Geoffrey Standing Bear
Geoffrey M. Standing Bear | |
|---|---|
 Standing Bear in 2024 | |
| Principal Chief of Osage Nation | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Bighorse |
| Personal details | |
| Relatives | Fred Lookout (great-grandfather) |
| Residence(s) | Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Tulsa, J.D. |
| Profession | Attorney |
Geoffrey M. Standing Bear (Osage) is an attorney and politician who has served as Principal Chief of the Osage Nation since 2014.
Early life and education
Chief Standing Bear was born into the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. He attended Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa College of Law.[1] He is the great-grandson of Fred Lookout.[2]
Political career
Over the years Standing Bear became active in tribal politics as the people took more actions to assert their sovereignty. He was elected as Principal Chief of the Osage Nation and took office on July 2, 2014, after the previous chief, John Red Eagle, was impeached. Standing Bear succeeded Scott Bighorse, who had served as acting chief.[3][4]
Chief Standing Bear took office after the Osage received a landmark settlement from the federal government to settle claims of mismanagement of revenues due tribal members from leased mineral rights.[citation needed] Under his administration, the Osage Nation worked to increase their communal landholdings, acquiring more than 50,000 acres of mostly former reservation land. This total includes the tribe's purchase from Ted Turner of the 43,000-acre Bluestem Ranch, located in historically Osage territory.[5]
The tribe has also developed a $160 million casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, new educational and language preservation initiatives, and two community centers.[citation needed] The tribe has challenged the Oklahoma Attorney General's office with regard to tribal sovereignty and water/mineral rights.[6]
Chief Standing Bear worked extensively with Martin Scorsese and his production team to create opportunities for Osage and to promote their culture in the filming and production of Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Not only were numerous Osage hired as actors and extras, but others were employed as technical staff behind the cameras, and were involved in research and creation of historically accurate costumes and sets.[7]
References
- ^ Klein, John (8 January 2017). "The land of the Osage is coming home". Tulsa World. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ Eger, Andrea (October 16, 2023). "Osage chief's own kin took extraordinary steps to remain safe during Reign of Terror". Tulsa World. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Lenzy, Krehbiel-Burton. "Pawhuska attorney Geoffrey Standing Bear takes office as Osage principal chief". Tulsa World. No. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Osage Nation holds inauguration for new chief and other leaders". Indianz.Com. 2014-07-03. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
- ^ "Standing Bear to seek re-election as Principal Chief". Pawhuska Journal-Capital. November 2017. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ "Osage Nation Defends Sovereignty Over Water, Minerals". KOTV News on Six. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ Press conference at Cannes Film Festival, 2023