Chief’s Award of Excellence

The second recipient of the Chief’s Award of Excellence was Penny Gann-Bradford of the Office of Strategic Planning & Grants Management. This was awarded for the work she did in organizing a public information meeting for the Protect Osage Coalition on November 17th.

Penny has been employed with the Osage Nation for the past 11 years; seven years in Accounting and four years with Planning.

From her work on the Osage Nation Heritage Trail Byway, she became involved with the Protect Osage Coalition and its opposition to the development of industrial wind turbines on the Osage Reservation. She has been a vocal opponent to the big wind industry giving interviews on Fox23 News; speaking before the Osage County Board of Adjustments during the Mustang Run hearing (the second proposed wind farm to be located on the Osage Reservation) and before the December 3rd wind energy hearing at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in Oklahoma City.

The Protect Osage Coalition public information meeting held in November was at the Constantine Center in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Penny brought together experts and laypersons to present information on wind farm issues. Topics included the environment, property rights, Osage Nation sacred traditions, and a first-hand account of living next door to a wind farm.

The November forum was attended by many from the surrounding communities. Coverage included local and surrounding news outlets, as well as, KOTV Channel 6 from Tulsa.

The work Penny does with the Protect Osage Coalition is not part of her regular job responsibilities. She is currently developing another public forum for the upcoming year because the battle against the wind industry on the Osage Reservation is not over.