGE NATION? IF THE OSAGE MEMBERSHIP SEES A DOWNGRADE TO DIRECT SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE OVERALL COST OF THESE FAR TOO EXPENSIVE EMPLOYEES, THE CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS. AT SOME POINT, PANDERING FOR VOTES FROM THE OSAGES WHO LIVE BACK HOME TO THE DETRIMENT OF ALL OSAGE NATION MEMBERS NATION WIDE IS GOING TO BACKFIRE ON YOU CHIEF BECAUSE THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF OSAGE COUNTY OUTNUMBER THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE OSAGE BY A RATIO OF TEN TO ONE. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH BUDGETS FOR YOUR BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT ARE WITHIN THE LAWFUL PARAMETER SET BY THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF. TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM EVERYTHING WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE A DIRECT CONNECTION TO DIRECT SERVICES FOR THE TOTAL POPULATION OF OSAGE NATION MEMBERS. THIS ISN'T A REQUEST -- IT'S AN INSTRUCTION!
DeleteMy "pist" too, honey.
DeleteOMG! And they sit through this BS and politely object with what makes sense (we can't afford it) and let the reporter of this report, peppered with all these preposterous cutting edge buzzwords that whirl all around them, without saying out loud with finality that there is no money to justify these "to scale" base pay structures, yearly raises and merit bonuses because we don't have the money to pay for them. They wonder why we think they are stupid. It's because they behave as if they are. Who in the world is this polite when their intelligence is being so grossly insulted and they are being treated like such fools?
DeleteAbsolutely poster @12.32 pm.
DeleteI concur, Chief get it together or forever lose your position and there is no time like now to recall you and Redcorn. Oh wait in just a few months bye bye don't let the door hit you where it cojnts good riddance.
To poster on September 13, 2017 at 10:54 AM
DeleteThe data gathering and matrices for employment boils down to this:
1) Who do you know?
2) Who are you related to?
That's it.
If you are related to any of the nice folks in the HR department then you are guaranteed a job.
If a position is not open, they will create one for you.
Employment at the Osage Nation is more of a family affair but close friends can apply for a job as well.
The Osage Nation list job openings on their site but that's just a formality. The position is already filled by a friend or family member despite other applicants qualifications.
The Osages Nation government is primarily focused on the families and friends within Pawhuska who are related to elected officials and government personnel. The Osage Nation government is not concerned with efficient operations or budget controls. The casinos are a cash cow and the "special Osages" are going to make sure they milk the cow for all she's worth.
The Osage Nation government is not about helping the Osage people but rather only those who control the purse strings. Osages can have a properly functioning government but greedy and fraudulent people have no morals or ethics and will eventually ruintate the Osage Nation.
The Osage Nation government stole from the Shareholders, diminished their rights and are now trying to eliminate the Shareholders and take their property away. The Osage politicians and bureaucrats are no different than Washington D.C.
Gosh wouldn't it be nice if a member of the Government dare come in and dispute what is being said like that will happen.
DeleteThey know this to be true. It's all a dog and pony show to act in front of the membership like the Congress really wants to be in a position to say no to what these Osage County Osages want money spent on up on the Hill. The Judiciary is involved in it as is the Executive and they have it all set up to work that way and make it look like they don't when they do. They aren't one bit stupid. They are doing exactly what they want with the outcome they want and getting their hands on the money they want as the end goal. We're stupid for putting up with it and for believing for more than a second that they don't want what is happening because it's us all along who are the ones who have been and are being set up by the elected and appointed officials of the Osage Nation government while they laugh all the way to the bank with our money.
DeleteRepublicans revive Indian energy measure woth more friendly president in office. White House Committee on Natural Resources is meeting this week to consider H.R.210, the Native American Energy Act. It's the only Indian bill on the schedule for the markup session, which begins on Tuesday afternoon and concludes on Wednesday morning.
ReplyDeleteWow,this is grest news. This will alow for streamlining our accounts without the cumbersome wait times.
wwwIndianz.com
This is the greatest news on here!!!!
DeleteToday, I want to pay tribute and my deepest respects to the Cassini Mission to explore the planet Saturn that ended earlier this morning when the spacecraft, in its Grand Finale, entered the atmosphere of Saturn and was no more. I want to share the photograph of those shown in the URL below who worked on this science mission with a spacecraft of their creation that actually ascended and descended through the very rings of Saturn among so many other things that it accomplished in the furtherance of our knowledge of Space science. Think about that and try to wrap your mind around it…
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned from this mission is that there are extremely intelligent, mature and forward thinking people on this planet who can come together and work toward a dream that they could make not only come true but happen in wondrous ways that not even they could hope to imagine. Yes, Star Wars and Star Trek and cartoon characters are fine entertainment but these men and women of the Cassini mission are the real action figures, the real action heros, the real Titans of our times, make no mistake, and I don't want this very important fact of our lives to go without credit and without being honored, especially today with the end of the Cassini mission. These are the people on this planet whose leadership by example should be emulated by those who are at the high school, college and at the university level in this country and who are at comparable educational levels world wide and I sincerely hope that this mission will direct the attention of all those who provide guidance for these young people to have them look very seriously in the direction of these very human beings who, in cooperation together, have accomplished such an astonishing marvel on earth and in the heavens.
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7696/
And to the magnificent Cassini Spacecraft, because it is known as a "she," while clapping and standing on my feet, I shout aloud, "BRAVA!"
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/3121/nasas-cassini-spacecraft-ends-its-historic-exploration-of-saturn/
$30,000 + for a new Osage Nation Foundation web site? I don't think so...
ReplyDeleteMore money for items we really don't need. We have a Cultural Center for what this person on the phone is talking about and the last thing we need to do is duplicate services here. This is a perfect example of unnecessary spending that is rampant and widespread in every single budget we have in government.
What I see here is just fine and nothing more is needed.
http://www.osagefoundation.org/
Hahahahaha! The man on the phone in the Congressional Commerce Committee meeting is the man (Mr. Webb) who handles the web site now so I take it that he will directly benefit from this $30,000 + amount to be spent on a new web site for the Osage Nation Foundation. Boo-yah for him! Zip for the Osage Nation members!
DeleteGet out of town on that pricey expenditure, Mr. Bill "Webby" Webb. You hardly offer enough to the public on the web site I'm looking at as it is and that includes what little you have for sale at the store in the time you've been around which is a number of years. This guy is listed as the Executive Director of the Osage Nation Foundation.
DeleteThis is price gouging the Osage and it needs to stop Chief I can build you one for $15.00 and I am educated this is just unbelievably abuse of the Osage mo ey Chief and we are calling you out stop this spending as if its money jn your Wallet !!!!! What a scam !!!!!
Delete$30,000...
Deletemore like $300,000 with all the bribes and under-the-table deals.
This goes to show that the Nation politicians care nothing about the Osages.
There are sites that will show you how to build your own web for free. Like I said its to easy to install anti-virus software and e-mails and so forth.
DeleteIn thiss day and age and working with computer softwa4e is easy. Yreah remember John Red Eagle IT guy and the money he got away with for absolutely doing nothing? No invoices to rpove what he did. Who forgets about the waste and fraud that has been brought upon us. And they think we are stupid.
"No invoices to prove what he did."
Deletegood example of NO ACCOUNTABILITY. Currently 'yearly budgets' are a 'given.' At end of year, what is known is: (a) the monies are gone, (b) no receipts or invoices (NO TRANSPARENCY and no one is entitled to question their spending cause they are covered by the way the Constitution is written, change/correct the wording and we can 'legally' take corrective action when there has been a 'wrong' doing.)
Wrong doings can be: (a) planned (b) stupidity (c) greed.
Web sites: I've known of people who set up their own web sites for their new business. I met someone who did it for other people. Even "GO DADDY" advertises it on TV, custom made. I get my own anti-virus software from Walmart and put it in, what kind of super anti-virus is going to be used, if it's that great someone tell the government or that credit score company thats just been hacked. I'm sure my name is included, this makes the third time I've been affected, the other two were government (Personnel Management) over the last 10 years. The higher the price is not going to gurantee against any hacking.
Oh good! More of the same words this year as last year and the year before and the year before that from the Osage Nation Energy Services, LLC to the tune of $102,373.
ReplyDeleteThe only heavy lifters around here are the members of the Osage Nation who pay for an entity that does nothing but spend the Osage people's money while we go without. We have heard start up information about how they are going to structure themselves years ago when this damned thing was formed five or more years back. Give us a break will you? I should have known when I saw who's sitting there who's on the Board...
DeleteHEY! We seriously committed ourselves to economic development $20,000,000 ago, Eddy Red Eagle, when you and the other certain members of the Osage Nation Congress gave the Osage, LLC all that seed money years ago. Who do you think you're kidding? Not me, so you can hit the road with this hooey, pal!
DeleteHOORAY! HOORAY! HOORAY!
ReplyDeleteWE WON THE WIND FARM DECISION AT THE 10TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS:
Osage Nation secures landmark decision in dispute over construction of wind farm
https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/09/18/osage-nation-secures-landmark-decision-i.asp
Yay yay yay !!!!
DeleteMinerals Meeting Tomorrow:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.osagenation-nsn.gov/news-events/news/3rd-osage-minerals-council-meeting-3
What is important to note is this sentence:
“The Osage Nation, acting through OMC [Osage Minerals Council] in fact owns the beneficial interest in the mineral estate that is the subject to the appeal,” Judge David Ebel wrote in the panel’s 27-page decision. “The district court’s decision forced OMC to watch from the sidelines as Osage Wind disrupted the mineral estate…”
I read the above sentence to mean that from a governance standpoint, the Osage Minerals Council is firmly in predominance and therefore in the cat bird seat where the running of the OME is concerned and any other part of the ON government including the Legislative, the Executive Branch and Judicial Branch of the Osage Nation must proceed through the OMC where and when matters of minerals are concerned. This chain of command is now firmly established in a Federal Court decision at the appellate level. Federal law and clarifications on that law trump Tribal law period.
The decision is located at https://www.indianz.com/News/2017/09/18/15-5121.pdf
See also http://www.osagenews.org/en/article/2017/09/19/10th-circuit-rules-osage-minerals-council-can-seek-damages-wind-farm/
Yes, I read that to. Because the Nation would not exisit without the M.C and M.E.
DeleteThat being said, Federal Law trumps is exactly right. Mant times such as the HPP case as well the Judge said this will go to the Headright owners.
What I would like to see is that they take down them eye sores to teach them a lesson and for that matter look at Mustang Wind?
Then you have the Oklahoma commission who approved this without concent right?
Are we going after them as well?
When in Rome, Enel? You ain't in Roma. You in the Osage now and the verdict has come down from on high in the Queen City of the High Plains.
DeleteHey Chief. Get out your beggin' bowl. Wheel and deal all you want with the Osage Court and end run your agenda through the Congress but STAY OUT OF MINERALS BUSINESS!
I say, hit every deep pocket you can find. This clearly appears to be a squatter's trespass in a pure act of attempted theft from the Osage Nation on the part of Enel. I knew that when they sped up their construction to get those ugly spires up in the air. Cut 'em off at the knees. No mercy. Teach these companies from foreign nations who try and take advantage of us how the cow eats the cabbage.
DeleteDamages and a continuing rental amount due monthly and payable on every single wind turbine built on the land underneath as a result of not being able to drill there to find oil and gas with a proper lease to an oil and gas producer which is permanent loss of income as a result.
Plus all court costs and attorney's fees back for every single court action we have had to take to defend ourselves against Enel from the beginning.
DeleteAnd to think we had prospects for that area like American Shoreline was interested and we lost out to Enel. Either we own those Turbines or we have them removed can't see our wildlife being sacraficed for those hideous turbines.
DeleteDidn't Drummond have something to do with this?
To: Anonymous September 19, 2017 at 9:23 AM
DeleteBut...but...but the Chief can do whatever he wants because he's chief "King of the Osages."
He can create jobs for his honeys out of thin air.
He can have the Treasurer cook the books at will.
He is above the gaming commission's laws.
He can give $50,000 bribes to out of state politicians.
He can steal money from casino employees for his own needs.
He is .........GOD..........
END SYNTAX: Sarcasm = OFF
So, to summarize, we have an elected official at the highest level who has charge of the Osage people's public money and who is responsible for proper stewardship to insure continued public trust over our public money who cannot be trusted? Yes? How many other elected officials would you say fall into the same category?
DeleteI knew at some point that corrupt Justice in the Federal Court in Tulsa would get his decision reversed. This is a sound and solid rebuke from the Appellate Court and with this reversal, we may also have grounds to file a judicial conduct or disability complaint against him. The name of the Judge is James H. Payne. Is he the one who took away our reservation by going off in the hinterland by writing that he didn't need to rule on whether an employee of the Tribe was exempt from paying taxes because we no longer have a reservation (in his opinion) in the first place? We should complain about that too and the Justices from the 10th Circuit who upheld that decision as well.
Deletehttp://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships/judicial-conduct-disability/faqs-filing-judicial-conduct-or-disability-complaint
Not Drummond.
DeleteTHE ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS OSAGE WIND, LLC, ENEL KANSAS, LLC and ENEL GREEN POWER NORTH AMERICA,
INC:
MODRALL, SPERLING, ROEHL, HARRIS & SISK, P.A.
Lynn H. Slade -- Attorney
William C. Scott -- Attorney
Post Office Box 2168
500 Fourth Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103-2168
Telephone: (505) 848-1800
To poster at September 20, 2017 at 1:38 AM
DeleteWhat happened to the $1,000,000 Gray took from the Minerals Account?
He gave that money as a bribe to the 2006 Osage congress members play along with his scam.
Blackmailing is the name of the game in politics. Osage politicians are just as corrupt as Washington politicians.
Osage politicians and Osage government officials have been stealing from the accounts since day one.
Why do you think they made laws to give them immunity from being brought to court? The judges are bought and paid for by the Osage government. There is no way the Osage courts will ever allow an accounting of any sort whatsoever.
Sorry Poster 6:31 am was not privy to this information about Gray and the million dollars can you expound and wasn't that what the Osage people were saying the M.c was dojng the smae before we became a Government?
DeleteAnd I have always said the Osage Government was made on the backs of the M.E. and if this is true they are beholding they were not sovereign and had I known I would have taken our Constitution that was written to a outside source to verify and do the diligence before the the dotted line was signed and this is why I think there were other voters besides myself that did not a get a vote or forever hold your peace.It is bad enough this Tallchief did not get a Vote in this Government and this is serious, so lets be clear that this is not funny in the least which proves a lot about what I have been saying for some time. There are no accidents.
My point now is look at where we are at with the M.E and prices are up? Any new developments or prospects?
You know what is insane how nothing is a secret with our Government remind you of any other Government?
Reference to Sept. 19 at 9:44 am and Sept. 19 at 10:07 am.
DeleteAlso in the Sept. 18th article is a connection to the "amended complaint for damages" filed 12-12-14.
Page 12, No. 4, "...and severally liable for damages, in an amount to be proven..."
Page 12, No. 5, "...and an order that structures or materials placed, without authorization, in the mineral estate must be removed."
Page 13, No. 7, "Enter a judgment awarding damages, with interest, ... plus any applicable multipliers, additions, penalties and accruals to date of judgment."
Page 13, No. 9, "Award such other and further relief as the Court determines to be just and proper."
(I don't think the government would have the turbines removed, more likely I think a contract with Enel for a revenue to the OME or the BIA might give them a lease, but then there's no income in a lease with them?) (and to what account will this "relief" monies go back to?)
I would say 222 million dollars a year for the life of this wind farm would be equitable. That would cover the lease, or we just own them right out. There will be a settlement if these turbines are not removed and yes they can be removed. They tresspassed on our right to mineral development they know it and now everyone of theses people in the corporate world will know they have to get permission first let this be a lesson not what to do in Indian Country.
DeleteBut what I find troubling, is the Osage county commissions has onus in this to, shame on them as well.
So who got paid under the table to approve this in the first without going to the BIA? And then why did we have to sit on the side lines and watch these hideous things go up without getting a injunction ?
At the time they were planting the turbines, Obama was in full swing of pushing forward wind farms and solar. They evidently thought someone "HAD THEIR BACK" in ignoring the BIA.
DeleteThe BIA was handling the lawsuit as our Trustee, it was not necessary for the ME to intervene, it was near the end of the suit when it was announced the suit was not going to a higher court, since the ME is the owner it was justifiable to "then" intervene.
...and to what account will this "relief" monies go back to?
ReplyDeleteThe Osage Nation government will lay claim to any monies awarded to the OME despite having no legal right to do so.
OMC votes to sue Osage Nation over M.E.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to say it is long over due.
I have always said the 1906 act is extremely binding.
And as I always said our rights have been usurped. For some more than others. I didn't get my vote for this Government and I can testify to this. And I am sure there are others who did not get their vote either if it happened to me you could be sure it happened to other Headright Owners. The impact is felt.
I have always said the true reservation is the M.E and this lawsuit could open and pave the path to put this Government back to the rightful owners and to simply put the M.C back in charge again, which I said needs to happen.
So why obstruct the vote from Waller, Yates and Crum? What excuse can they come up with in the face of this lawsuit could they cut there nose to spite their face? Why would they not vote for in the name of interest of the Headright owners? Or better yet whats there take in this? Usually when someone obstructs its because they have something to hide or there of. Doesn't make sense. And actually sends red flags up.
We bought and paid for this land. And how is it we have casinos because the dirty secret is they borrowed off the M.E. meaning they really belong to all the Headright owners. Wait and see. This could run deep.
One point brought up in the meeting for not pursuing it, was "cost of lawyers." This concerns all shareholders. Chairman Waller said he would get a vote from the shareholders before taking action on this.
DeleteWhy not vote on it? But come to think of it, I don't recall getting to vote on any pass lawsuits, so why now ask me?
Not only were many Shareholders left out of the vote but non-Shareholder were illegally allowed to vote.
DeleteGrey's actions were a gross violation of PUBLIC LAW 108–431. PL108-431 REAFFIRMED the 1906 Act - It did not replace anything. The Osage Nation is a de facto government.
https://www.congress.gov/108/plaws/publ431/PLAW-108publ431.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto
The lawsuit is idiocy. This is what happens when you have incompetent people in positions of power. Once again, instead of actually doing something useful for the shareholders they find a way to throw even more shareholder money at lawyers.
DeleteWe need to get rid of the minerals council all together and just form a business entity focused on turning a profit. Get these idiots out of there and keep them out.
We will be in the courts system forever and a day if we do not make clear who we are, are you apart of the establishment, because to be honest this is the right direction to take. My rights have been abrogated and usurped.
DeleteI get that maybe we should fire all the council members and replace them, well with the exception of Erwin. I see her skills and her faith is as strong as mine in the 1906 Act.
I cannot understand why it has taken this long for action to take place I can take a gander but thats another story in itself.
The lawyer fees is a past tactic used like a wet sponge as an excuse not to go into the right direction on all of our past litigations. Won't work come up with a justifiable excuse that we can really have a dialogue. Tired of the excuses.
What I see is a group of self important people once again wasting money that isn't theirs. We will indeed be in the courts forever because there is always going to be a line of lawyers more than happy to take shareholder money while telling these inflated egos whatever they want to hear.
DeleteHmm...sounds like poster at September 26, 2017 at 10:31 AM is all for busting the ME.
ReplyDeleteVery suspicious commentary I might add.
Perhaps everyone should just follow the federal laws and for the Nation government to stop doing everything they can to diminish or even outright eliminate Shareholder interest altogether.
Who's going to run the business entity? Osages?
Osages can't even run a meatpie stand without dipping into the till and hiring their relatives at exorbitant salaries and massive benefits.
Being Osage myself, I must say that some of my fellow tribal members (especially the government operators) are some of the most jealous, petty, and crooked people one would ever hope not to meet.
The Nation government has demonstrated they are willing to rip away some Shareholders' only source of income in order to fill their own bellies of greed.
We need to get people in the ME with a backbone get others who collude with the chief out of office.
Excellent comment.
DeleteYou do realize Osages are running the minerals council right now? Those same meatpie vendors have been the council since its inception. So hows that worked out so far?
DeleteWe have a government with a semblance of checks and balances, and now all the minerals council has to focus on is turning oil into cash dollars. And yet, instead they are using minerals money to try and get their hands back into that casino till.
Maybe if they actually focused on the one job they have those checks wouldn't be so light.
Great comment. I thought the same. Listen do not be fool hearted. We all know the truth why this Government was formed. And you can be sure that this is about something bigger than you or me. Ignorance is bliss.
DeleteA semblance of checks and balances,right more like right into their pockets.
We had that semblance when we had the 8 council members in Control and not this big bloated bureaucracy. Who are you kidding not the majority thats for sure. Only yourself and thats pure selfishness on your part so, let me see are you one of the creaters of this flawless Constitution besides Harvard? And I mean that sarcastically of course. You know the truth just admit it. This was a sub group of Osages who decided apon themselves without the real vote from the shareholders all in the name of sovereignty amounts to a De Facto Government and that is the bottom line. I wasn't born off the turnip truck yesterday, so tell me a different story that will make sense. Because I know the truth and the truth always shows its face and in this case it will be in the federal courts. And the reason why I asked if our Constitution was codified was because anything that comes from the Osage courts can be nullified or their opinion is just that and only that.
So lets not play games here.
"We have a government with a semblance of checks and balances" You have got to be kidding me.
ReplyDeleteThis Nation government was created to control the casino revenue and ensure that Shareholders as per the 1906 Act never see one dime of that money applied to them. Gray et al knew very well what they were doing violated PL108-431.
It is the Nation government that seeks to get there hands on the ME revenue.
Your comment "they are using minerals money to try and get their hands back into that casino till" shows your paranoia of truly following PL108-431.
Thank you for exposing your true mentality on the matter. This is why we will never have a per cap and that you government types intend to retain the casino revenue solely within the coffers of the Nation's control.
You folks on the hill give yourselves huge salaries and unwarranted bonuses and those who are related to the right people get several raises a year.
You desperately fear having to properly spend any revenue for the Osage people since that may cut into your government perks.
You are a liar and a thief and an enemy of any sense of morality and ethics.
"You are a liar and a thief and an enemy of any sense of morality and ethics."
ReplyDeleteBecause I expect the minerals council to do minerals business and stop wasting my money on frivolous lawsuits.
Thanks for clarifying that point.
You should expect the Nation government to quit trying to bust the ME.
DeletePlease cite examples of the Nation trying to bust the ME. Then we can ask the ME to give us a dollar amount of headright income wasted on this subject.
DeleteYeah...we can start with 2006.
DeleteYou know the story.
Cut the crap with the "citations."
People have loose lips on the hill.
You guys claim you own the ME. You hijacked the HHP case.
You claim that the Nation should run the OME.
It's common knowledge that you guys are a bunch worthless bureaucrats that can't run a proper budget.
We Shareholders are not the one's on trial here. You are elected elected officials. You answer to us. We do not answer to you. Prove to the Shareholders that you have no intention of ever interfering with the ME or ever diminishing the Shareholder rights. You lying crooks already violated PL108-431.
Oh, and how about that per cap that was promised in 2006?
Now, get back to work and do something to earn that $60,000 salary.
Amen now thats the truth. Tell me how the Casinos started? Ah lets see,on the backs of the shareholders and that's the truth. So tell me it isn't so? You cannot.
DeleteWe know what Gray did and now we have this Chief that thinks he is king of our kingdom.
Well kingdoms fall as sure as ours will come back to the rightful owners od said Casinos. I can testify to this and there are more witnesses to the fact.
My father was comprised and kept in the loop with our Casinos and all I know is and was his hope and the true intent was to build our districts, bring a robust economy and a per-cap was all in the name of Sovereignty not this form of Government was not the intent you know it and so do I.
I just love how our 25 year strategic plan has failed enormously.
So how much has our Government squandered since 2006?
DeleteAnd that is exactly right loose lips sink ships, we have leakers in our Government and it is no secret what has transpired since 2006.
It is with great disdain we have for this crooked Government especially for me a Tallchief not getting a Vote in this Government, had I known, I would have taken our Constitution to a Lawyer. So you tell me our Government was not hijacked? Calling you out poster. Answe% this question you cannot and I am as others can prove otherwise. Where was the ethics and morality in that?
Still waiting for those examples of the Nation trying to bust the ME. As usual its all hyperbolic nonsense. The issue is simple, the Minerals Council is pulling down a salary to do one job: Turn oil into headright money.
DeleteApparently there is some kind of mental block that sets in once they get one of those seats where doing anything, anything at all, is more important than turning oil into headright money.
Probably the black mold. Better higher some lawyers to look into that.
Still waiting for that per cap. Answer the question.
DeleteThat actions of Gray et al. up to this day speaks volumes of the Nation government's intentions.
Ah...but you want video testimony and confessions written in blood to satisfy your "evidence"
Speaking of "hyperbolic nonsense." I remember quite well that Gray et al. was claiming that the Osages will become non-existent if a new government wasn't created. I also recall how non-shareholders and even supporters of the then new government was excoriating shareholders by calling them greedy, selfish and paranoid for merely trying to defend the ME.
Having a Nation government per se is not the issue. The matter is the people running the government.
They only care about there own pockets, Executives bribes, outrageous bonuses, nepotism, etc.
The politicians said that the new government would bring jobs to Osages. The firing of the janitorial staff to outsource the work shows the government is not a government for the people but a business whose only concern is the bottom line. How many other departments are going to be defunded, eliminated, or outsourced?
The Chief needs to stop intimidating and coercing the minerals council. They need to focus on their job without interference from congress or the executive branch. Raymond Redcorn claim that the Osage Nation owns the ME. Ask him for yourself.
All I can say is do what you mean and this has not happen.
DeleteA Government for the people of the people and by the people and what did we get?
A bunch of overpaid Osages, all you have to do is look at the cost of living in your area to know exactly who is getting the shaft.
Perception is reality.
Man they must think some of us was born yesterday and it isn't so.
I think it would be beneficial if the Nation decides to change the Constitution as Erwin stresses to read as follows the Osage M.E is owned by the Headright owners period.
I say this because, we have had this huge conflict which is no secret the rhetoric concerning the interest of the M.E and said development for decades shared by my elders and all of you know this to be true.
This endless roundtable, when in truth this belongs to the Headright owners. Bought, paid for and passed on.
It is time for we end the cronyism and nepotism, and get that per-cap out. As that was the intent until we got this Government.
So to any one who is against a per-cap you are a liar because no one in their right mind would say otherwise.
I say this it would be better our Government clarify in our Constitution so it is clear once and for all or this action will open doors to shutting this De facto Government bh this binding Document the 1906 Act. These lawyers are to be taken seriously who are working in our favor.
Erwin and Boone have been staunch supporters of the 1906 Act and in the end our rights have been abrogated and usurped.
Funny we had a Government all along it was the Mineral Council, 8 members with a Chief and Ap Chief.
DeleteAccording to the 1906 Act.
Funny how this Government we have now, the reason for this Government was to allow more Osages membership and a vote? And, to federal funding. But when that happened you usurped the rights of the Headright owners by allowing those who are not a Headright owner a vote jn the ME affairs.
We are not apart of the Government. We are a seperate entity and if this Government borrowed off this entity the dire consequences is? My predictions say that this suit can open more doors as oppose close them.
What is it going to take to bring about certain areas of peace among The Osage?
DeleteJohn can you tell me in your words what will bring peace, in my words the 1906 Act is binding.
DeleteTo restore the Government back to the 8 council member per the 1906 act.
Cut out the Government bloat.
Transparency and accountability is long over do. Realizing that so much more is needed to bring back our Faith in our Government, to rid the cronyism and nepotism is a huge problem in itself.
Right again.
DeleteAgain, there is absolutely no proof of anyone trying to take or break up the minerals estate.
DeleteAt all.
None.
At all.
The only thing there is actual proof of is the same hysterics followed with throwing headright money at lawyers. You have a bunch of crazy old women who get each other torqued up repeating the same disinformation to each other like its fact. This wouldn't matter except that they are wasting other peoples money with their crazy.
Wasting my money, on their crazy.
MY MONEY!
So if your cool with that, start a fund and use your own money to support your crazy. But stop using mine.
Yes...yes, of course. Where women are concerned, stupid men too often confuse courage with insanity. Could you possibly be more boring and predictable?
DeleteI still have some old candidate brochures, etc. The following quotes are directly from Galen Crum's candidate brochure years ago, no date. I WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THE "UPCOMING" MC election is no guarantee that we will continue to prosper and advance into today's technology. We, the shareholder's, NOW, TODAY, are the one's who need to "initiate" change, like "how should the Constitution wording be changed "to" what Councilwoman Erwin spoke of?
DeleteFirst, someone, or Councilwoman Erwin, please write it on this blog or in the newsletter, how you think it should read! If there might be a vote, then we need the "wording" to vote on.
Councilwoman Redcorn, you agree with her, "how would you have it to read" to be politically correct pertaining to legal status between the Nation and the ME." LET'S DO IT !! Let's vote, it's our right.
QUOTES FROM G. Crum's candidate brochure for MC election:
"When the Osage people started the process of forming a more inclusive government, an extraordinary thing occurred. A group that enjoyed complete control of their government sought to delegate much of that power to others. These Osage Annuitants willingly started a process that would render themselves MINORITY VOTERS. They only asked one thing in return, that the Mineral Trust be left in their control, to be governed by representatives elected solely by them as it always had. SADLY, THE OSAGE CONSTITUITION DIDN'T DELIVER ON THIS SIMPLE AGREEMENT."
"If elected I promise to: "Start the amendment process necessary to make lasting, meaningful changes."
"Four years ago I saw that the new Osage Constitution didn't live up to the basic bargain made with the Osage Shareholders. That of leaving the administration of the Mineral Trust alone and essentially unchanged. I realized these shortcomings would cause many problems for all our people IF ALLOWED TO STAND. The Congress would need to act on Constitutional amendments to RIGHT THESE WRONGS."
"What was harder to foresee is how large a role the MC would be called upon to play IN INITIATING THE NEEDED CHANGES, and protecting the political interests of their constituents. It is very plain to see our Council members need to be more than just good people that can make sound leasing decisions. They also need to be politically aware enough to understand the dangers of not fighting hard to PROTECT THEIR RIGHTFUL POWER to administer trust business. They need to understand that when they cede away their power WITHOUT A FIGHT, it's actually the ANNUITANTS' rights they are relinquishing. Our current MC failed us miserably this regard."
"The Congress ..."but since the Council failed to even consider any REMEDIES, none were INITIATED."
"The Council has ceded away more Trust administrative power than even the POORLY WORDED Constitution required. And no attempt has even begun to bring about the AMENDMENTS necessary to return Mineral Trust control to the Annuitants."
The fact that there is no proof only shows just how insidious and clever these people are right?
DeleteThis is very powerfully well written poster 10:14 pm, well stated.
DeleteHolding our council members to a standard is long over due. We might just kick the entire council to the curb and hit restart.
Accountability and transparency is so badly needed.
I have to say to Stephanie Erwin for taking this huge long over due task to move our agenda to put once and for all that we are not apart of this Government if anything the Government is a part of us and not the other way around. Tell me differently and my prediction, you cannot.
The fact that we had a Government for the People who were the 8 council members and a Chief and Ap Chief and look at where we are at because it was a illegal take by the the definition of 1906 Act. The fact that our money was used to create this Government and build our Casinos off our backs the Headright owners, who are you kidding poster at 9:10 am. It all had to come from somewhere right.
DeleteArgue with me please or are you going to play chicken.
Argue what? That MY headright money should be used to subsidize YOUR crazy?
Deleteno matter what your rhetoric is just that, wink wink. Because you know I am right or prove otherwise, nice deflection.
DeleteThere is no rhetoric. You keep making the same argument over and over again as if it somehow justifies using shareholder funds for your windmill tilting.
DeleteIt doesn't.
There isn't anything to argue. Just the straight outrage that the minerals council is wasting shareholder money on this "crazy cat lady" project.
I thought they got a loan to build the original casinos? I'm confused. What shareholder money was used to fund the "new" government? If memory serves me the Mineral Council for years took bribes for leases, got on to the BIA workers (in the parking lot after work) for writing up the producers for pollution and stealing, and hired their relatives who were not qualified to run the Agency. I don't see any difference between the Mineral Council and the "new government" as far as management.
DeleteThe 1906 act is just that a act of US Congress.yes it had support direction from the principle chief of the 1881 consistution.but the US congress approved and finulizded Osage membership 2229+or-.Decendants today are who we are and collective we represent Osage past,present and hopefully the future.Acts of Congress,come and go and yes there have been many acts of Congress concerning the Osage and most likely there will be more.for sure the Osage have many problems but these are the same for many decades.to have federal courts to decide the future of the Osage can be good but at the same time it can be very very bad.so can we work things out among ourselves and build a better and stronger Osage future?
DeleteI have been posting on the OSA since 2006 and most i have posted I still believe to be of truth and a lot have been refined as conditions changes. What to me would bring about certain areas of peace--- since I have children of my own to leave my per cent of shares to, I have thought about dividing one share into a million units.Take 70,000 units,create and manage 70,000 accounts.Each account going to each descendant- Osage Descendant-would this act of giving satisfy conditions of the OME ownership in simple fee.Right now there are of the Osage,who believe they alone own the OME because they are shareholders.But they are a whole class of Osage and non-Osage shareholders and I for one believe that non-Osage shareholders have no right of ownership what so ever to the OME,period.
DeleteHow do you think the money was borrowed, off our backs. So thats black and white and you jnderstand how this Government was formed and not by my vote and no accident there. John we are clear on this matter the 1906 is Binding and no one really thought to really challenge the validity of the document..I did in 2006 on the dld on the OSA site. I am for reform of this Government or return it to the original Government who was the 8 council members and in this day and less is more and our Government writes checks as if its there right to do so when in reality thats our money they are spending. Challenge that one folks? Yes the thought was get a per-cap out, build our infrastructure and allow for more membership so those that were and are OSAGE can aquire federal funding and so forth.
DeleteTo poster on October 3, 2017 at 9:46 AM.
Delete..."so can we work things out among ourselves and build a better and stronger Osage future?
The answer is unequivocally "NO"
Many Osages are inherently petty. Add money and politics to the equation and Osages become greedy savages.
The Osages in government are the worst of the Osages. Galen Crum is an example of insidious corruption. It's no secret he's on the side of the executive branch to undermine shareholder concerns and to disrupt the MC's governance. One must wonder how much money he's taken under the table.
And yes, there are others who are deliberately passive when it comes to the relations between the Osage government and the MC. Certain council members have relatives on the Nation's payroll. If the council members don't play along with the Osage government, the relatives could (will) lose their jobs.
Jim Gray and the Harvard boys must sure be proud of themselves and laughing all the way to the bank.
How do you get a loan, duh you have to have collateral and that was our land they borrowed off of, who signed off on the dotted line?
DeleteAnd the picture just gets darker as the truth of how deep the nepotism and cronyism and it is true how pettiness got us where we are at and its time to step up to the plate to either hit restart or draw up a Constitution that has sound policies to ensure we can trust in our Government to a higher standard but as it is written now and can you believe the overhead we have because some of these Osages have more than one job at the Nation? Talk about the swamp that protects their own as opposed to do what is right for their own People. I call our Government a sham and B.S had they lived up to their goals we would be having a different conversation.
DeleteI AM SO PROUD OF GALEN CRUM, EVERETT WALLER, AND ANDREW YATES FOR TRYING TO STOP THIS LATEST IDIOCY THRUST UPON US BY OUR MINERALS COUNCIL!
DeleteAND JUST WHERE WAS THE ILLUSTRIOUS, NO GUTS TALLEE RED CORN? HIS VOTE COULD HAVE STOPPED THIS IN IT'S TRACKS, OR AT THE VERY WORST, SHOWN US WHERE HE STOOD.
DON'T KID YOURSELF, EVERY COUNCIL PERSON HAD BEEN GIVEN A COPY OF THAT RESOLUTION, AND THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING TO BE VOTED ON AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS. HOPE THE SNIVILING COWARD GETS OVER HIS RUNNY NOSE.
THIS CAN BE STOPPED BEFORE THE SUIT IS FILED, BUT IT TAKES 5 VOTES TO DO IT NOW. A TIE VOTE IS A NO VOTE, SO NOW, IF NOTHING IS DONE, THE RECENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZES THE LAWYERS TO PROCEED WITH THE FILING. THIS WOULD LIKELY COST THE SHAREHOLDERS MILLIONS, AND WHAT WOULD WE WIN? THESE SAME LAWYERS HAVE ALREADY TOLD US WHO OWNS THE MINERAL ESTATE.
IF WE DON'T CLEAN HOUSE NEXT YEAR, WE'VE HAD IT.
All I have to say is stop the fear mongering. The Osage Headright owners will hardly notice a change in thier checks. And if you are so proud of these individuals who we call obstructionist then you are apart of what is so wrong and you do not deserve a Check from our M.E
DeleteThis is about so much more about our rights and is bigger than you and I and surly will open doors of which we need to get to the bottom of the barrel sorta speak.
So, I guess one, you are apart of this resistance to progress and to our rights or you fully do not understand the politics that is involved here and or you have something to hide because any Headright owner would want progress and this is just one step to opening other doors for the M.E
It is bad enough we have beenn at a stagnation for awhile where it concerns the M.E by over regulations that have no business on our Reservation and the BIA not working in tandum for the Estate just adds more insult to injury and it is bad they are so enept. Not to mention the Nation would like nothing better to get there hand on the M.E. No thank you. This tug a war has been going way to long but I do have to say and as I have said before this should not be a excuse to do nothing, waiting for the Government to do something, well we know that song and dance right? Bottom line our M.C hands are not tied and they have much onus in this matter as well. I used to call her Mrs. Kravitz, Cynthia Boone, but people do change there minds. Now I see the writing on the wall, my eyes keep on getting bigger and bigger as sure as the sun is brite our blight will see the day light as the sure as the truth is always revealed. It was only a matter of time.
Yes, there is a great inequity that has occurred in the first place, we have a binding document which is the 1906 Act and it was all of failures to not recognize that very fact.
Giving a vote to everyone in the M.E affairs was so wrong when they have no part in the M.E was a illegal take and that is a fact. And Erwin is stepping up and God Bless her. This is just one step to taking back what was our to begin with. Thank you!!!!
Once upon a time,we were non-Osage shareholders and for decades still seeing Osage trying to maintain a lower class of human beings.There truly seems inter-tribal fighting among the decedents of the 1906 act will continue.
DeleteBut then again the Osage were fighting among themselves before the 1906 act.
DeleteIf anyone had a elder you would know this to be true, if you understood our culture you would know this to be true and in truth the corruption needs to stop because the bleed is to much not to not heed.
DeleteIts time we take the lead only to succeed and only then we can aspire to our culture in our desire for the truth because it is there for eyes to see can we finally hear our plea. To do nothing would be a failure once again for the Osage Shareholder's the M.E and everything that we are and can be. Our future is before our very eyes their lies the answer is today, is yesterday's past today is already our future our future already our past lets not delay. Support those on our MC who voted yes!!!!
"All I have to say is stop the fear mongering. The Osage Headright owners will hardly notice a change in thier checks."
DeleteSo how low do the checks need to get? You honestly don't think that they are already low enough?
This is straight "Crazy Cat Lady" logic. Get these nuts out of there and away from anything involving the minerals estate. The Minerals Council has one job, turning oil into headright money.
Turning Headright money into lawyer fees isn't part of the job description.
Like you would notice much in first place missing from your check. We can agree that I to feel the same way you do and my prescription would be to advocate as opposed to not doing anything about it as in a suggestion go to the Courts and file against the suit that your right are being infringed upon,exactly what I thought all talk. I know my rights have been abrogated and I have a leg to stand on. The difference between you and is we really want the same thing ok, leave the Nation out of it right nothing wrong with following through on this promise right? After all it is for the preservation.
DeleteI am for good sound policies to ensure the viability of the ME. And I also understand our inside politics because I am family and I am so familiar with our rich History thanks to my elder.
She said to me you will see that one day you will be in this fight for what has been so wrong with the Osage.
Truth be known someone said we cannot have two Tribes anybody that understands our history would know it was known by settlers along the Missouri river we had what was considered two tribes the Great Osage and down river the Little Osage.
Why were known as the great Osage bec6of our Height. My point is, There are not going to be two tribes with in the Osage. Just simply the ME belongs to the aires, the headright owners, once and for all let it be settled so, we can aspire to be great again. And my bet you are scared what doors this suit will open, and how it can benefit the Headright owners.
These steps that should have been taken in 2006 or before the Constitution was written.
The truth be known had anyone done the diligence we would not be having this conversation.
I brought the attention a while back weneed to get ourselves out if the court of opinion and move this ME forward and if their is Black Gold to be had we have to ask ourselves why has Bakken been so prosperous and we have the potential yet I have to aske why because it refects what we do in the outside world. In other words our reputation and our Culture , who we are we haven't seen much representation other in the coutrs of opinion. To establish a working body we must identify who we are, a separate entity. When the nation opened up its own energy dept it did send hairs down my spine.
This is important. Lastly, it is important that one the BIA in truth should be notifying the Headright owners of these said deductions, how long it will be and so forth, and we really should be voting on this but until we can clarify who we this can not hapen and still is corrupt. But he way the Constitution is written only impedes our growth. All the same then we can take a look at what has been really going on. The truth always reveals itself you don't have to look to far.
So all of us crazies need to take note of one very important fact of life if the OME Trust is busted by the efforts of certain Osage elected officials running back and forth to Washington, DC: With a new Osage Nation public Trust created, Federal taxes will be due and payable yearly on quarterly payment funds. 15% to 25% or more right? Take us for crazy but don't take us for stupid. Isn't one of those officials now over a barrel because his daughter was caught embezzling funds and then put back to work for the Nation in another department with very little restitution asked and no charges or jail time required? One source you hear this from is good. Two and you have confirmation.
DeleteKeep your sox on! Talee and Katherine before him have been trying to get a trust asset accounting, as to what belongs to Minerals in the Trust and what belongs to the rest of the Osage Nation, from the Nation from day one since the time the Osage Nation government took over and arbitrarily appropriated all Osage Nation assets in trust or otherwise. What's sad that they have to finally sue the Bureau to get this determination. Try and keep up with what has happened in the past that has lead us to where we are today. Call Katherine and Talee if you don't believe me.
DeleteI should have written:
Delete"... from day one since the time the Osage Nation government swept in, took over and arbitrarily appropriated all Osage Nation assets in trust or otherwise." Emphasis on "swept in".
This thread is now closed. Go to: http://osageblog.blogspot.com/2017/10/osage-shareholder-matters-october-2017.html
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