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Welcome to the Osage Nation Podcast! This is šš¼š»š¼š»š· āTalking To One Anotherā hosted by Wahzhazhe Communications. The Osage Nation Communications team led by Abby Mashunkashey continues to diversify our platforms in efforts to reach our Wahzhazhe people and other community members and allies from around the world. This podcast offers yet another way to access insights into Osage Nation governance, culture, history, education, community events, and more, with host Russ Tallchief and a variety of engaging guests. Join us as we share stories and interviews with Wahzhazhe people currently making and shaping our history. Special thanks to Communications staff Kelsey Zaun for graphic design and Skyler Ammons for technical support.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Join hostsĀ Russ TallchiefĀ andĀ Abby Mashunkashay for an Osage Nation 2025 highlightsĀ in reviewĀ withĀ Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. They explore howĀ modern Osage governanceĀ is strengtheningĀ tribal health and wellness initiatives, expanding the new Wahzhazhe Health campus, and creating walkable spaces in Pawhuska.
Chief Standing Bear reflects on Osage language revitalization through the Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academy (WELA) program and Daposka Ahnkodapi Elementary, tribal land stewardship and bison restorationĀ on the 43,000-acre ranch, and the rise ofĀ Osage food sovereigntyĀ through Harvest Land and the Butcher House. This conversation highlightsĀ Osage culture and education,Ā Native community economic development, and holiday traditions rooted in caring for Wahzhazhe people at home and across the country.
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
In this episode of the Osage Nation Bi-Weekly, hosts Russ Tallchief and Abby Mashunkashay talk with Andrea Kimball, Director of Financial Assistance, about the Tree of Giving holiday program, how to sponsor a child, and key deadlines for donations. They also share details on Harvest Landās upcoming food box drive-through, reminders about health benefit open enrollment, the Osage Nation Museumās final lecture with Sean Standing Bear, local Nutcracker performances at the Constantine Theater, and holiday office closures.
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Russ Tallchief and ON Fitness Center Director Hank Powell discuss the Osage Nation's fitness centers, highlighting three locations: Pawhuska, Hominy, and Fairfax. Hank, details personalized training, including weight loss and muscle imbalance treatment, and the certification of trainers. Upcoming events include a Veterans Day ruck event on November 8 and chair exercise classes for elders. Membership costs $15/month for non-Osage Nation members, while tribal members and employees have free access. The fitness centers offer various modalities, including powerlifting and yoga, and emphasize gradual health improvements.
Monday Oct 20, 2025
Monday Oct 20, 2025
In this episode, Russ and Abby reflect on their experiences at Indigenous Peoples Day events in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, highlighting the importance of representation and community involvement. They are joined by Brandon Wallace, from Osage Nation Housing and the CDBG grant team, who discusses the Nation's efforts to secure a Community Development Block Grant to address housing needs. Brandon emphasizes the significance of community feedback in shaping these initiatives. The conversation also touches on the reopening of the crisis assistance program for Osages, providing vital support during uncertain times.
Join the conversation and provide your feedback on the Osage Nation's housing initiatives by attending upcoming community meetings or participating in the online survey. Your input is vital in shaping the future of our community.
SURVEY LINK: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8499307/Housing-Needs-for-Osage-Nation-Low-Income-Rental-Unit-Survey
Ā
Monday Oct 06, 2025
Monday Oct 06, 2025
Welcome to the Osage Nation Bi-Weekly Podcast for October 6, 2025, where hosts Russ Tallchief and Abby Mashunkashay discuss key updates including open enrollment for health benefits, highlights from the Harvest Land farmers market, and preparations for upcoming Osage and Native American celebration events.
This episode also features special guest Lindsey Mitts from the Osage Nation Education Department, who shares details about the newly opened school clothing and assistance application, education scholarships, and the upcoming college and career fair for Osage youth.Ā
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Dive into the heart of Osage identity with this illuminating episode of the Osage Nation podcast, where host Russell Tallchief is joined by Chief Justice Meredith Drent and Dr. Jean Dennison to explore the powerful concept of Wahoin. Through thoughtful discussion, storytelling, and the wisdom of Osage Elder Eddy Red Eagle, discover how Wahoin represents much more than traditionāit is the living essence of community, connection, responsibility, and resilience. Whether youāre Osage, Indigenous, or simply curious about authentic governance and cultural survival, this conversation invites you to reflect on your own āwhyā and the role relationships play in creating a thriving future. Tune in to learn how ancient values can guide us through todayās challenges and inspire a deeper sense of belonging. Listen, reflect, and reconnectāyou'll never see "community" the same way again.
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Get the latest from Wahzhazhe country! Join hosts Abby Mashunkashay and Russ Tallchief for the Osage Nationās official bi-weekly update, brought to you by Wahzhazhe Communications. Each episode, released on every other Monday, dives into the stories shaping Osage governance, culture, and community life-straight from the voices making history today.
Whether youāre Wahzhazhe, a neighbor, or an ally from afar, tune in for cultural insights and behind-the-scenes looks at the people and events moving the Osage Nation forward.Ā Donāt miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the heartbeat of the Osage Nation-click and listen now!
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Monday Aug 25, 2025
Join us for a compelling conversation with Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear as he reflects on his transformative three-term administration leading the Osage Nation. In this special episode, Chief Standing Bear shares rich stories and hard-won lessons on three pillars at the heart of Osage sovereignty: reclaiming land, protecting and celebrating culture, and revitalizing the Osage language.
From the dramatic acquisition of the historic Ted Turner Ranch and building vital new infrastructure, to breathing life back into endangered traditions and championing language immersion for the next generationāChief Standing Bear paints a vivid picture of progress and perseverance. Hear firsthand how these efforts empower the Osage community, connect generations, and forge a path toward self-determination for years to come.
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Get the latest from Wahzhazhe country! Join hosts Abby Mashunkashay and Russ Tallchief for the Osage Nationās official bi-weekly update, brought to you by Wahzhazhe Communications. Each episode, released on every other Monday, dives into the stories shaping Osage governance, culture, and community life-straight from the voices making history today.
Whether youāre Wahzhazhe, a neighbor, or an ally from afar, tune in for cultural insights and behind-the-scenes looks at the people and events moving the Osage Nation forward.Ā Donāt miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the heartbeat of the Osage Nation-click and listen now!
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Monday Aug 04, 2025
Get the latest from Wahzhazhe country! Join hosts Abby Mashunkashay and Russ Tallchief for the Osage Nationās official bi-weekly update, brought to you by Wahzhazhe Communications. Each episode, released on every other Monday, dives into the stories shaping Osage governance, culture, and community life-straight from the voices making history today.
Whether youāre Wahzhazhe, a neighbor, or an ally from afar, tune in for cultural insights and behind-the-scenes looks at the people and events moving the Osage Nation forward.Ā Donāt miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the heartbeat of the Osage Nation-click and listen now!
Meredith Drent, JD
Podcast Host
Chief Justice, Osage Nation Supreme Court
Chief Justice Meredith Drent, a citizen of the Osage Nation and descendant of the Chamorro people of Guam, is dedicated to tribal self-governance and self-determination. Born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, she comes from a lineage of Osage ancestors, including Paul Aiken, a signatory of the 1881 Osage Constitution.
Justice Drent's commitment to Osage sovereignty was influenced by her family's involvement in tribal governance. She obtained her B.A. from the University of California, Irvine, and her J.D. with a certificate in Federal Indian Law from Arizona State University.
Her legal career began as a court clerk for the Osage Nation Tribal Court under the 1994 Constitution. Following the ratification of the 2006 Osage Constitution, Drent was appointed as an Associate Justice for the Osage Nation Supreme Court. In 2012, she became Chief Justice and is currently serving her third term.
Drent also serves as the Chief Judge of the Tulalip Tribal Court in Washington state. Her work focuses on integrating community values into tribal justice systems, emphasizing the importance of examining a community's values in justice development. She resides in Seattle, Washington.
Ā
Jean Denison, PhD
Podcast Host
Associate Professor, Univ. of Washington
JeanĀ DennisonĀ (PhD) is the daughter of Sally Sneed and Gene PaulĀ DennisonĀ (Skiatook). She is the granddaughter of Marie Brown and George Orville "Bus"Ā DennisonĀ (Skiatook) andĀ Elizabeth Ruth Armstrong Sneed and George Lovell Sneed, Jr. (Bartlesville). Her great-grandmother was Eliza Ursula "Minnieā Revard (Pawhuska). She is an Osage citizen and member of the š·ššøšĶš¤šŖš§š£Ķ (Pawhuska) District. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she returns to the Osage reservation multiple times a year. She has spent the last 20 years witnessing, researching, and writing about Osage Nation governance.
She is author of multiple academic articles and two books, Colonial Entanglement: Constituting a Twenty-First-Century Osage Nation and Vital Relations: How the Osage Nation Moves Indigenous Nationhood Into the Future.
CurrentlyĀ JeanĀ is an Associate Professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Washington (UW). As Co-director for the Center for American Indian and Indigenous Studies at UW,Ā DennisonĀ has raised over 7 million dollars to support programming and grants creating an ecosystem of support for Indigenous students, faculty, and staff at the University of Washington.
Russ Tallchief, MFA
Podcast Host
Communications Manager, Wazhazhe Communications, Osage Nation
Russ Tallchief isĀ Communications Manager for Wahzhazhe Communications at the Osage Nation. Russ is the great-grandson of Eves and Rose Tallchief, grandson of former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation George Tallchief and Marion Russell, and son of Tim and Michelle Tallchief. His great-aunts were world-renowned ballerinas Maria and Marjorie Tallchief, whose legacies he preserves and celebrates. A member of the Buffalo Clan from the Grayhorse District,Ā Tallchief served as Taildancer and has danced throughout the United States and Paris. He was a featured dancer in the touring exhibition āDance! American Art, 1830 ā 1960,ā curated by the Detroit Institute of Arts.Ā
Tallchief is active in indigenous theatre as a writer, director, and actor. He currently serves as Stage Director for Wahzhazhe Puppet Theater, which performs a version of the Osage creation story using larger-than-life puppets, with performances in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas.Ā Tallchief previously served as Director of Arts and Exhibitions at the First Americans Museum, Director of Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Oklahoma City University, Art Galleries Editor for Native Peoples Magazine, and Executive Director of the Jacobson House Native Art Center. He began his career working in both the Education Department and Public Affairs at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian in New York City.
Tallchief earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Oklahoma City University, a Master of Arts in English from Bemidji State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication - Radio, Television, and Film, from the University of Central Oklahoma. He taught college writing at Oklahoma State University - Oklahoma City, Rose State College, and Oklahoma City Community College.
Marx Cassity, (Osage) BSN, LMFT
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Podcast theme - "How Long" from the album "2Sacred"Ā Ā
Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer artist Marx Cassity (Osage/Kaw) delivers inspired synth-driven electronic rock songs with Native nuances, that speak to overcoming hardship through resilience, in connection to nature, humor, love, compassion, spirituality, and heritage.Ā Guided by spirit, ancestors, and on a mission to help people embrace their identity, Cassity is constantly exploring and evolving as an artist and a person. Called āa songwriter to be reckoned withā by No Depression, theyāve recently added an X to their given name Marca, in honor of gender diversity which has existed throughout all of history.
Cassity is an enrolled citizen of the Osage Nation, with Kaw, Saponi, Susquehannock, as well as French, Scottish-Irish, Irish, English, and German heritage. They are named for their Osage Congressman grandfather Mark Freeman, Jr. and grew up on the Osage reservation on the land of their great-grandmother, original allottee Grace Lessert Freeman who taught them a love of playing piano. Drawn to the instrument from a very young age, they ended up studying classical piano all the way to college, playing French horn in their high school band, while surviving closeted queerness in the bible belt in the era of the AIDS Crisis by spinning vinyl records of artists such as Queen, Pat Benatar, Eurythmics, David Bowie, and Prince.