After 12 years, Osage Nation has a new chief.
Joe Tillman was inaugurated as Osage Nation principal chief Saturday, alongside members of the minerals council and congress.
At the Osage Casino and Hotel in Tulsa, Tillman called the role a “dream job” that represents more than a title.
He said he plans on advancing efforts to develop an Osage casino in the tribe’s Missouri homelands, dealing with healthcare premium increases and shrinking tribal budgets.
“I can feel the excitement of a new beginning,” Tillman said in a speech. “I can feel the pride that comes from being Osage and I can feel the determination of a people who have never stopped moving forward, no matter the obstacles placed before them. Our ancestors endured hardships that we could stand here today as a strong and sovereign nation.
“We honor them not only by remembering, remembering their sacrifices, but by doing our part to carry their work forward.”
Tillman was a member of the Osage Congress for the last 10 years. There, he also served as the tribe’s speaker from 2019-2020.
Tillman’s administration replaces that of former Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, who served in the role since 2014.
Standing Bear was elected to the Osage Minerals Council last month. It oversees the tribe’s nearly 1.5 million-acre oil and gas subsurface.
Other members elected to the council include two incumbents – Talee Redcorn and Paul Revard – and five other newcomers.
John Shaw was also inaugurated as assistant principal chief. He’s held multiple leadership roles for Osage Casinos in the past 20 years.
Election controversy
Tillman, along with each official inaugurated Saturday, was elected last month. That election was met with controversy after a recount determined the initial results were inaccurate.
On June 1, the tribe announced eight candidates were elected to the Osage Minerals Council. Four days later, candidate Anthony Whitehorn filed a challenge to the results, which led to the recount.
On June 11, recalculated numbers revealed two candidates previously announced as winners — Margo Gray and incumbent Myron Red Eagle — would not move forward. Instead, Errin Loughridge and Angela Toineeta moved forward.
True Ballot, a Maryland-based election services company working with Osage Nation, took responsibility for the errors. Owner and President John Siebel told the tribe he did not check the tally table, which didn’t account for the majority of in-person votes on election day.
Minerals council candidate Amanda Proctor GoodEagle and four other plaintiffs filed a petition to throw out the results. Osage Nation Trial Court Judge William Oldfield dismissed the case, leaving the election results as final.
This article was originally published by KOSU. You can see the original story here.