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Osage Nation

Posted: Nov 28, 2014 12:55 PMUpdated: Dec 03, 2014 7:54 PM

Osage Nation Meets in Emergency Session

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Michael Scott

The Fourth Osage Congress passed legislation Monday as part of an emergency session that could propel the tribe's fight against wind farm companies into yet another courthouse. With most of its wording pulled directly from the Osage Constitution, ONCA 15-09 extends the tribe's civil jurisdiction to all activities and people within the tribe's territory, including actions by non-Natives on restricted or trust property. The bill passed by an 11-0 vote. Once enacted, the legislation would potentially open the door for the tribe or Osage landowners to pursue legal remedies in the Osage Nation's court system against Enel Green Power and Osage Wind, LLC. During Monday's session, officials said that the litigation could be filed as early as Friday. The tribe has concurrent jurisdiction with the federal government, so any action taken in the tribal court system would not impede action on the complaint filed last Friday by the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.  As of Monday morning, no hearing has been scheduled and no applications have been filed that would immediately halt construction.

Story attributed by Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Bigheart Times
 


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