MEMBERS

"Healing the Nations" is just one of several books written by John Sandford.  

For the complete collection of books and tapes, click HERE.

My name is John Loren Sandford, second son of Osage Allottee Zelma Potter Sandford, #2229 on the rolls of the Osage tribal nation, headquartered in Pawhuskah, Oklahoma.  I m listed as #4601.  

My great grandfather was the interpreter for the tribe and knew by that that anyone who declared he had more than eighth Indian blood would be designated a ward of the state, and the government would manage his money.  He didn't want that, so declared that he had only an eighth, whereas we know definitely he was at least three-quarters and most likely was a full blood. 

At that time every Osage was receiving large amounts of money from oil wells discovered in Osage County.  Osages didn't know about money and were being swindled by scheming white men.  So the government did two things:  One, they founded the FBI originally to investigate the swindling of Osages by white men; and two, managed the money of any Osages who were more than an eighth to keep them from being swindled.  Therefore, my mother, who was probably one-quarter, is listed on the rolls as one-thirty-second, and though I am most likely an eighth, am listed as one-sixty-fourth.

Osage history is totally unique among the tribes.  At the critical time in history they had wise counselors who listened to "Wahkontah," their name for God.  They decreed that any Osage could sell his allotted land in Osage County, but no matter who owned the land, whatever would be found in the ground below or the air above would belong to the entire tribe.  

One of the greatest oil fields in history was found in Osage county - and the entire tribe became wealthy all at once!  This was not an unmixed blessing, in many ways.  It caused Osages to depart from their own roots to walk white man's road much more quickly than would have been healthy, they were swindled, etc.  But they were also soon highly educated, in many fine universities.  

Maria Tall Chief, the great ballerina, was an Osage. So also is General Schwarzkopf of Gulf War fame.  Many other generals and admirals descend from the Osage. Though I have only a one-quarter head right, being one of four children, still today I receive a little Osage money from oil wells every quarter, as do my sister and brother (the eldest being deceased).

My wife, Paula, and I are the co-founders of Elijah House, Inc., an international ministry for writing, teaching and counseling, having satellite Elijah Houses in New Zealand, Australia, Finland, Austria, Japan and South Africa.  

We are the authors of fourteen books, and countless cassettes, videos and DVDs.  These are mainly on the two subjects of the prophetic office and inner healing, for which we are regarded as the forerunner pioneers.  

I have worked for years in reconciliation efforts among native and white.  I am an elder for the ICA, was for years a board member of the International Coalition for Indigenous People, now known as the Native American Resource Network, for which I remain an advisory board member.