PAWHUSKA, OK – The Osage Nation’s fee-to-trust application for the 41,521-acre ranch was approved on August 30, 2024. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Realty Specialist Katie Yates-Free hand delivered the Notice of Decision, signed by BIA Regional Director Eddie Streater, directly to Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffery Standing Bear. A fee to trust land acquisition, also known as “land into trust,” is the transfer of land title from a federally-recognized tribe to the United States, in trust, for the benefit of the tribal nation. It strengthens tribal sovereignty by providing the tribal nation full authority over the trust land.
“This is a momentous day for the Osage Nation,” said Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. “I am humbled and grateful for all those who stayed the course to make this happen. Every day, Osages are working to uphold our sovereignty in various ways, both big and small, and this is the result of those efforts. Our Nation is stronger because of our people and our perseverance in upholding what is ours. We’re getting our land back.”
According to Yates-Free, an Osage tribal member, this is the second largest fee-to-trust acquisition in the United States’ history, following Santa Ana Pueblo’s 60,000-acre application.
“I am very proud of this acquisition and all the hard work accomplished by everyone involved,” said Yates-Free. “It took the right people, mindset, and heart to get here. It’s a great day for the Osage Nation.”
In anticipation of this approval, Osage Nation’s Secretary of Public Safety Nick Williams said the Osage Nation Police Department has been patrolling the ranch area as part of their jurisdictional area.
“We have been looking forward to it,” said Secretary Williams. “Additional law enforcement is necessary and something we’ve been proactively addressing by patrolling the area as part of our jurisdiction. We already know what it will take, and we are ready.”