Osage Nation’s New State-Of-The-Art Chapel To Help Preserve Tribe’s Traditions

The Osage Nation is working to keep its traditions alive with a new state-of-the-art chapel. The chapel will replace a much smaller one in the tribe's Indian Village in Pawhuska.

"Was originally a schoolhouse. So, a lot of our parents my father was in his 80s when he passed, and he went to school in that little schoolhouse," Osage congresswoman Paula Stadler said. 

Stadler said for nearly 70 years, the little Wakon Iron Chapel at the Osage Indian Village was the center of tribal culture and tradition. She said the tribe's three villages in Pawhuska, Hominy, and Grayhorse are their most sacred properties.

Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said their chapels bring the tribe together for sacred events, like feasts, funerals, and dances. 

"When I was younger, I received my clan name in the bear clan at the chapel. There was a ceremony with all the elders, and they all spoke in Osage," Standing Bear said. 

The old Wakon Iron Chapel has been falling apart and had very little space for big ceremonies. Now, the Osage Nation is investing nearly $2 million to build a new one, which will be twice the size of the old one. 

"So, that’s going to help, because right now when we have funerals, we can see 160, but sometimes we have 300 people to 500 people at a funeral. So, it’s necessary," Stadler said. 

Tribal leaders broke ground on the chapel Wednesday afternoon. Standing Bear said he hopes it will bring more people back to the village. 

"So, we want to make sure it continues for those who understand the day-to-day traditions," Standing Bear said. 

"Hopefully, it will keep our people going or traditions and people going," Stadler added. 

​​Osage Nation Director of Operations Casey Johnson will oversee construction management team Builders Unlimited throughout the project. The new Wakon Iron Chapel is expected to be completed next May.