OMC poised to take over mineral estate management

Written By: Allison Herrera

(OSAGE RESERVATION) For the first time in its history, the Osage Minerals Council could manage production, permitting, and leasing of the Osage Mineral Estate – a shift that could occur within four months if approved.

Read this story on Osage News here. 

On Wednesday, June 4, Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear sent a letter to OMC Chairman Myron Red Eagle stating he has been in negotiations with the Department of the Interior for the OMC to fully assume self-governance functions. Standing Bear said implementation would begin during fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1.

“I believe that once negotiations on self-governance are complete, all functions that were previously administered under the BIA that apply to production, permitting, or leasing on the Osage Minerals Estate should fall under the authority of the Osage Minerals Council,” he said.

Under Standing Bear’s proposal, the OMC would assume the functions of the BIA branches of subsurface lease management, oil and gas accounting and subsurface permitting with a position described as a “Minerals Director” to oversee operations. The OMC would have the authority to hire and fire personnel under the Nation’s HR policies. He also said he is advocating to keep BIA Osage Agency Superintendent Adam Trumbly’s position for “legal and practical reasons” as well as BIA personnel Trumbly considers “indispensable.”

Standing Bear said he will ask the Osage Nation Congress to provide supplemental funding if there are any shortfalls, just like they do for the Nation’s government departments and programs.

He said he has a meeting with the Minerals Council to discuss the self-governance proposal in the coming days. 

“I look forward to this opportunity to visit with them,” he said.

OMC pushes back on self-governance plan

The Osage Minerals Council disagrees with Standing Bear and has been actively resisting.

On May 21, the Council passed a resolution rejecting the Nation’s plan to compact with the federal government on matters related to the Mineral Estate.

“The Osage Minerals Council rejects and opposes any attempt by the Osage Nation to amend its self-governance compact with the Bureau of Indian Affairs,” the resolution stated.

The resolution goes on to state that the OMC supports maintaining all federal functions related to the Minerals Estate with the BIA. The resolution is signed by Chairman Red Eagle.

The announcement on self-governance came amidst proposals from the Department of the Interior to restructure and streamline functions within the BIA and increase support for tribal self-governance.

A “Dear Tribal Leader” letter was sent on April 14 to consult with tribal Nations over President Trump’s Feb. 11 Executive Order 14210 that established a “Department of Government Efficiency” workforce optimization initiative. President Trump also released a “skinny budget” that cuts over half a billion dollars to the BIA.

Osage Nation Constitution

Standing Bear referenced Article XV of the Osage Nation Constitution, which he believes empowers his self-governance efforts for the Minerals Council.

Section 4 of the Constitution reads:

“The government of the Osage Nation shall have the perpetual obligation to ensure the preservation of the Osage Mineral Estate. The government shall further ensure the rights of mineral royalty interest holders of Osage descent, as set forth in the Osage Allotment Act of June 28, 1906, as amended, to income derived from the Mineral Estate are protected.”

Osage Nation Congresswoman Maria Whitehorn, who is also the President of the Osage Shareholders Association, referenced Article XV of the Constitution and believes the authority to govern the mineral estate resides with the Osage Minerals Council.

“As long as the Minerals Council protects the shareholders rights and refrains from breaking the law, the Executive and Legislative Branches are not authorized to interfere in the execution of the Council’s administration of duties given by the 1906 Act, CFR’s (codes of federal regulation) or ON Constitution,” she wrote in a message to Osage News.

She supports the resolution OMC passed on May 21, rejecting the Nation’s amendment to the self-governance compact with the BIA.

Standing Bear, Red Eagle, and OMC members Paul Revard and Talee Redcorn attended a BIA consultation in Oklahoma City on June 3. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Trust Fund Administration held consultations in person and virtual consultations across the country. Standing Bear has expressed his frustration over the process and felt the process wasn’t a true consultation.

“The Department of Interior has made its intentions clear during the first Trump administration that it was looking for an ‘exit ramp’ for Indian Affairs. Now, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has put this into action by making significant cuts to the BIA,” Standing Bear wrote in an official statement.

“It is clear the BIA will not be around forever, and we must intervene to save the staffing infrastructure; otherwise, the Osage Minerals Estate will lose critical administrative positions.”