Scott Norris Bighorse (born c. 1956) is an Osage American politician. Between 2006 and 2008, Bighorse was a member of the

Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's b ...

from the 36th district. From 2010 to 2014, he served as assistant principal chief of the

Osage Nation The Osage Nation ( ) ( Osage: 𐓁𐒻 𐓂𐒼𐒰𐓇𐒼𐒰͘ ('), "People of the Middle Waters") is a Midwestern Native American tribe of the Great Plains. The tribe developed in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys around 700 BC along ...

. Bighorse was elevated to interim principal chief of the Osage Nation after the 2014 impeachment of

John Red Eagle John Denyer Red Eagle (September 21, 1948 – January 12, 2024) was an American Osage politician who served as the principal chief of the Osage Nation between June 2010 and his removal from office in January 2014. He also served as the assistant ...

and replaced later that year by

Geoffrey Standing Bear Geoffrey M. Standing Bear (Osage) is an attorney and politician who has served as Principal Chief of the Osage Nation since 2014. Early life and education Chief Standing Bear was born into the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. He attended Bishop Kelley ...

. Bighorse was elected to the Osage Nation Congress in 2018.

Early life and career

In the

Osage language Osage (; Osage: ''Wažáže ie'') is a Siouan language that is spoken by the Osage people of Oklahoma. Their original territory was in present-day Missouri and Kansas but they were gradually pushed west by European-American pressure and treati ...

, Bighorse is known as Kiheka, translated to English as Big Chief. Prior to his first campaign for public office, Bighorse worked for the Oklahoma state government for 24 years as a correctional officer and juvenile detention consultant. As a child, he had been inspired to participate in county and tribal politics by members of his family. Outside of his political activity and public service, Bighorse became known as a traditional singer.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Bighorse's first state legislative campaign was backed by the Indigenous Democratic Network. In March 2006, he was the only

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

candidate for the 36th district seat of the

. After Jack Rankin entered the race, Bighorse defeated him in a party primary election four months later. Bighorse subsequently faced Eddie Fields and won election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in the November 2006 general election. In March 2007, he was named to the Native American Caucus of the

Oklahoma Legislature The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 sta ...

, serving as spiritual counselor and as a member of the caucus's advisory team. Bighorse ran for reelection in 2008, this time losing to Fields. Bighorse was the only incumbent state representative in Oklahoma to lose during the 2008 election cycle.

Osage Nation political career

Following his single term as a state representative, Bighorse began campaigning for the 2010 Osage Nation tribal election in August 2009. The first round of the election was held on 7 June 2010. In a runoff election on 19 July 2010, he was elected assistant principal chief, and formally assumed the office on 4 August 2010, alongside principal chief

, who preceded him as assistant principal chief. Following Red Eagle's impeachment and removal from office in January 2014, Bighorse became principal chief. Bighorse completed Red Eagle's term, choosing not to run for the office in his own right. Soon after becoming principal chief, Bighorse named Terry Mason Moore assistant principal chief. Bighorse served as principal chief until

assumed the role on 2 July 2014. Bighorse took office as a member of the Osage Nation Congress in July 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bighorse, Scott 1950s births Living people Osage Nation state legislators in Oklahoma Democratic Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Principal Chief of the Osage Nation 21st-century American politicians 20th-century Native American politicians 20th-century American politicians 21st-century Native American politicians People from Pawhuska, Oklahoma Native American singers