Wildland Fire Management in the Osage PAGE 12 Volume 14, Issue 3 • March 2018 The Official Newspaper of the Osage Nation Osage women and girls honored at Wak’on Owatsi Shannon Shaw Duty Osage traditional knowledge, Osage News was a big loss to her fami- ly. Katelynn Pipestem, who The weekend began with a currently attends Oklahoma Friday afternoon tea to cele- State University, said that one brate Osage women and girls. of her studies is suicide pre- They came in their finest, they vention and that Native com- came with hats on, and were munities, and Native women, served tea, tea sandwiches, need to be educated on the scones, cookies, chocolate cov- effects of historical trauma. ered strawberries and other She said that Osage women various desserts. and the community can be a Dr. Moira RedCorn, the life support for many of those daughter of the late Osage au- suffering from depression or thor Charles Red Corn and one being disconnected from their of the organizers, welcomed Native community. all the ladies for attending and offered the microphone to Noon dinner anyone who wished to share a The committee hosted a memory or a story of a strong noon dinner on Saturday, woman in their lives. Feb. 3, at Wakon Iron Hall in One by one, young and old, the Pawhuska Indian Village. women began to tell stories of Traditional Osage dinners are great-grandmothers, grand- usually prepared by women, mothers, head cooks, Osage but in this case, the dinner artisans, Osage leaders, moth- SHANNON SHAW DUTY/Osage News was prepared by Osage men. ers, aunts and sisters. Princi- They served meat gravy, Veronica Pipestem speaks on behalf of the Wak’on Owatsi committee as Marilyn Yarbrough places a blanket pal Chief Geoffrey Standing wild rice, two dishes of squash, on Dr. Moira RedCorn in honor of her commitment to making the dance a success. The social dance in honor Bear stood up and told a story of Osage women and girls was held on Feb. 3 at the Pawhuska Indian Village dance arbor. From left: Jen Tiger, chicken and dumplings, grape about his grandmother. Margaret Sisk, Electa RedCorn (holding daughter Tawali), Yarbrough, Pipestem and RedCorn. dumplings, frybread and var- The tea, held on Feb. 2 in ious desserts. The cooks were the First Baptist Church hall the one-year anniversary of form a committee to plan the culture if a matriarch is lost or Brian and Joe Lookout, of in Pawhuska, was the begin- the death of 26-year-old Blake Wak’on Owatsi. even a young woman. Jacque Ah-Tha-Tse Catering; Ben Ja- ning of a weekend planned Sisk, an aspiring model and Veronica Pipestem, a mem- Butler, who recently lost her cobs, owner of Denver-based ber of the Wak’on Owatsi younger sister Mary Grayce to host the Wak’on Owatsi, actress from the Hominy Dis- Tocabe: An American Indian which translates to “Wom- committee, said that losses in Bighorse, said that a woman’s Eatery; Dr. Robert Warrior, trict. Her early death, in part, en’s Dance,” a social dance to Native communities can affect place in Osage society is very Ryan RedCorn, Assistant is what inspired RedCorn honor Osage women and girls. generations – it can cause a important and that the loss See WAK’ON OWATSI The dance was held close to and Dr. Robert Warrior to disconnect from one’s Osage of her sister, along with her —Continued on Page 6 Candidates for Principal Chief debate on scholarships, economic development, water rights, food sovereignty and diplomacy Shannon Shaw Duty Osage News SKIATOOK, Okla. – Osage Nation Principal Chief Geof- frey Standing Bear and Osage Congresswoman Maria CHALENE TOEHAY-TARTSAH/Osage News Whitehorn took the stage for Assistant Principal Chief Raymond Red Corn and Congressman the Osage News Candidate Otto Hamilton answer questions at the Osage News Candidate De- Debates on Feb. 17 at the bates for Assistant Principal Chief on Feb. 17 at the Osage Casino Osage Casino. in Skiatook. Standing Bear and White- horn are the only two can- didates running for the top Assistant Principal Chief BENNY POLACCA/Osage News spot of the Osage government. Standing Bear and Whitehorn Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear and Congresswoman Maria White- candidates share qualifications, both served as Osage Congress horn answer questions on current issues at the Osage News Candidate members from 2012 to 2014. Debates for Principal Chief on Feb. 17 at the Osage Casino in Skiatook. debate education, economic Standing Bear was elected gress in 2016 with Whitehorn Osage Congress in 2016 and is chief in 2014 and Whitehorn named as the defendant. The the current chair of the Appro- became Speaker of the Osage Osage Supreme Court ruled in priations Committee. development and water rights Congress. Standing Bear suc- favor of Standing Bear. White- Standing Bear, 64, is a for- Benny Polacca cessfully sued the Osage Con- horn was re-elected to the mer attorney with over 30 Osage News years of experience. He served as Assistant Principal Chief for SKIATOOK, Okla. – Osage Nation Assistant Principal Trump administration’s the 28th Osage Tribal Council Chief candidates Otto Hamilton and Raymond Red Corn from 1990-1994. He was elect- fielded questions on various topics during the Osage News ed to the Third Osage Nation Candidate Debates held here on Feb. 17. 2019 budget proposes steep Congress in 2010, served four Red Corn is seeking a second four-year term as Assistant years and then was elected as Principal Chief in the June 4 general election and Hamil- principal chief in 2014. He’s cuts to Indian Country ton, a current ON Congressman, is running for that Exec- married to Julie Brave Stand- utive Branch office for the first time. The debate took place Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton ing Bear and they have four before a crowd of nearly 100 at the Skiatook Osage Casino Osage News children and 10 grandchildren. They live in Pawhuska. Hotel that Saturday afternoon with two volunteers from the Several key programs serving Indian Country are facing Whitehorn, 55, helped her League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Tulsa who moder- steep cuts – or outright elimination – under a budget pro- husband Randy Powell build ated the debate and selected the questions written on pieces posal from the White House. their family businesses and of paper that were drawn from a rotating hopper. On Feb. 12, President Donald Trump released his admin- homeschooled their two sons The written questions came from both the Osage public istration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019. Although in Hominy before running for and the Osage News before the event. The moderators also final approval of the federal budget rests with Con- Osage Congress in 2012, ac- kept track of time for the candidates to respond to questions gress, the executive branch’s recommendations are taken cording to her 2012 candidate and to issue rebuttals, if desired, after the two candidates under consideration. announcement. She was elect- initially answered the questions. See TRUMP See DEBATES See APC DEBATE —Continued on Page 8 —Continued on Page 4 —Continued on Page 7 INSIDE THE OSAGE NEWS FOLLOW THE OSAGE NEWS ONLINE OKC Elects First Native American Mayor . 3 Serious Discussions at UNIOKT Meeting . 9 • Breaking news at osagenews.org Candidate Filing Dates for Minerals Council Election . 3 Six Women First to File as Congressional Candidates . 9 • facebook.com/osagenews WHC Now Hiring Healthcare Positions . 8 Energy Column . .. 17 • twitter.com/osagenews 2018 Hun-Kah Session Starts . 8 Obituaries and Classifieds . 20 • flickr.com/osagenews 2 March 2018 Osage News • osagenews.org Osage News • osagenews.org March 2018 3 Osage man elected as first Native American Mayor of Oklahoma City Shannon Shaw Duty $300 million of legislation sist you in your race? Chief Standing Osage News convention that have be- Bear has publicly said the Nation sup- center, a $131 come law and ported you. David Holt is the first Native Amer- million street- has been espe- DH: “Yes, he was very supportive ican to be elected Mayor of Oklahoma car system cially noted for publicly, and personally, and the Na- City in its 129-year history. And, he did and a $139 his persistent tion is a legal donor. The Nation was it easily. million down- work to im- able to contribute to the campaign fi- town park. In the city’s Feb. 12, primary election, prove gov- nancially and did. I’m very grateful for Mayor is a ernment he won 78.5 percent of the vote (20,409 that. nonpartisan transparency, votes) over his two opponents, Taylor ON: How much did the Nation con- office in Okla- his efforts to M. Neighbors and Randall Smith. tribute? homa City and increase voter Holt, 38, is an Osage tribal member, DH: “I want to say, and I hate to pays $24,000 Courtesy Photo participation, Republican and was elected to the state be wrong on this, but I want to say per year. David Holt with his wife Rachel and their two children, and his legis- Senate in 2010 from Oklahoma City’s $2,000.” Holt earned Margaret and George. lation support- How has your Osage tribal affil- northwest District 30 and is currently ON: a Bachelor of ing women, iation shaped your perspective in pub- serving his second term. He will resign Arts in Political Science from George children, economic growth, and public lic office? from the Senate before he is sworn in Washington University and a Juris education,” according to his profile on DH: “Well, you know I’m like a lot as the 36th Mayor of Oklahoma City on Doctor from Oklahoma City Univer- OKSenate.gov.