By Fox23.com News Staff
PAWHUSKA, Okla. — The Osage Nation is mourning the passing of former Principal Chief Jim Gray.
The tribe’s flags are lowered to half-staff as it honors and grieves.
The Osage Nation shared a statement on former Principal Chief Gray’s passing Friday morning:
“His leadership, vision, and service were rooted in love for the Wahzhazhe people and our sovereignty. He did all this with immense generosity and kindness. We give thanks for the work he carried forward on behalf of our Nation and the path he strengthened for future generations. We keep his family in our prayers and our community as we grieve together.”
The Osage County Historical Society Museum said former Principal Chief Gray was the youngest Osage Nation Principal Chief when he served from 2002 to 2010.
He passed at 64-years-old, the museum said.
The museum said during former Principal Chief Gray’s two terms as chief, he led the Osage Nation through a comprehensive restoration of Osage sovereignty, leading to an increased enrollment of thousands of Osages and a referendum vote that adopted a constitutional form of government for the first time in generations.
