PAWHUSKA, Okla. – Jim Gray, principal chief of the Osage Nation, was honored as the recipient of the American Indian Tribal Leadership Award by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Gray was recognized for his commitment to economic development in Indian country during the 22nd Annual Reservation Economic Summit & American Indian Business Trade Fair, held March 3 – 6 in Las Vegas.
Gray began his second term as principal chief in 2006 and is the youngest chief in the history of the Osage Nation. As principal chief, he is leading the Osage Nation through some of the most dramatic changes in its history. In the last two years, the Osage Nation has formed a new Osage Constitution and tribal government and has established membership for all Osage.
Gray is continuing to create economic development opportunities throughout the sprawling 1.5 million acres of the Osage Reservation.
Gray serves on the executive board of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes. He has served as co-chair of and still advises the National Budget Council. He is involved with the Office of the Special Trustee Board of Advisors, the BIA, the Native American Rights Foundation and the Intertribal Economic Alliance.
Gray has been awarded the Lewis B. Ketchum Award for Excellence in Business from the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission. Gray and the Osage Nation have also received the Abe Venable Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
RES is the largest and longest-running American Indian economic and business development conference in the nation. Its more than 3,000 attendees include American Indian entrepreneurs, tribal economic and business development decision-makers, tribal leaders, and government and corporate executive buyers seeking Indian suppliers and contractors.
