Scott Big Horse

Ha Weh, my name is Scott N. BigHorse and I am the Great Grandson of Andrew & Laura BigHorse on my Father’s side and Great Grandson of Tobe & Mary Trumbly Pearson on my Mother’s side. My Indian name is Ki He Kah Tah and I am from the Wa Kah Ko Li n District in Pawhuska, I have been dancing and singing for 40 plus years and I also attend the Native American Church and the Catholic Church.
As a candidate for Osage Nation Assistant Chief and a Shareholder I want to assure you that I believe our Head Rights are private property belonging to the Shareholder’s or their designated heir’s held in Trust for said Tribal Member’s by the United States of America on behalf of the Osage Tribe of Indians.
I have 24 yrs. of experience working with the State of Oklahoma; I spent 13 yrs working for D. Conner Correctional Center, 9 yrs contracting with the State by opening the only Co-Facilitated Juvenile Detention Center in the State of Oklahoma. I am probably the only Candidate that has actual Legislative experience in a three branch system that has been in existence for more than 100 years.
In 1990 I was named Correctional Officer of the Year for our facility “DCCC”
In 1991 I was named Correctional Officer of the Year for Division 1 Institutions ( approx. 12 other correctional facilities )
In 2001 I opened the only Co-Facilitated Juvenile Detention Center inside an Adult County Jail
In 2003 I was promoted from Director of the Juvenile Detention Center to Assistant Director for the Youth Services of Osage County which has 5 programs within it.
I sit on the Pawhuska City Planning and Zoning Board
I am the current Chairman for the Friends of the Osage Language LLC
I am a member of the Board of Director’s for the Edwin Fair Mental Health
I am Peace Officer Certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training
In November of 2006 I was elected to the 51st Oklahoma State Legislature
As a State Legislature I joined the National Conference of State Legislature and then joined their Native American Caucus where we developed policy to be sent to Washington D.C. for bill consideration. While a member of the Native American caucus I Chaired the Environment and Natural Resources Committee and Co-Chaired the Transportation Committee.
If elected I vow to work on bridging the gap between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch in order to continue moving the Osage forward with positive progress and continue to grow Economic Development in a diversified manner. We as a nation still have plenty of opportunity to develop an economic plan that is transparent and that will create more jobs that will bring in different streams of revenue for our Tribal members.
I am interested in our children and grandchildren programs to ensure that we help grow and encourage each one to set goals for their future. I am also concerned that we are not doing enough to help our Elders and Veterans as much as we possibly can. It is important to set our egos and personality conflicts aside while conducting business for our Osage people as a whole.
In order for this new government to succeed a foundation has to be built from the ground up so that those that follow in these seats have some sort of idea of how a government should conduct business properly. I would also recommend that each newly elected official receive a short orientation to the Legislative Process.
To accomplish some of these goals I have some ideas that will make our new Government more effective and more transparent. Transparency is the key to any business that receives public monies or government program monies. As a Tribal member I would like to see in some form every stream of revenue that comes into the Tribe (with exception to the minerals estate) and some form of where every stream of revenue leaves the Tribe and why. I work in a business that is audited from four to six times a year on both financial condition and program records, needless to say I believe in being up front and above board with any and all audits.
A good example of what can happen when internal audits are not conducted would be the example of a Woman that had control over 6 grants obtained in the Tribes name.  With the lack of oversight there were thousands of dollars leaving Tribal programs through these grants, the person was finally caught after numerous reports being given to the proper authority and an investigation was initiated at my request as a State Representative that then lead to her conviction of wire fraud and theft of grant monies. I am in full support of both internal and external audits for the sake of our Osage People, after all it is their money not Congress and not Executive Branches it is their duty to protect these assets.
If you have any question I can be reached at 918-287-7281 or [email protected]
Sincerely,
Scott N. BigHorse
[email protected]