Membership vs. Congress vs. Constitution Article III. Membership
Section 1. Base membership roll - is defined to be that from the Act of June 28, 1906 – specifically (34 stat. 539). I do not read or assume any changes to that list.
Section 2. Qualifications for Membership: is defined to continue the lineal descendants of those from the 1906 listed on the roll, which are previously enrolled members that constitutes citizenry of the Osage Nation. Any laws enacted should include regulations approved pursuant to this Constitution.
It is my belief that this Congress must provide protection of the Osage Nations people prior to any law that is at risk to the people. There should be law(s) that stands alone providing specific laws designed to protect all Osage.
You the Congress should respect the Osage Nation Constitution.
Some members of Congress and other vicious that do nothing but argue, complain or have personal grievances’ on a continual basis- this type of behavior is not what the people voted for and do not want for representing the Osage People. We are the majority and those with this affliction are few but are hurtful to the People.
I have more coming to you and others that should concern everyone – 2009 Budgets, Congress interferences ie. Cancellation of departments.
Sandra
VOTES TO THE NATION JULY 19, 2008
CONGRESS VOTES TO AMEND MEMBERSHIP ACT
Yesterday the Osage Congress voted to amend ONCA-06-05 “Osage Membership Act”.
This amendment was rushed through this Special Session in the hope that a lawsuit could
be avoided on Mary Hepsi Barnett’s motin to resist a Congressional subpoena commanding that
she deliver copies of “the official Osage Membership rolls of the Osage Nation, and in addition all documents,
files, memoranda, reports, and any other materials relevant to the recording of membership within the Osage Nation.”
Speaker Archie Mason had filed the subpoena on June 23, 2008. Besides the Speaker nine
other members of Congress had signed the authorization to subpoena. Yesterday Speaker Mason was
not present at the session because he had to attend to some family needs. I don’t know how he would have
voted on the amendment. Maybe he would have voted for it. All I am sure of is that the amendment conflicts
with the intent of the subpoena—a subpoena we agreed should be filed. I had publicly stated that I admired the
Speaker for standing up and that “I would back him all the way.” I didn’t think I could vote for the amendment in
good conscious.
Everyone else voted for the amendment so it is likely that they are right. It was an important move and could have
lasting effect on the direction of the Nation. There are famous cases where appeasement has failed nations but there
may be many more unheralded examples where it has worked.
Kugee
The following was posted on the Osage Shareholders Association discussion board yesterday.
It seems to be a well thought out explanation of the effect of the amendment. FYI
From: Today's Vote in Congress
Date: 7/18/2008
Time: 10:15:57 PM
Remote Name: 24.9.5.154
Comments
A legislative precedent has been set today where the vote on the official use of the membership roll, now denuded to a membership list, is concerned. The Constitution mandates that the membership roll (not the list) be maintained by the power vested in the Congress. The roll itself involves much more information than just names and addresses, in fact, it goes so far as to include information on how each member has proved up to be an Osage as this information is required to become a card carrying member of the Osage Nation. Other than Kugee and Speaker Mason who was not there for the vote today, all of the members of the Congress voted to approve this short sighted legislation, diminishing the power of the Congress where the membership roll is concerned in violation of the Constitution that states in Article III, Section 4, "The Osage Nation Congress shall enact laws, not inconsistent with this Constitution...." I don't know about you, but I am getting pretty sick of "All Hail to the Chief." In the next election, I will be very careful to vote for Congressional candidates with backbone that will not fold and crumble every time the Chief files a lawsuit. Though some of the members of Congress don't seem to realize it, they are only encouraging the Chief's full and complete control of the Legislative Branch in addition to his own by not standing up to him where the separation of powers between the branches of government are mandated and required by the Osage Constitution.
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