CHIEF STANDINGBEAR HAILS OSAGE SUPREME COURT OPINION AS VICTORY FOR HEADRIGHT OWNERS AND OSAGE CONSTITUTION

Pawhuska, Oklahoma – September 12, 2016– Chief Standing Bear reacted to the Osage Nation’s Supreme Court Decision to compel Osage Minerals Council Members to comply with the Osage Nation Ethics Law as a momentous ruling in the history of the Osage people. The Decision issued September 9, 2016 rejected Osage Minerals Council arguments which requested the Osage Nation’s Supreme Court to rule the Osage Minerals Council is not subject to the Constitution and Laws of the Osage Nation on the theory that the Osage Mineral Estate and Minerals Council are created by federal statute and, as such, are only subject to federal-not Osage-law. In a unanimous decision the Osage Nation Supreme Court held that the Osage Minerals Council is a “governmental body” and that its members are subject to the Osage Nation’s Ethics laws, which some members of the Osage Nation Minerals Council had been resisting.

Chief Standing Bear said, “The Supreme Court Opinion and Decision shows once again how federal law protects the Osage headright owner’s right to undiminished income from the royalties of the Osage Mineral Estate. The Opinion goes further by showing the extra layer of protection provided by the Osage Nation Constitution of 2006.” Standing Bear further said, “At the same time the Opinion tells the Osage Minerals Council that they are not separate and apart from the Osage Nation. Because of this the Members of the Osage Nation Minerals Council are within reach of the Osage Nation laws.”

Standing Bear noted both he and Assistant Chief Red Corn are headright owners as are several members of the Osage Nation Congress.

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Please contact:
Sheryl Decker, Executive Assistant to the Chief 918-287-5594