IB 

Union Calendar No. 286

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2912

[Report No. 108–502] 

To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the Osage Tribe to determine 

its membership and form of government. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 25, 2003

Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Resources 

MAY 19, 2004

Additional sponsors: Mr. COLE, Mr. CARSON of Oklahoma, Mr. KILDEE, and 

Mr. SULLIVAN

MAY 19, 2004

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 

and ordered to be printed 

A BILL

To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the Osage Tribe 

to determine its membership and form of government.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2

•HR 2912 RH 

1 SECTION 1. REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE 

2 OSAGE TRIBE. 

3 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 

4 (1) The Osage Tribe is a federally recognized 

5 tribe based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. 

6 (2) The Osage Allotment Act of June 28, 1906 

7 (34 Stat. 539), states that the ‘‘legal membership’’ 

8 of the Osage Tribe includes the persons on the Jan9 uary 1, 1906 roll and their children, and that each 

10 ‘‘member’’ on that roll is entitled to a headright 

11 share in the distribution of funds from the Osage 

12 mineral estate and an allotment of the surface lands 

13 of the Osage Reservation. 

14 (3) Today only Osage Indians who have a 

15 headright share in the mineral estate are ‘‘mem16 bers’’ of the Osage Tribe. 

17 (4) Adult Osage Indians without a headright in18 terest cannot vote in Osage government elections 

19 and are not eligible to seek elective office in the 

20 Osage Tribe as a matter of Federal law. 

21 (5) A principal goal of Federal Indian policy is 

22 to promote tribal self-sufficiency and strong tribal 

23 government. 

24 (b) REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE

25 OSAGE TRIBE.—
3

•HR 2912 RH 

1 (1) MEMBERSHIP.—Congress hereby clarifies 

2 that the term ‘‘legal membership’’ in section 1 of the 

3 Act entitled, ‘‘An Act For the division of lands and 

4 funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma Territory, 

5 and for other purposes’’, approved June 28, 1906 

6 (34 Stat. 539), means the persons eligible for allot7 ments of Osage Reservation lands and a pro rata 

8 share of the Osage mineral estate as provided in 

9 that Act, not membership in the Osage Tribe for all 

10 purposes. Congress hereby reaffirms the inherent 

11 sovereign right of the Osage Tribe to determine its 

12 own membership, provided that the rights of any 

13 person to Osage mineral estate shares are not dimin14 ished thereby. 

15 (2) GOVERNMENT.—Notwithstanding section 9 

16 of the Act entitled, ‘‘An Act For the division of 

17 lands and funds of the Osage Indians in Oklahoma 

18 Territory, and for other purposes’’, approved June 

19 28, 1906 (34 Stat. 539), Congress hereby reaffirms 

20 the inherent sovereign right of the Osage Tribe to 

21 determine its own form of government. 

22 (3) ELECTIONS AND REFERENDA.—At the re23 quest of the Osage Tribe, the Secretary of the Inte24 rior shall assist the Osage Tribe with conducting 

25 elections and referenda to implement this section. 
Union Calendar No. 286

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 2912

[Report No. 108–502] 

A BILL

To reaffirm the inherent sovereign rights of the 

form of government. Osage Tribe to determine its membership and 

MAY 19, 2004

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed