Osage Nation

Osage Nation
source
Name	Osage Nation
Population	approximately 20,000 enrolled tribal members
Region	Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas

Osage Nation. The Osage Nation is a federally recognized tribe with its own tribal government, constitution, and laws. The tribe has a rich and complex history, with significant interactions with European-American settlers, including Louisiana Purchase, Indian Removal Act, and Trail of Tears. The Osage Nation has also been involved in various treaties, such as the Treaty of Fort Clark and Treaty of St. Louis, with the United States government, including President Thomas Jefferson and President Andrew Jackson.

● History

The Osage Nation has a long and storied history, with roots dating back to the Mississippian culture and interactions with other Native American tribes, including the Quapaw, Caddo, and Pawnee. The tribe was heavily influenced by European exploration, including the expeditions of Étienne de Veniard, sieur de Bourgmont and Hernando de Soto, and the establishment of French colonial and Spanish colonial rule in North America. The Osage Nation played a significant role in the American West, with interactions with Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill Cody, and other notable figures, including George Armstrong Custer and Sitting Bull. The tribe was also affected by the Indian Relocation Act and the Dawes Act, which led to the loss of land and cultural heritage, as documented by Helen Hunt Jackson and Charles Curtis.

● Government

The Osage Nation has a tribal government with a constitution and laws that are separate from the United States government, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The tribe is led by a Principal Chief, such as Charles Curtis and John Joseph Mathews, and a Congress, which is responsible for making laws and policies, including the Osage Allotment Act and the Indian Reorganization Act. The Osage Nation also has its own judicial system, including the Osage Nation Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, with notable cases such as Ex parte Crow Dog and Worcester v. Georgia. The tribe interacts with other Native American tribes, including the Cherokee Nation and the Navajo Nation, through organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Intertribal Council.

● Culture

The Osage Nation has a rich and vibrant culture, with a strong emphasis on tradition and heritage, including the Sun Dance and the War Dance. The tribe is known for its skilled artisans, including pottery and weaving, as well as its music and dance, including the Native American flute and the Powwow. The Osage Nation also has a strong tradition of storytelling, with notable authors such as John Joseph Mathews and Willa Cather, and oral history, including the stories of Crazy Horse and Geronimo. The tribe celebrates various holidays and events, including the Osage Nation Fair and the National Native American Heritage Month, with notable attendees such as Wilma Mankiller and Suzan Shown Harjo.

● Economy

The Osage Nation has a diverse economy, with a strong emphasis on natural resources, including oil and gas, as well as agriculture and ranching, including the Osage Nation Ranch. The tribe also has a growing tourism industry, with attractions such as the Osage Nation Museum and the Pawhuska, as well as casinos, including the Osage Casino. The Osage Nation has a number of businesses and enterprises, including the Osage Nation Energy Services and the Osage Nation Environmental Services, with partnerships with companies such as ExxonMobil and Chevron Corporation. The tribe also receives revenue from federal funding and grants, including the Indian Health Service and the Bureau of Indian Education.

● Geography

The Osage Nation is located in the Great Plains region of the United States, with its capital in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and reservations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. The tribe's land is characterized by prairies, forests, and rivers, including the Arkansas River and the Missouri River, with notable landmarks such as Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. The Osage Nation is also home to a number of parks and wildlife refuges, including the Osage Hills State Park and the Washita National Wildlife Refuge, with management by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service.

● Notable_Osage

The Osage Nation has produced a number of notable individuals, including Charles Curtis, the first Native American to serve as Vice President of the United States, and John Joseph Mathews, a renowned author and historian. Other notable Osage include Maria Tallchief, a famous ballerina, and Willa Cather, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, as well as Suzan Shown Harjo, a Native American rights activist, and Wilma Mankiller, a community developer and author. The Osage Nation has also been home to a number of notable artists, including T.C. Cannon and Allan Houser, with works featured in the National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The tribe has a strong tradition of producing leaders and innovators, including Crazy Horse and Geronimo, with recognition from organizations such as the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Rights Fund.