Osage Nation Says It's Appealing To Supreme Court

The Associated Press

PAWHUSKA, Okla. (AP) -- The Osage Nation plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court its lawsuit that seeks to exempt tribal members who live and work in Osage County from state income taxes.

According to the tribe's website, Chief John Red Eagle says the tribe will file the appeal before Oct. 22. A federal judge and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have ruled against the tribe so far in its 9-year-old lawsuit against the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

The tribe claims Congress never affirmatively disestablished its 1.5 million-acre reservation in northeast Oklahoma and that federal law exempts tribal members who live and work there from paying state income taxes.

Tribal officials didn't immediately return phone and e-mail messages left Wednesday. A Tax Commission spokeswoman says the agency anticipated the case would be appealed.