Holiday Happenings and Ways to Give at Osage Nation
‘Tis the season for giving and the Osage Nation (ON) is active with holiday and family celebrations. Several ON departments are organizing festive activities and events for community enthusiasm.
OSAGE NATION HOLIDAY MARKET
If you are looking to get your holiday shopping complete, shop goods from local crafters and artists in a family-friendly environment. December 4, 2021, the ON Holiday Market will be set up at the Osage County Fairgrounds inside the Agricultural building from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Social distancing will be practiced and shoppers are encouraged to mask up. For more information, contact the ON Prevention Program at (918) 287-5595.
OSAGE NATION HOLIDAY FAMILY OUTREACH
The ON Prevention Program has also coordinated with ON Child Care, ON Cultural Center, ON Social Services, the Office of the Chiefs, and the Osage Nation Foundation to sponsor the ON Holiday Family Outreach to Native American children living on the Osage Reservation. This effort includes holiday-themed activity boxes via drive-through for families to receive. Supplies are limited and pick-up dates and locations depend upon registration: https://forms.osagenation-nsn.gov/view.php?id=92104
𐓓𐒰͘𐓏𐒰𐓁𐒻𐓍𐒷 | TREE OF GIFTS
The Osage Nation Financial Assistance (ONFA) Department is hosting the Annual 𐓓𐒰͘𐓏𐒰𐓁𐒻𐓍𐒷 Tree of Gifts. This initiative includes ornaments that represent the children’s wishes and will hang on the tree until generous sponsors fill the requests. The ONFA Department’s goal is for EVERY child to receive a gift. The ONFA Department requires that all gifts be received in the office by December 13, 2021.
HARVEST LAND HOLIDAY SALE
The ON Harvest Land is promoting a holiday sale of pumpkin pies and pumpkin bread that are baked on-site in the Harvest Land kitchen. Orders can be placed through email or text: dawn.wormington@osagenation-nsn.gov or (417) 317-6303. Orders must be placed by Friday, December 17, 2021, and can be picked up on December 22, 2021, between 9:00 a.m. and noon from Harvest Land (102 Midland St., Pawhuska, OK).
CHRISTMAS CANDY STRUCTURE COMPETITION
The ON Education Department and STEAM Coordinator are sponsoring the 7th Annual Christmas Candy Structure Competition. This event is virtual and all pictures of structures must be submitted by Friday, December 17, 2021. Creativity is hardly constrained as the sponsors urge participants to use ingredients of imaginative choice (for bonus points include blueprints). The competition is grouped into the following divisions:
- 12 and under (child)
- 13 to 18 (teen)
- 19+ (adult)
- Family
- Classroom
The structures will be judged and prizes will be awarded to the following categories:
- Best Engineering Structure
- Most Creative Architectural Design
- Greatest Innovative Design
- Best Use of Artistic Elements
- Most Detailed Construction
- Most Christmas Spirit
- People’s Choice
The winners will be announced the week of Monday, January 3, 2021, and participants are encouraged to contact Derrick Hammer at derrick.hammer@osagenation-nsn.gov for further instructions.
SHOP AT THE OSAGE NATION VISITOR’S CENTER
The Osage Nation Visitor’s Center is the Nation’s first stop to welcome visitors into the Osage Reservation. The mission of the Osage Nation Visitors Center is to promote Osage culture, Osage Nation services, and Osage-owned artists & businesses. Since opening in 2018, the Osage Nation Visitor’s Center has doubled its vendors and has plans to continue expanding.
The Osage Nation Visitor’s Center is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. It is located on the southwest corner of the four-way stop as you enter Pawhuska from the east. Cash, credit and/or debit cards are accepted. Checks are not acceptable.
Osage Nation wishes you all a safe and happy holiday season!