"Justice for the Osage Nation was neither swift nor certain. But after 11 years of litigation, it appears some tribal members finally will get the trust proceeds they are owed from the U.S. government.

Funds will be divided among those who own headrights, or shares, of the tribe's subsurface mineral estate.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the government will pay $345.8 million into the tribal trust account on Oct. 30, and checks will be distributed to individual headright owners by Dec. 5. Some 2,229 Osages own headrights, and $155,136 will be paid out for each whole one. Many headrights, however, were fractionated as they passed from generation to generation. Attorneys involved will receive $34.2 million.

About 30 percent of headrights are owned by non-Osage entities, which also will receive part of the settlement. That is a bone of contention with headright owners.

"Given the history of tribal litigation for trust mismanagement, this is probably about as good as it's going to get," said tribal member and headright owner Joe Conner of Fairfax. "And given the political environmental right now, this is a minor miracle.""

Get the Story:
Finally, justice (The Tulsa World 8/19)