Arts Adventure in the Osage PAGE 10 Volume 12, Issue 11 • November 2016 The Official Newspaper of the Osage Nation Osage voters to decide definition of marriage in Special Election Shannon Shaw Duty Osage News TIMELINE OF SAME The Fifth Osage Nation Con- SEX MARRIAGE BILL gress is referring the question • 2012: Congressman to Osage voters of whether or William “Kugee” Super- not the definition of marriage naw sponsors ONCA in Osage law should include 12-53, a civil union same-sex couples. The Osage provision that recogniz- Nation Election Board has set es marriage between a the date for the Special Elec- man and a woman and tion for March 20, 2017. allows marriages to be The election, by legislative conducted in the Osage referendum, is the first of its Nation Trial Court. kind since the reformation of the 2006 government. • April 2015: Congress- It comes after various mem- woman Shannon Ed- bers of the Congressional wards sponsors ONCA Governmental Operations 15-54, an amendment Committee were unable to to ONCA 12-53 that agree on the issue. The issue of changes the defini- same-sex marriage has been a tion of marriage to controversial one for the Con- two persons. Edwards’ gress. A bill recognizing same- legislation is tabled sex marriage licenses, but not TARA MADDEN/Osage News by the Congressional allowing for same-sex mar- The Fifth Osage Nation Congress. Governmental Op- riages to be performed in the erations committee and Nation passed in the Spring “Going this route wasn’t bers Buffalohead, John Maker, a special election could cost up stays there for a year. what I envisioned as the spon- Jim Norris, Angela Pratt, Ron to $30,000 and she didn’t think Hun-Kah Session in March. • December 2015: The sponsor of the same- sor, but it was the only way Shaw, William “Kugee” Super- that was the best way to spend for me to get it out of commit- naw, Joseph Tillman, Maria the people’s money. United States Supreme sex marriage bill that will Court rules gay mar- tee and at least try to make Whitehorn and Archie Mason. Supernaw said the Consti- go before the Osage people is riage is legal. Congresswoman Alice Buf- it a more fair and just world Voting “no” were Congress tution allows for referendum falohead. She said she didn’t for the Osage people that we members Shannon Edwards, elections and the drafters • March 2015: Congress- come to the decision for a spe- serve. So, that’s why I agreed Otto Hamilton and RJ Walker. knew these types of issues man Ron Shaw puts cial election lightly and the to it going to a vote of the peo- Both Edwards and Hamilton would need to go before the forth an amendment ple,” she said. said the Congress is elected people. “There are passionate fact that the Congress couldn’t See TIMELINE by the people to make these come to an agreement on the Voting “yes” for the special See MARRIAGE —Continued on Page 4 issue was “very sad.” election were Congress mem- decisions and Edwards noted —Continued on Page 4 Osage Nation As Powwow Season ends, Osage dancers get receives ready for the Indian National Finals Powwow Tara Madden and Shannon Shaw Duty $960,000 in Osage News class action The inaugural Indian Na- tional Finals Powwow is shap- ing up to be the culmination of settlement the powwow season, with big Benny Polacca prize money bringing in danc- Osage News ers from the United States and Canada, each vying for the ti- The Osage Nation re- tle of World Champion. ceived $960,700.17 in Approximately 1,000 danc- a settlement as part of ers have registered, 11 drum a class-action lawsuit groups have been selected, against the Bureau of In- and nine places will be award- dian Affairs in which hun- ed. The powwow, which takes dreds of tribes and tribal place in Las Vegas, Nov. 9-11 organizations will receive at the Cashman Center in the settlement shares for Fremont District, will coincide unpaid contract support with the 41st Annual Indian National Finals Rodeo – argu- costs. TARA MADDEN/Osage News The settlement in the ably one of the most attended case Ramah Navajo Chap- events in Indian Country. Dancers during an intertribal at the Buffalo Run Casino Powwow, hosted by the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Okla- ter, et al. v. Jewell is the Five Osage dancers have homa in Miami, Okla. conclusion of a 25-year le- registered to compete in the gal dispute resulting in a Women’s Southern competi- total settlement of $940 tion. They are Danita Goodwill, Ruling may million that is being di- Osage/Sac and Fox (Buckskin); vided among 699 tribes Tracey Ann Moore, Osage/ pave way for and tribal entities across Otoe-Missouria (Cloth); Cha- the country, according to lene Toehay-Tartsah, Osage/ the case fact sheet. The Kiowa (Cloth); Charish Toe- additional settlement became final hay, Osage/Kiowa (Buckskin); on April 25 and will also and Jamie Jon Whiteshirt, wind farms in include an additional $7.9 Osage/Pawnee (Buckskin). million in accrued post- Each dancer has their own Osage County judgment interest from strengths when they compete. Feb. 23 when a federal Much like a professional in Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton court ruling was issued any sport, the dancers have Special to Osage News approving the proposed been competing at powwows settlement. all their lives – and winning. A November surprise from On Oct. 18, the Nation Some beginning since the time an Oklahoma court may said its share of the settle- they could walk. open the door to additional “I am going because it in- Osage News 2015 File Photo See SETTLEMENT See RULING See POWWOW —Continued on Page 4 —Continued on Page 4 Wind turbines approximately eight miles north of Fairfax. —Continued on Page 13 INSIDE THE OSAGE NEWS FOLLOW THE OSAGE NEWS ONLINE The Pioneer Woman Mercantile Opening . 2 Elder Series: Franklin McKinley . 9 • Breaking news at osagenews.org Election Board Proposes Amendments. 2 Energy Column . .. 15 • facebook.com/osagenews Executive Branch Delivers Near-Empty Boxes. 3 Culture Column . 16 • twitter.com/osagenews Legislation Update . .5 Classifieds / Obituaries . 18 • flickr.com/osagenews 2 November 2016 Osage News • osagenews.org Pawhuska merchants brace for the opening of The Pioneer Woman Mercantile Shannon Shaw Duty ter for convenient dining, a Osage News soup, salad and sandwich bar. A full-service display kitchen Pawhuska may never be where diners can order from the same. The Pioneer Woman the menu, watch their food be Mercantile opened its doors on prepared and dine à la carte. Oct. 31, actually causing slow- The Mercantile has part- moving traffic on Main Street. nered with Tulsa-based Topeca At a meeting held for Coffee, which features coffee Pawhuska business owners at beans from South America, the Dave Landrum Communi- and has professional baristas ty Center in Pawhuska Oct. 25, who were trained at Topeca Ree Drummond and The Pio- Coffee working at the coffee neer Woman Mercantile staff bar, he said. There is also fla- was on hand to answer ques- vored lemonades and teas for tions. The general consensus customers to choose from. Up- of the meeting: thousands of stairs is the bakery, complete visitors from all over the world with a demonstration area, are about to come to Pawhus- bistro, couches and other com- ka and Drummond wants all of SHANNON SHAW DUTY/Osage News Pawhuska to benefit. fort features. Mortensen said their bakery chef was trained Ree Drummond speaks to Pawhuska business owners at the Dave Landrum Community Center in Pawhuska “I don’t think of this as my on Oct. 25. place,” Drummond said of The in France and Germany and Mercantile. “It’s larger than her croissants, pastries and me, it’s about our town and treats are some of the best he’s Osage County.” ever tasted. Next to the bakery Kurtess Mortensen, the chef is a candy store. Election Board proposes who runs The Mercantile, said Next door to The Mercantile the two-story bakery, deli and is The Mercantile Store, which general store features a hot will feature Pioneer Woman and cold deli with “good, hon- merchandise. amendments to election est country cooking.” There is See MERCANTILE a take-out and pick-up coun- —Continued on Page 8 rules and regulations Benny Polacca terested Osage voters’ names tion days, Lockett said election Osage News from published lists for any staff are able to verify basic citizen requesting a copy of the voter information including The Osage Nation Election voter registry list for political names, ages and whether vot- Board is continuing work on purposes and participation can ers are enrolled with the Mem- proposed amendments to the be cancelled at any time. bership office. Nation’s election law that gov- Lockett said the rule is “cra- With regards to certified erns the election process. zy” because it’s “a huge waste mail sent to candidates, the Like in previous years, the of money” that would be spent board is supporting a new on creating the individual no- Election Board revisits the $100 fine that would be issued tifications and postage. In- election code for any potential to election candidates who changes to the governing docu- stead, the board is supporting do not pick up their certified ments to reflect issues or up- a change in the rules stating mail sent by the Election Of- dates that occurred following Osage voters shall be informed fice. The Election Office sends an election. The changes will of the privacy program at time-sensitive notifications to SHANNON SHAW DUTY/Osage News then be subject to Congressio- least once a year via updates nal consideration and action through social media, newspa- candidates, if necessary, which Ree Drummond greets Joe and Arlena Trumbly, the Osage owners of Clif- per ads and other notification includes notices of fines or de- ton’s Art & Jewelry in Pawhuska.