Bill to give Osage Indians control over membership passes U.S. House

Wednesday, June 2nd 2004, 5:45 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A 98-year-old law preventing thousands of people with Osage ancestry from being voting members of the tribe would be overturned under a bill passed by the U.S. House.

House members approved the measure sponsored by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., on a voice vote Tuesday and sent it to the U.S. Senate.

"The current system only allows a fraction of those with Osage ancestry to have voting rights on important issues within the tribe," Lucas said.

"Osage should have the same rights as members of any other tribe, the right to determine their own membership and form of government."

Under current law, only individuals with an inherited share in the Osage mineral estate can be members of the tribe and only those who own a headright interest in the mineral estate can vote or run for elective office.

Osage Principal Chief Jim Gray has said the number of headright descendants totals about 4,100, while tribe estimates there are another 20,000 people of Osage lineage.

Lucas said his bill, House Resolution 2912, would allow the Osage Nation to determine its own membership and government while protecting the tribe's mineral estate. The bill does not make a new law mandating changes. Instead, it clears the way for the tribe to change its own rules.

Lucas said it was important for the tribe to keep its members -- especially younger ones -- involved.

"But unfortunately the current system only fosters ambivalence, because most young Osage can't participate in elections even if they wanted to," Lucas said. "The Osage leadership wants to change this outdated system, and I agree with them."

Tribe members turned to Lucas to introduce the legislation after courts ruled that congressional action was needed to modify the 1906 law. Lucas held a meeting in Tulsa in March to get input on the bill from people of Osage ancestry.

It passed without dissent from a House committee last month.

"Our efforts to help the Osage people are now focused on my colleagues in the Senate," Lucas said. "Since I had no opposition from House members, I'm hopeful that I can get this important bill to the president's desk this year."