Robert James Walker Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Assistant Principal Chief of the Osage Nation | |
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond W. RedCorn III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11,1972 |
| Nationality | American Osage Nation |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Kristina Walker |
| Relations | Louis Bighorse |
| Education | University of Central Oklahoma |
| Nickname | RJ Walker |
Robert James Walker Jr.,is an Osage politician who has served as Assistant Principal Chief of the Osage Nation since June of 2022.
RJ Walker was born on September 11,1972 at Claremore Indian Hospital in Claremore,Oklahoma. He graduated from Pawhuska High School in 1990 and later went on to attend University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond,Oklahoma.
In 2002,Walker was hired by the 31st Tribal Council to manage the Transportation Improvement Program currently known as the Roads Department. As Director of the Roads Department he effectively led the department as it moved toward establishing its own self-governance. Ten years later,Walker was elected to the 3rd Osage Nation Congress in 2012. [1]
Over the course of his time as a member of Congress,Walker was a strong advocate for infrastructure development,partnerships with local governments,land buy-back efforts,emergency services,self-governance,language and cultural initiatives,employee rights and protections,child care,and taxation opportunities on Osage lands. [2] Additionally,throughout this period he served on the Osage County Industrial Authority Board,Pawhuska Business Development Center Incubator Board, [3] HeadStart Policy Council,served as vice president of the Oklahoma Tribal Advisory Board,and as the Osage Nation representative on various boards with INCOG. [4]
Walker served as the 6th Osage Nation Congressional Speaker in 2016 and 2017. [1] Five years later,Walker won the 2022 election for Assistant Principal Chief with 1,659 votes in his favor in comparison to his competitor,Tom Trumbly,who received 687 votes. [5]
Walker currently resides in Pawhuska,Oklahoma with his wife Kristina. He has three daughters,two sons,and two grandchildren. Walker served as Assistant Principal Chief exactly one-hundred years after his great-great grandfather,Louis Bighorse,had between 1920-1922. [1] He and his family annually participate in Inlonshka as members of the Eagle Clan. [6] Walker enjoys golfing in his free time,and in 2015 won the inaugural city golf championship at Pawhuska Golf &Country Club. [7]