u.s. department of the interior/bureau of indian affairs. department of the interior/bureau of...
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December 28 2015
US Department of the InteriorBureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian ServicesDivision of Workforce Development 2040 Creekview Court Red Wing MN 55066
Attention Kenneth A Le Mieux Program Coordinator
Enclosed is the 477 Year End Report 2015 for the Osage Nation of Oklahoma If you need any further information please contact me at 918-287-5657 or mwildcatosagenation-nsngov
Thank you
Mary Wi ldcat irector Osage Nation Department of Education
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Dare XX XXXXXX
US Department of the Interior Public Lnw 102-477
Annual Financial Expenditure Report
I Tribefrribal Organization
OSAGE NATION
3 Mail ing ddrcss (Provide complete mailing address)
EDUCATION DEPARTivlENT 627 GRANDVIEW PAWHUSKA OK 74056
4 Submission (Mark One)
0 Revi sed( x) Original
2 Other Identifying Number ssigncd by DOI
GT-OSG930- I 5
5 Final Report ror Plan Periw
Q Yes X No
6 tnnual Report Period
from 100 1 14 To 093015 (MonthDayY car) (MonthDayYear)
7 Plan Period Covered by this Report
From 10012014 To 093011 5 (MonthDayYear) (MonthDayYcar)
8 Transactions
a Total Funds Available
b Cash Assiscance Expenditures
c Chi ld Care Services Expenditures
cl Education Employment Trai ning and Supportive Services Expenditures
i TANF P111poses 3 a11d 4 (non-add)
ii Other TA NF Assistance (11011 -add)
e Program Operations Expenditures
i Child Care Quality Improvement (non-add)
f Administration Indirect Cost Expenditures
g Total Federal Expend itures (Sum of lines b through ()
h Total Unexpended Funds
Column I Previously Reported
$ 3 1033000
$ shy
$
$ 4419959
$ shy
s
$ I 1992745
s shy
$ 6889669
$ 23302373
$ 7730627
Column II This Annual Report
Period
$ 3 1033000
$ 44 19959
$ 12885630
$ 6889669
$ 24 I 95258
$ 6837742
Column Ill Cumulativdfotal
$
$
62066000
-
$ -
$ 88399 18
$
$ -
$ 24878375
$
$ 13779338
$ 4749763 1
$ 14568369
9 Certification This is to certi fy that the information reported on all parts of this form is accurnte and true to the best of my knowledge and belief and that the tri be has complied with all directly applicable statutory requirements and with those directly applicable regulatory requirements which have not been waived
a71~bal om( J ~~ ~t rJ-shy
1 tl ~ ~~ _G ~ b Type Name and Title c Date Report Submitted
CALLIE CATCHER TREASURER
d Questions regarding this report - Contact (Type Name Title Phone and Email Address)
OSAGE NATION PL 102-477
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT SECTION 12
FY-2015
12a None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11-B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Prohibition on the use of funds for economic development activities (Section 141 (q))
12b None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11 -B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Restrictions on assisting employer relation (Section 14copy)
12c There was no amount of program income earned
12d There was no amount of refunds or rebates received
12e The total amount of administrative funds expended during this period was $68897 Total funds expended totaled $241 953 This information is rounded to report the full dollar increments
12f There were no child care development funds used (not applicable)
12g There were no temporary assistance to needy family funds used (not applicable)
Pub L 102-477 Statistical Report Tribal Nation OSAGE NATION Report Period
From 10012013 To 09302014
I Participants Served Adults Youth Cash Assistance Recipients
A Total Participants 43 81
B Total Terminees 36 81 C Total Current Participants 7 0
II Terminee Outcomes Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Total with Employment Objective 10 73
1 Entered Unsubsidized Employment 8 I 2 Other Employment Outcomes 0 64 3 Employment Objective Not Achieved 2 8 4 Earnings Gain $754 $
B Total with EducationalTraining Objective 17 8 l DegreeCertificate Attempted Attained 17113 86 I 2 Other Education Outcome 0 0 3 Education Objective Not Achieved 4 2 4 Literacy Gain - of participants attemptedattained I 5 Numeracy Gain- of participants attemptedattained I
C Misc Objective Achieved D Other (Non-Positive)
III Terminee Characteristics Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Female 15 42 BMale 2 1 39 C Education Level 1 Dropout 2 2
2 Student 0 39 3 High School DiplomaGED 19 23 4 Post High School 15 17
D Veteran 3
IV Participant Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Employment 17 73 B EducationTraining 36 8 C Misc ObjectiveSupportive Services 20 3 D OtherService Referral
V Child Care Development Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Families Receiving Child Care B Children Receiving Child Care
1 Ages 0 to 3 years 2 Ages 4 to 5 years 3 Ages 6 and above
C Care Received - Type of Provider 1 Tribal Center Based 2 Other Center Based 3 Group Home 4 Other Care
VI Jobs CreationEconomic Development Jobs Created
Indians Alaska Natives Employed
Businesses Assisted
A Number
Report Prepared By Printed Name amp Signature Phone Number Date Mary Wildcat 918-287- 5657 12292015
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Date XXXXXXXX
December 29477 Program Annual Report
Osage Nation The reporting period of this report is for 1012014 to 9302015 Education
Department
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
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Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
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the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
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through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
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various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
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occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
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seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
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The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
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that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Dare XX XXXXXX
US Department of the Interior Public Lnw 102-477
Annual Financial Expenditure Report
I Tribefrribal Organization
OSAGE NATION
3 Mail ing ddrcss (Provide complete mailing address)
EDUCATION DEPARTivlENT 627 GRANDVIEW PAWHUSKA OK 74056
4 Submission (Mark One)
0 Revi sed( x) Original
2 Other Identifying Number ssigncd by DOI
GT-OSG930- I 5
5 Final Report ror Plan Periw
Q Yes X No
6 tnnual Report Period
from 100 1 14 To 093015 (MonthDayY car) (MonthDayYear)
7 Plan Period Covered by this Report
From 10012014 To 093011 5 (MonthDayYear) (MonthDayYcar)
8 Transactions
a Total Funds Available
b Cash Assiscance Expenditures
c Chi ld Care Services Expenditures
cl Education Employment Trai ning and Supportive Services Expenditures
i TANF P111poses 3 a11d 4 (non-add)
ii Other TA NF Assistance (11011 -add)
e Program Operations Expenditures
i Child Care Quality Improvement (non-add)
f Administration Indirect Cost Expenditures
g Total Federal Expend itures (Sum of lines b through ()
h Total Unexpended Funds
Column I Previously Reported
$ 3 1033000
$ shy
$
$ 4419959
$ shy
s
$ I 1992745
s shy
$ 6889669
$ 23302373
$ 7730627
Column II This Annual Report
Period
$ 3 1033000
$ 44 19959
$ 12885630
$ 6889669
$ 24 I 95258
$ 6837742
Column Ill Cumulativdfotal
$
$
62066000
-
$ -
$ 88399 18
$
$ -
$ 24878375
$
$ 13779338
$ 4749763 1
$ 14568369
9 Certification This is to certi fy that the information reported on all parts of this form is accurnte and true to the best of my knowledge and belief and that the tri be has complied with all directly applicable statutory requirements and with those directly applicable regulatory requirements which have not been waived
a71~bal om( J ~~ ~t rJ-shy
1 tl ~ ~~ _G ~ b Type Name and Title c Date Report Submitted
CALLIE CATCHER TREASURER
d Questions regarding this report - Contact (Type Name Title Phone and Email Address)
OSAGE NATION PL 102-477
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT SECTION 12
FY-2015
12a None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11-B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Prohibition on the use of funds for economic development activities (Section 141 (q))
12b None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11 -B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Restrictions on assisting employer relation (Section 14copy)
12c There was no amount of program income earned
12d There was no amount of refunds or rebates received
12e The total amount of administrative funds expended during this period was $68897 Total funds expended totaled $241 953 This information is rounded to report the full dollar increments
12f There were no child care development funds used (not applicable)
12g There were no temporary assistance to needy family funds used (not applicable)
Pub L 102-477 Statistical Report Tribal Nation OSAGE NATION Report Period
From 10012013 To 09302014
I Participants Served Adults Youth Cash Assistance Recipients
A Total Participants 43 81
B Total Terminees 36 81 C Total Current Participants 7 0
II Terminee Outcomes Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Total with Employment Objective 10 73
1 Entered Unsubsidized Employment 8 I 2 Other Employment Outcomes 0 64 3 Employment Objective Not Achieved 2 8 4 Earnings Gain $754 $
B Total with EducationalTraining Objective 17 8 l DegreeCertificate Attempted Attained 17113 86 I 2 Other Education Outcome 0 0 3 Education Objective Not Achieved 4 2 4 Literacy Gain - of participants attemptedattained I 5 Numeracy Gain- of participants attemptedattained I
C Misc Objective Achieved D Other (Non-Positive)
III Terminee Characteristics Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Female 15 42 BMale 2 1 39 C Education Level 1 Dropout 2 2
2 Student 0 39 3 High School DiplomaGED 19 23 4 Post High School 15 17
D Veteran 3
IV Participant Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Employment 17 73 B EducationTraining 36 8 C Misc ObjectiveSupportive Services 20 3 D OtherService Referral
V Child Care Development Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Families Receiving Child Care B Children Receiving Child Care
1 Ages 0 to 3 years 2 Ages 4 to 5 years 3 Ages 6 and above
C Care Received - Type of Provider 1 Tribal Center Based 2 Other Center Based 3 Group Home 4 Other Care
VI Jobs CreationEconomic Development Jobs Created
Indians Alaska Natives Employed
Businesses Assisted
A Number
Report Prepared By Printed Name amp Signature Phone Number Date Mary Wildcat 918-287- 5657 12292015
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Date XXXXXXXX
December 29477 Program Annual Report
Osage Nation The reporting period of this report is for 1012014 to 9302015 Education
Department
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
ll Pagc
Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
21 Pagc
the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
OSAGE NATION PL 102-477
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT SECTION 12
FY-2015
12a None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11-B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Prohibition on the use of funds for economic development activities (Section 141 (q))
12b None of these funds in the approved budget which originated in Section 401 in Title 11 -B of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) were used in violation of the Acts Restrictions on assisting employer relation (Section 14copy)
12c There was no amount of program income earned
12d There was no amount of refunds or rebates received
12e The total amount of administrative funds expended during this period was $68897 Total funds expended totaled $241 953 This information is rounded to report the full dollar increments
12f There were no child care development funds used (not applicable)
12g There were no temporary assistance to needy family funds used (not applicable)
Pub L 102-477 Statistical Report Tribal Nation OSAGE NATION Report Period
From 10012013 To 09302014
I Participants Served Adults Youth Cash Assistance Recipients
A Total Participants 43 81
B Total Terminees 36 81 C Total Current Participants 7 0
II Terminee Outcomes Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Total with Employment Objective 10 73
1 Entered Unsubsidized Employment 8 I 2 Other Employment Outcomes 0 64 3 Employment Objective Not Achieved 2 8 4 Earnings Gain $754 $
B Total with EducationalTraining Objective 17 8 l DegreeCertificate Attempted Attained 17113 86 I 2 Other Education Outcome 0 0 3 Education Objective Not Achieved 4 2 4 Literacy Gain - of participants attemptedattained I 5 Numeracy Gain- of participants attemptedattained I
C Misc Objective Achieved D Other (Non-Positive)
III Terminee Characteristics Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Female 15 42 BMale 2 1 39 C Education Level 1 Dropout 2 2
2 Student 0 39 3 High School DiplomaGED 19 23 4 Post High School 15 17
D Veteran 3
IV Participant Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Employment 17 73 B EducationTraining 36 8 C Misc ObjectiveSupportive Services 20 3 D OtherService Referral
V Child Care Development Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Families Receiving Child Care B Children Receiving Child Care
1 Ages 0 to 3 years 2 Ages 4 to 5 years 3 Ages 6 and above
C Care Received - Type of Provider 1 Tribal Center Based 2 Other Center Based 3 Group Home 4 Other Care
VI Jobs CreationEconomic Development Jobs Created
Indians Alaska Natives Employed
Businesses Assisted
A Number
Report Prepared By Printed Name amp Signature Phone Number Date Mary Wildcat 918-287- 5657 12292015
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Date XXXXXXXX
December 29477 Program Annual Report
Osage Nation The reporting period of this report is for 1012014 to 9302015 Education
Department
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
ll Pagc
Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
21 Pagc
the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
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bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Pub L 102-477 Statistical Report Tribal Nation OSAGE NATION Report Period
From 10012013 To 09302014
I Participants Served Adults Youth Cash Assistance Recipients
A Total Participants 43 81
B Total Terminees 36 81 C Total Current Participants 7 0
II Terminee Outcomes Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Total with Employment Objective 10 73
1 Entered Unsubsidized Employment 8 I 2 Other Employment Outcomes 0 64 3 Employment Objective Not Achieved 2 8 4 Earnings Gain $754 $
B Total with EducationalTraining Objective 17 8 l DegreeCertificate Attempted Attained 17113 86 I 2 Other Education Outcome 0 0 3 Education Objective Not Achieved 4 2 4 Literacy Gain - of participants attemptedattained I 5 Numeracy Gain- of participants attemptedattained I
C Misc Objective Achieved D Other (Non-Positive)
III Terminee Characteristics Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Female 15 42 BMale 2 1 39 C Education Level 1 Dropout 2 2
2 Student 0 39 3 High School DiplomaGED 19 23 4 Post High School 15 17
D Veteran 3
IV Participant Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Employment 17 73 B EducationTraining 36 8 C Misc ObjectiveSupportive Services 20 3 D OtherService Referral
V Child Care Development Activities Adult Youth Cash Assistance Recipients A Families Receiving Child Care B Children Receiving Child Care
1 Ages 0 to 3 years 2 Ages 4 to 5 years 3 Ages 6 and above
C Care Received - Type of Provider 1 Tribal Center Based 2 Other Center Based 3 Group Home 4 Other Care
VI Jobs CreationEconomic Development Jobs Created
Indians Alaska Natives Employed
Businesses Assisted
A Number
Report Prepared By Printed Name amp Signature Phone Number Date Mary Wildcat 918-287- 5657 12292015
OMB Control No 1076-0135 Expiration Date XXXXXXXX
December 29477 Program Annual Report
Osage Nation The reporting period of this report is for 1012014 to 9302015 Education
Department
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
ll Pagc
Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
21 Pagc
the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
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Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
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The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
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that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
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bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
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bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
December 29477 Program Annual Report
Osage Nation The reporting period of this report is for 1012014 to 9302015 Education
Department
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
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Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
21 Pagc
the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
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Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
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seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
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The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
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that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
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bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
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bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
The mission of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide educational and
supportive services to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive
individuals and contributors to their communities and families The PL 102-477 programs of
the Osage Nation are adult work experience adult vocational training youth education
services higher educat ion and Johnson OMalley Along with funding from the 477 contract
additional program funding is secured through Osage Nation supplemental appropriations The
additiona l programs include classroom training summer youth co llege entrance assistance
higher education graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual
and group reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation
Public Schools Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
Providing an education center within the county for clients and surrounding
communities is a continua l goa l of the Osage Nation Education Department (ONED) The Osage
Nation Education Center opened in M arch of 2007 It houses the education staff a computer
lab multipurpose classroom library materials and the Osage Nation Head Start now known as
the Wah-Zha-Zhi Early Learning Academy This center includes a satellite campus which
provides a setting for on-site classes with live instructors on-line classes workshops training
and distance learn ing co llege classes Blended classes are also held that includes both on- line
and on-site curriculum The education center provides a place for clients to prepare for and
begin their co llege education It also allows for employment training on-line research and
computer training classes
The ONED received fu ll accreditation and approval from the Higher Learning
Commission to offer full degree programs and host graduations on site through Tu lsa
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Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
21 Pagc
the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Community Co llege (TCC) The classes are open to the community and high school students in
the area It is the only higher educat ion institution in the reservationcounty
Osage Nation partnered w ith TCC and local public high schools in order to offer col lege
classes and recruit students for enrollment As a result of this partnership enrol lment numbers
in the co llege classes exploded and approximately seventy-five students are now in attendance
The school districts that participate include Hominy Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook
Woodland Wynona and Cleveland All of these local education agencies (LEAs) fall within the
boundaries of the Osage Nation service area with the exception of Cleveland Public Schools
which borders it
The majority of students that attend the college classes are concurrent high school
students Concurrent students are enrolled in both co llege and high school classes
simultaneously Most schools allow students to replace the high school class equivalent with
the college class ie inst ead of enrolling in junior English the student would take Composition I
at the co llegiate level There are many classes offered that include but are not limited to
Composition I and II American Federal Government History since 1865 Spanish I and 11
Introduction to Psychology Introduction to Chemistry Introduction to Speech Computer
App lications Art Appreciation Music Appreciation Public Speaking and Introduction to Biology
(for non-majors)
The development of this partnership and concurrent program promotes student success
in many ways There are more students taking the ACT test at al l of the school districts It is
required to enroll in the program The classes are more demanding and take more effort from
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the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
3 1P agc
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
4 1Pa gc
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
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Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
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the pupils They are rising to the challenge and most students completed their classes with a
passing grade
The college class partnership continues to evolve develop and implement best practices
to ensure Native American Student success In her article The Failure of Tribal Schools Sarah
Butrymowicz states that many students face shortcomings before college even begins
including poor preparation in primary and secondary schools 1 Concurrent classes give
students a chance to earn college credits early and ease them towards the transition from high
school to college Multiple programs within the ONED such as the college entrance assistance
public school support Johnson OMalley summer youth and Wah-Zha-Zhi Youth Academy
collaborate with the LEAs at all grade levels to reinforce Native American Student Success
Pawnee Tribal College also continues to offer associate level classes at the Osage
Education Center for the past five years According to Butrymowicz many Native American
students choose tribal colleges because they re more convenient than other higher- education
institutions and they feel more comfortable staying on the reservation (2) This partnership is
focused on community and the Osage Nation employees that are under employed The
schedules are designed to accommodate working individuals
The program goals of the Osage Nation Education Department are designed to provide
as many educational and training opportunities to Osage and Native Americans living within the
boundaries of Osage County as well as Osages living outside of the county The overreaching
goal is to enable students to obtain all of the necessary skills and ed ucation to reduce
joblessness andor promote training to better their current employment status To ensure that
all of the surrounding communities and tribal members are aware of the services offered
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through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
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various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
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occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
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Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
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seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
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The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
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technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
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that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
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bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
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bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
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bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
through the ONED services are advertised through the Osage Nation Newspaper Osage Nation
Website and loca l newspapers
Six people participated in the adult work experience program this past year Three
clients attained full-time employment through their work experience The other three did not
receive job offers upon completion of the program
Corbin Malone is a veteran and a member of the Osage Nation He served in the Marine
Corps and was honorably discharged after an injury compromised his physical ability Malone
applied for the work experience program this past year and began working for Bobby Tallchief
at the Osage Nation Emergency Management program He got hired full-time by that
department in June 2015 and works on fire prevention
Another Osage tribal member Nathaniel DeRoin began his work experience assignment
at Bevard Enterprises in April of 2015 He got hired by the company in June of 2015 as the
office assistant His job duties included data entry processing work orders and customer
service
Due to the economy and Osage County being a rural area few participants are able to
obtain full time employment Some of the workers also faced others barriers to employment
such as a disability and a criminal record This program offers valuable assistance to those
individuals that otherwise may not get hired due to their circumstance or history
Approximately forty students attended classroom training programs and received
assistance from the ONED They enro lled in technical schools in the surrounding counties of
Tulsa Pawnee Payne and Washington Their classes included certified medication aide
certified long-term nurse aidehome health aide phlebotomy hazwoper truck driving and
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various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
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Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
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seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
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The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
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technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
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that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
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Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
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bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
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bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
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Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
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bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
various computer courses
Blake Bohner Osage earned his certification in Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response otherwise known as HAZWOPER He began working for Blueknight
Energy Partners at the Port of Catoosa According to their website they provide services
focused on terminaling transportation storage gathering and processing of crude oil and
asphalt
Whitney Metcalf Osage tribal member completed a short term certified nurse aid
(CNA)home health aid program She got hired at the Pawhuska Nursing Home and works with
many patients Her job entails checking patient vitals gathering data and assisting with hygiene
needs Metcalf wanted to learn a skill that would help her in the workforce The CNA program
allowed her entry level access into the health care field
Most of the classroom training participants enrolled in short term programs Five of the
short-term classroom training participants obtained employment upon completion of their
program One student began a full time program and three clients received GED testing
assistance Seven clients continue to receive services until completion of their program
Another resource job-seeking individuals can use is the Oklahoma Career Information
System (OKCIS) It is an on line website of career development information that can be used by
students and adults in order to develop their career goals Clients of the ONED accessed this
web-based career guidance system that offers a wide variety of features from individual ca reer
planning resume writer classroom learning activities to a career planning portfolio
Individuals can take an assessment test that ass ists them in exploring their interest and helps
them choose a career path Students can also find information about career clusters
5I Page
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
occupations programs of study Oklahoma technology centers ACT test prep colleges and
financia l aid information concerning grants and scholarsh ips
The supportive service program provides assistance with clothes or essentia l equipment
to those individuals who obtain employment It is also used to assist clients in classroom
training programs with travel expenses and uniforms such as scrubs used in the health care
field Eleven clients received supportive service assistance after attaining permanent
employment or enrolling in a training program
Many of the students that complete school or a training program need to pass
certification or licensure tests in order to practice in their chosen field The certification and
licensure program provides assistance to Osage applicants with financial support for the
incurred costs for these tests andor fee Twenty-six clients received funding assistance
through this program
John Paul Long Ill is an Osage triba l member that received certification and licensure
assistance in December 2014 He is originally from Pawhuska Oklahoma and now attends
medical school at the University of Kansas Long took the required United States Medical
Licensing Examination
Most applicants received reimbursements from the certification and licensure program
with many different licenses and test fees An aspiring lawyer received help with the cost of his
bar exam in Oklahoma A medica l student received help with the cost of their medical license
exam This program ensures that the financial barrier from certification or licensure tests do
not inhibit clients from practicing in their chosen field
Before young people can enter the workforce they need knowledge and preparation to
61 P age
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
help them be successful The goal of the summer youth program is to provide an opportunity for
Native American youth to gain work experience and job readiness skills in order to help prepare
them for their future To accomplish this goal there were almost twenty different
worksites throughout Osage County providing for over seventy summer youth workers
Some of the worksites included Hominy Public Schools ONED Burbank Town Hall and the
senior centers of Skiatook and Hominy
The youth attended a two-day orientation before their job assignments began to help
them transition into their roles as employees They listened to guest speakers discuss different
career fields and college preparation attended a financial literacy training and completed
career field assessments The orientation event also allowed time for them to complete their
employment paperwork and learn about program policies
During the first day of orientation Sergeant Michael Fish spoke to the summer youth
about his work as a police officer with the Osage Nation Police Department They listened
closely as he discussed his job duties and how it felt to deal with criminals It is not easy to
serve and protect the people but law enforcers do it every day Its an important job and young
people should know about the police officers working hard in their communities
Cindy Helmer from the Tri-county Business Center discussed money management skills
and presented valuable information to the youth about making a budget for their income They
analyzed their needs and their wants to begin building a budget The participants need this
information in order to make wise decisions about the income they earn during the summer
program
71 Page
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Figure l Summer ~outh orking at the Senior Cenler in Skiatook The~ are snapping green blan~ to prepare for lunch
During the course of the summer about thirty participants traveled to Northern
Oklahoma College in Tonkawa Oklahoma for the fifth annual Native American Youth
Leadership Day Northern Oklahoma College NOC) and the participating tribes sponsored the
event ca lled Education Breaking Barri ers It focused on college preparation and leadership
for high school students The seven Oklahoma tribal nations that took part in th is event
included the Kaw Osage Pawnee Ponca Otoe-Missouria Iowa and Tonkawa Nations
The participants broke into two groups t o attend college- preparation workshops
The students in grades 7-91h attended a workshop that focused on college-bound curriculum
and preparation for the ACT and other co llege-entrance exams The students in grades 9-lih
attended a workshop that focused on applying for college financial aid and campus life
Xan Black the coordinator for t he Tulsa Alliance for Engineerin g presented Science
Technology Engineering and Mathemat ics (STEM act ivities for all the students t o complet e
The project s included construction of a catapault and a creating a fizzy timer using alkashy
81 P agc
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
seltzer tablets They used masking tape Dixie cups water alka-seltzer and cotton balls to
complete the different challenges After the students divided into groups the competition
began An Osage Nation team placed first in the catapau lt competition by achieving the
longest distance using their constructed catapault
The event also included an intertribal challenge quiz bowl that focused on the seven
participating tribes history and culture The youth from the Osage Nation studied ahead of
time for the challenge bowl and hoped to win the traveling trophy as the defending
champions Unfortunately they lost to students from the Ponca tribe However the
students did enjoy rising to the challenge of the quiz bowl
Over a hundred Native youth enjoyed a full day of activities and presentations from
invited guest speakers at the fifth annual Native American Youth and Leadership day held at
the NOC campus in Tonkawa Oklahoma The students represented seven different tribal
nations They competed in STEM and quiz bowl challenges that engaged their attention and
promoted education
Figure 2- Oage ~outh build a catapult at the OC Leaderhip da~
91 P agc
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
The Osage Nation Summer Youth work program provides an opportunity for Native
American youth in Osage County to gain work experience and job-readiness skill s Many of
these youth would not be able to find employment w ithout this program in place due to the
rural environment and lack of business diversity The participants earned income and
attended events planned to help them prepare future career goals and develop knowledge of
good work ethics
Figure 3- Osage summer )OU th compete for the quiJ bO I championship
The Osage Nat ion Higher Educat ion Scholarship Program provides scholarship
opportuniti es to Osage students attending co lleges universities and t echnical training schools
Through this program the Osage Nation wants to strengthen support to reci pients for their
continued success academic progress and achievement The students must be triba l members
of the Osage Nat ion and their school of choice must be an accredited instit ution of higher
learning in order to qualify for this program
The scholarship award is based on t he t ype of school the student is attending and the
number of hours enrolled for the parti cular term The different types of schools includ e career
lOI Pagc
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
technology associate college baccalaureate university research university and graduat e
school Students are awarded hours based on whether their school is semester based (three
eligible awards per year) or quarter based (four eligible awards per year) For semester based
schools undergraduates will be awarded up to fifteen hours for the fall and spring semesters
and up to six hours for the summer semester Graduate students will be awarded up to twelve
hours each semester For quarter based schools undergraduates and graduate students will be
awarded up to nine hours fo r each quarter The funding levels are listed below
bull Career technology $21100 per cred it hour
bull Associate college $15650 per credit hour
bull Baccalaureate university $25450 per credit hour
bull Research university $27791 per credit hour
bull Graduate school $30000 per credit hour
When a student applies for a scholarship they have the option of applying for tuition
and fees room and board supplies and equipment and books The student may apply for any
or all of the scholarsh ip categories Tuition and fees are awarded first Any remaining amount
can go towards room and board andor supplies and eq uipment The book scholarship is
separate and is awarded based on the number of enro lled hours up to the established full time
enro llment of each t erm at $3333 fo r each credit hour
Students are also eligible for incentive awards for classification grades and graduate
level The classification incentive is based on the number of earned credit hours and only
awarded in the fa ll semester and the fa ll qua rter The grade incentive reward is for students
ll l P ag c
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
that demonstrate excellence in their classwork The graduate incentive is awarded to students
pursuing a masters degree andor a doctoral degree
A student can receive the classification incentive only once per classification The
incentive award increases as the student makes progress through their college education The
amounts are listed below
bull Sophomore (31-60 earned hours) - $10000
bull Junior (61-90 earned hours) - $20000
bull Senior (91-121 earned hours) - $30000
bull Masters (last year of course work) - $50000
bull Doctorate (last year of course work) - $75000
The grade incentive is awarded based on the students previous term grade point
average (GPA) The incentive increases as the GPA increases to encourage students to set goals
for good grades The amounts are listed below
bull 30-349 GPA- $10000
bull 35-399 GPA - $15000
bull 40 GPA- $25000
The graduate level incentive is awarded each term for students attending a semestershy
based college It is awarded in the fall winter and spring terms for students that attend a
college or university that follow a quarter-based system The amounts are listed below
bull Masters - $100000
bull Doctorate - $150000
121 Pa ge
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Due to the many determining factors in the scholarship award process it is helpful to
use examples to explain the system A student classified as a sophomore that attends a
semester-based baccalaureate university might have earned thirty-five credit hours They are
en rolled in twelve hours for the fall with a previous semester GPA of 325 Their scholarship
would begin at $305400 with an additional $40000 for books $10000 for the cla ssification
incentive and $10000 for the GPA incentive The students total award would be $365400
Another student class ified at a doctorate level attends a quarter-based graduate school with a
previous quarter GPA of 40 They are enrol led in nine hours for the fall Their scholarship
would begin at $270000 with an additional $30000 for books $150000 for the graduate
incentive and $25000 for the GPA incentive This students total award wou ld be $4 75000
Thirty graduates received the scholarship and earned degrees seven associate degrees
sixteen bachelors degrees five masters degrees one doctorate degree one juris doctorate
degree and one certificate The students that rece ived a masters degree studied science
energy legal studies accountancy applied educational psychology and project management
The graduate that earned a doctorate degree studied chiropractic medicine The scholarship
recipients specialized in many different fields and earned undergraduate degrees that are listed
below
bull American Indian Studies
bull Business Administration
bull Communicative Disorders
bull Education
bull Engineering
13I Page
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
bull Environmental Engineering
bull Fine Arts
bull Geographic Information Science
bull Landscape Architecture
bull Liberal Arts
bull Mass Communication
bull Music
bull Nursing
bull Science
bull Social work
The scholarship program also offers an internship and externship opportunity for Osage
col lege students that attend higher educational institutions During the 2015 fiscal year thirtyshy
two students completed an internship or externship sponsored by the Osage Nation All of
these students received the Osage Nation Higher Education scholarship and classified as a
junior senior or graduate student
The interns worked at various places throughout the Osage Reservation The internship
sites included
bull Blue Star Studio- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Ballet (three interns)- Pawhuska OK
bull Osage Casino- Ponca City OK
bull Osage Casino- Skiatook OK
bull Osage Casino- Tu lsa OK
14 jPage
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
bull Osage Nation Counseling Center- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Education amp Early Learning Division- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Human Resources Department- Pawhuska OK
bull ON Police Department- Pawhuska OK
Positions out of the reservationcounty are considered externships The externship
locations included
bull AMC Urgent Care- Ponca City OK
bull Child Study CenterABC ClinicUniversity of Oklahoma- Norman OK
bull Healing Feathers- Portland OR
bull IHM Academy of EMS- Independence MO
bull Iowa Tribe Education Department- Perkins OK
bull Jacobson House Native Art Center- Norman OK
bull Kelly Law Office- Edmond OK
bull Laura Dester Childrens Center- Tulsa OK
bull Lewis amp Clark Problem Gambling Services- Portland OR
bull New Brunswick Internment Camp Museum- Canada
bull Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition- Oklahoma City OK
bull Pipestem Law- Tulsa OK
bull Salvation Army Corps- Colorado Springs CO
bull Scott Family Museum- Bentonville AR
bull Southern Oregon Magazine- Central Point OR
bull Stil lwater Radio- Stillwater OK
15J P age
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
bull Study Abroad Office at University of Missouri- Colombia MO
bull YWCA- Topeka KS
The Osage Nation Higher Education Scholarship program provides scholarships for tribal
members that attend an accredited institution of higher learning The scholarship program
awarded 1182 scholarships between October 1 2014 and September 30 2015 The top major
fields of study are business medical education science and nursing There is also an
opportun ity for these students to complete a paid intern or externship in their field of study
Improvements made to the program policy are designed to adjust funding levels for each
student based on their unique enrollment situation Incentive awards for classifications
grades graduate enrollment and assistance with the cost of books are also included
The fourth goal of the Osage Nation Education Department is to provide support to
Pre- kindergarten -12 students in Osage County through education and training projects
school supplies and tutoring efforts with youth education services For the 201415 school
year almost two thousand students received school supplies distributed at the twelve school
systems in Osage County The schools include Anderson Barnsdall Bowring Hominy
McCord Osage Hills Pawhuska Prue Shidler Skiatook Woodland and Wynona
The volunteer parent committees at the larger sites also provide other educational and
cultura l act ivities for the students The Hominy and Skiatook JOM parent committees hosted
an intertribal contest powwow to promote cultu ral awareness and pride The Woodland JOM
parent committee organized two cu ltural days for the students at Woodland Public schools to
161 Pa g e
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
enjoy Pawhuska JOM parents also held a cultural event at their school for the student s to
celebrate Native American Heritage Month
Osage Nation JOM students attended the Battle of the Plains youth powwow and won
second place in the overall competition This event features southern and northern powwow
dance styles and singing JOM students from all over Oklahoma and even out of state travel to
this event to participate in the competition and enjoy the cultural atmosphere
Another important event for JOM is to recognize the high school graduates and reward
them with a gift at the end of each school year The committees of Barnsdall Hominy
Pawhuska Skiatook and Woodland celebrated this occasion with their JOM senior cla ss in order
to honor this major accomplishment Each committee commemorated the students
accomplishment in a unique way that fit their community
Pawhuska JOM parents host ed a senior dinner for the students and their families The
dinner f eatured guest speakers Electa Redcorn and Joe Keene Redcorn played basketball
during her undergraduate college years at Cameron University and then attended graduate
school at Washington University in St Louis MO She earned a Masters degree in Socia l Work
LMSW Keene is an alumnus of Pawhuska High school and just finished law school at Arizona
State University They each gave a motivational speech to encourage the students to continue
their education and set future career goals The graduates also received an Android tablet with
keyboard and cover as reward for their graduation The parent committee hopes they will
continue their education after high school
The Skiatook JOM budget is the largest out of the twelve school districts The frozen
student count number for their school is 370 however the actual student cou nt is closer to five
17 [Page
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
hundred For the past few years they spend over their budget amount to deal with the student
demand for services and support The parent committee changed their policy and lowered the
funding limit for each student in order to continue providing services fairly
Figure -1 Parents lined up at the Sldatool JOI School supply distribution eHnt on July JI 2015
Another challenge the JOM program struggles with is the retention of parent volunteers
to serve on the parent committees During the past year the parents of JOM students enrolled
at Shidler public schools did not form a committee or volunteer to act as a representative As a
result the eligible JOM students at their school did not receive adequate services to help them
prepare for school This area is located about an hour northwest of the ONED in Hominy It is
difficult to maintain the communication needed for their program to thrive
The Osage Nation JOM coordinator plans to host an award luncheon for the elected
parent committees to receive training and awards for the school year The Hominy JOM parent
committee earned the Exemplary JOM Program award for their excellent work as a parent
committee The Skiatook JOM parent committee earned the award for Outstanding JOM
18I P agc
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Event to recognize their intertribal contest powwow It is important to acknowledge and
honor the work these parents do with their JOM programs
Figure 5 Students t11 o-step at the Pa11 huska JOI athmiddote merica Da~ dance Figure 6 Student dancing at the llomin) JOI po1111011- oiembcr 201~
The volunteer parent committees develop their programs to fit their community and
identify the most important needs of their students Most of the cultural events these students
attend are sponsored by the JOM program It is important to expose them to Native American
culture so they dont feel alienated within the student population It gives them an opportunity
to see examples of positive Native American role models The JOM program also provides
school supplies and assistance with school expenses so the students are prepared for learning
The purpose of the JOM program is to provide supplementary financial assistance to
meet the unique and speciali zed education needs of American Indian students enrolled in one
of the public schools served by the Osage Nation There are approximately fifty different tribes
represented in the twelve school districts that receive Osage JOM services This shows a
19 1Pagc
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
remarkable amount of diversity for such a predominantly rural area The different tribes are
listed below
bull Alaska Native
bull Aleut
bull All eutiq
bull Apache
Arapaho
bull Caddo
bull Chemehuevi
bull Cherokee
bull Cherokee (Adopted Delaware)
bull Cherokee (Adopted Shawnee)
bull Cheyenne amp Arapaho
bull Chickasaw
bull Choctaw
Citizen Potawatomi
Comanch e
bull Creek
bull Delaware
bull Diegueno
bull Eastern Shawnee
Eskimo
bull Hualapai
bull Inuit
Iowa
bull Kaw
bull Kiowa
bull Miss iss ippi Choctaw
bull Mohave
20 IP age
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
bull Navajo
bull Northern Cheyenne
bull Oneida
bull Osage
bull Otoe-Missouria
bull Prairie Band Potawatomi
bull Pawnee
bull Peoria
bull Pokagon Potawatomi
bull Ponca
bull Quapaw
Quechan
bull Sac amp Fox
bull Sem inole
Seneca- Cayuga
bull Shawnee
bull Sioux (Rosebud)
bull Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate
Standing Rock Sioux
Tonkawa
bull Wichita
bull W inn ebago
21 I Pa ge
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
bull 1-0sage 750Tribes 1 bull 2-Cherokee 625 1 [ 1
bull 3-Creek 100
bull 4-Seneca-Cayuga 70
bull 5-Choctaw 60
bull 6-Citizen Potawatomi 40
7-Ponca 25
8-Kaw 20
9- Iowa 17
10- Otoe 15
Al l other tribes 125
1 7
The chart above shows the top ten tribes represented within the JOM program
The goal of the Osage Nation Education Department Tutoring Programs that include
reservation based and nationwide Sylvan is to provide support for Osage students to succeed
in their academic endeavors The reservation based program is designed for students in grades
K -12 in need of tutoring servi ces and struggling in required subject s These participants
attending thirteen different public school districts are eligible for different types of tutoring
assistance that include small group one-on-one and foundationa l ski ll services The Sylvan
22 IP age
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
tutoring program offers financial assistance for students to attend one of the centers that are
located throughout the United States
There are many ways a student may obtain information and be referred to the
education department tutoring programs Parents teachers administrators and the
department tribal education advocates can refer and assist them to obtain services through the
tutoring programs for one or more subject areas Eligible students are approved and given a
tutoring ass ignment for one-on-one sessions in the area(s) they are struggling
The Osage Nation tutor program coordinator met monthly with each certified
teachertutor and communicated with students and parents to track the progress of a tutoring
assignment Many times the teacher acts as a mentor and support system in addition to
discussing academic content Subject comprehension is not the only struggle for students In
some cases a student may show difficulty in attendance completing ass ignments or turning in
homework The tutor program coordinator and tribal education advocates work together in
these cases to provide additional support to the student
This year the reservation based program hired thirty-five contracted tutors to provide
services for Osage students attending public school within the reservationcounty area They
also assist with teaching organizational skills and provide positive encouragement to the
students Throughout this academic year the tutoring program assisted fifty-five students
ranging from K- 12thgrades
The Osage Nation Sylvan Tutor Program provides academic support to K-12 students
across the United States through Sylvan Learning Centers Th is service is offered to Osage
students across the nation that may be at risk for academic fa ilure Eligible students receive
23 IP age
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
funding assistance to attend a Sylvan Learning Center of their choice in order to obtain subject
comprehension needed to be successful in school They are required to take academic
diagnostic tests in order to determine their individual educational plan This year the program
assisted approximately thirty students across the country at various Sylvan Learning Centers in
Ca lifornia Oklahoma and Washington
The most common subjects request ed for tutoring assistance are academic reading and
math programs Students attend sessions on topics that address vocabu lary comprehens ion
and decoding skills which are important to their academic success Through both of the
academic tutor programs the ONED made gains at addressing the needs of Osage students in
the local community as well as across the nation
The Osage Nation Co llege Entrance Assistance Program provides support to Osage high
school students across the nation seeking entrance into a higher ed ucation institution This
program promotes college preparation as well as providing financial assistance for any
necessary exams This helps t o remove barriers students face for college entrance
Students are provided a pre-payment or reimbursement for ~CT or SAT exams along
with funding for test preparation workshops or materials Over one hundred applicants
received servi ces through this program Seventy students received help for ACT f ees and six
received assistance with SAT fees Over fifty students received help for t est preparation
expenses
In November of 2014 students attended the Osage Nation ACT prep and character
building workshop hosted by Chad Cargi ll Students at all the schools within Osage
24 IP age
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
CountyReservation came for this event The instructor discussed how the test was organized
and what to expect from each section
As a student gets closer to high school graduation it is important to begin the co llege
se lection process In July 2014 students traveled with education staff to eight different college
campuses in Oklahoma They met with advisors at the financial aid office and also walked
around campus This visit allowed them a chance to get familiar with the col lege and decide if
that is the place for them
The goal of the ONED Public School Support Program (ONPSSP) is to identify and address
the academic and behavioral needs of Osage students by utilizing resources available through
the Osage Nation The established memorandum of agreement allows a tribal education
advocate an on-site office at each school and the ability to work closely with the students
enrolled in the program Students attending the public schools of Anderson Pawhuska
Hominy Skiatook and Woodland are eligible to participate
Through the ONPSSP assistance is avai lab le to students parents teachers and
administrators on a daily basis This ensures that students are informed about academic
opportunities including co llege scholarships ACT test dates and col lege visits On-site support
is also needed if an administrator or teacher identifies a student enrolled in the program as
being at risk It takes time for students to build trust and develop the connection needed for
this program to succeed
Tribal education advocates provide many services throughout the year to help students
reach thei r academic potential When issues arise at school they are there to address the
problems and represent the Osage students They meet with al l parties involved and strategize
25 IP age
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
to remedy a problem Classroom observations of Osage students are conducted in order to
help a teacher find ways to motivate and encourage those students Sometimes parents need
their help to effectively communicate with teachers and administrators
Students may experience academic failure for many different reasons including truancy
behavioral issues lack of family involvement inability to grasp subject material and conflict
w ith teachers School attendance and grades are tracked and documented Potential problems
with attendance tardiness and homework are identified A meeting with the student is held
immediately to address the issue and solve the problem Home visits are planned at the
parents request to meet the clients family and discuss ways to ensure academic success for
their chi ldren through parental involvement The school faculty may be unaware or unable to
assist with the students dilemma The tribal education advocate can help them identify a
resolution so the student is able to focus on their school work They use a holistic approach to
so lve problems along with rapport-build ing and consistent fo llow up
Another positive aspect of the tribal education advocat e position is the encouragement
of program co llaboration within the Osage Nation Students and fam ilies are referred t o other
programs w hen necessary If a student needs school supplies or assistance with athletic fees a
referral is made to the JOM program that offers assistance with those expenses They
communicate upcoming events and act as liaison for other Osage Nation programs
Students from Anderson Hominy Pawhuska and Woodland public schools enrolled in
the ONPSSP There are eighty-three students at Hominy Schools that include forty-four at
Horace Mann Elementary seventeen at Hominy Middle School and twenty-two at Hominy High
School There are one hundred and ninety-nine students at Pawhuska Schools that include
26 IP age
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
eighty-nine at Pawhuska Elementary thirty-six at Pawhuska Indian Camp School and seventyshy
four at the high school There are eighty-four students at Woodland Schools that include
twenty-five at Woodland Elementary thirty-five at Woodland Middle School and twenty-four
at Woodland High School
The tribal education advocates are able to work with Osage students at various schools
throughout the Osage Nation ReservationCounty Their ability to maintain an office at their
assigned school is inva luable to the ONED This allows direct contact with students and the
capabil ity to advocate for any needs that arise Their job duties include distributing scholarship
information arranging college visits hosting college prep and FAFSA nights among many other
things
The Osage Nation Education Department provides educational and supportive services
to Osage People so they can obtain skills needed to become productive individuals and
contributors to thei r communities and families The services are offered through programs that
include classroom training summer youth college entrance assistance higher educat ion
graduation stole program internexternship Johnson OMalley individual and group
reservation based tutoring nationwide Sylvan tutor programs the Osage Nation Public Schools
Support Program and the Wah-Zha-Zhi Education Youth Academy
The Principal Chief of the Osage Nation Geoffrey Standing Bear directed a
reorganization of the Osage Nation Education Department programs and services that took
effect on October 1 2015 The 477 grant is now administered in the Osage Nation Financial
Assistance Department Josephine Revard is the director
271 Pa g c
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Osage Nation Education Staff
Mary Wildcat Director
Jennifer Holding STEM Coordinator
Louise Cheshewalla Sylvan Coordinator
Avis Ballard JOM Coordinator
Trevor Piearcy Education Advisor
Shaina Perrier OfficeWeb Manager
Cheryl Herard Tribal education advocate
Amy Seago Tribal education advocate
Coley Streater Tribal education advocate
Electa Redcorn Academic Counselor
Contact Information
Osage Nation Education Depa rtment
102 Buffalo Avenue Hominy OK 74035
Phone (918) 287-5300 Toll Free 1-800-390-6724
Fax (918) 287-5567 Website wwwosagenation-nsngov
28 IP a ge
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-
Works Cited
Blueknight Energy Partners Blueknight Energy Partners 2015 Web 29 Dec 2015
Butrymowicz Sarah The Failure of Tribal Schools The Atlantic The Atlantic Monthly Group
26 Nov 2014 Web 8 Dec 2014
291 Page
- Structure Bookmarks
-