OSAGE NATION RESERVATION, OKLA. (June 30, 2026) - Following the Osage Nation 2026 General Election, several elected officials will transition into new roles across the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. To ensure continuity of government, Osage Nation officials are following a leadership succession process that ensures government operations continue without interruption while newly elected officials prepare to take office.
Effective at noon on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear resigned in order to take the oath of office as a member of the Osage Nation Minerals Council taking place on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Assistant Principal Chief RJ Walker was immediately sworn in as Principal Chief and will serve in that capacity until the Osage Nation Inauguration on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Chief Walker appointed Assistant Principal Chief-Elect John Shaw to serve as Assistant Principal Chief, pending consent of congress. In the event, the appointment needs congressional consent before the Osage Nation 2026 Inauguration on Saturday, July 11, 2026, an emergency special session will be called.
Principal Chief-elect Joe Tillman, who currently serves as a member of the Osage Nation Congress, will resign his legislative seat effective at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026. His resignation clears the way for his inauguration as Osage Nation Principal Chief on July 11 and allows his congressional seat to be filled.
The following officials were elected during the June 1, 2026, Osage Nation General Election:
Executive Branch
- Principal Chief: Joe Tillman
- Assistant Principal Chief: John Shaw
Judicial Branch
- Chief Justice: Meredith Drent
- Associate Justice: Elizabeth Lohah Homer
- Chief Judge of the Trial Court: William Ladd Oldfield
Legislative Branch
- Michael Bristow
- Alice Goodfox
- Otto Hamilton
- Eli Potts
- Angela Pratt
- Whitney Red Corn
- RJ Walker
All Osage Nation citizens and community members are encouraged to attend the 2026 Osage Nation Inauguration on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Skyline Event Center inside Osage Casino & Hotel, 951 W. 36th St. N., Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The inauguration ceremony marks the beginning of a new term of service for the Osage Nation's elected leaders. Those unable to attend may watch the ceremony live on the Osage Nation YouTube channel. Additional event information is available at osagenation-nsn.gov.
IMAGE: Osage Nation Principal Chief-Elect Joe Tillman, Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Osage Nation Principal Chief RJ Walker, Osage Nation Principal Assistant Chief-Elect John Shaw