Osage Nation celebrating pair of Oklahoma land-into-trust decisions

In Oklahoma and the federal government has reportedly approved a pair of land-into-trust applications from the Osage Nation that are to allow the tribe to bring new casinos to sites near the small cities of Bartlesville and Pawhuska.

According to a Monday report from Red Lake Nation News, the federally-recognized tribe filed its application concerning 125 acres of land located some two miles west of Bartlesville in 2014 before following up two years later with a similar request for a 63.1-acre plot on the eastern outskirts of Pawhuska.

Bartlesville benefit:

The Osage Nation is already responsible for Osage Casino-branded properties in the communities of Tulsa, Hominy, Ponca City, Sand Springs and Skiatook and reportedly revealed that it now plans to bring similarly-christened venues to the plots near Bartlesville and Pawhuska. The tribe purportedly detailed that this first development will be located around seven miles from its existing Osage Casino Bartlesville enterprise and is to feature approximately 11,800 sq ft of meeting space as well as a 150-room hotel and a 57,400 sq ft gaming floor.

Pawhuska proxy:

Regarding the Pawhuska site and the Osage Nation reportedly explained that it has plans to one day build a gambling-friendly property complete with a small hotel to serve as a larger replacement for its existing Osage Casino Pawhuska venue.

Aboriginal acclaim:

Principal Chief for the Osage Nation, Geoffrey Standing Bear, reportedly proclaimed that the tribe was celebrating the Pawhuska and Bartlesville decisions because they have ‘returned some of our land to us with full tribal authority.’

Reportedly read a statement from Standing Bear…

“Now the Osage Nation will begin at once to turn dirt and construct new amenities on these parcels that will help boost our region’s economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic.”