TULSA, OK – Katie Yates Free, an Osage Nation tribal member, has joined Osage LLC as asset manager, bringing extensive experience in tribal and federal land services, real estate and trust management, and the fee-to-trust processes.
In her new role, Yates Free will support the stewardship and strategic management of Osage LLC’s land and assets, with a focus on regulatory compliance, complex land transactions, land-use coordination, and long-term asset protection aligned with the Osage Nation’s economic priorities.
“We are so happy that Katie has chosen to join Osage LLC,” said Russell Goff, Osage LLC CEO. “Her career reflects a rare blend of deep technical expertise in tribal and federal land and contract management, along with her strong, longstanding connection to the Osage Nation and its people. She understands the Osage Nation’s unique land status and brings trusted relationships that are essential to navigating complex transactions and protecting Osage interests. We are fortunate to have her leadership as we continue building an economy rooted in responsible stewardship and tribal sovereignty.”
Yates Free brings expertise from her work across tribal and federal systems, most recently serving as Acting Senior Realty Specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, where she led administrative appeals, oversaw regional compliance processes, and provided high-level review of trust and surface transactions.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve my Osage people, once again, in a different role that includes our precious lands,” said Yates Free. “I look forward to the growth of Osage LLC and expanding our commercial real estate division. I continue to live by one simple mantra – ‘take care of the land, and it will take care of you’ – a phrase my father, Andrew, instilled in me.”
In addition to her regional BIA leadership, Yates Free has served as a realty specialist in contracts management for the BIA’s Osage Agency, managing the compacted real estate services program in partnership with the Osage Nation. She previously served as a realty specialist for the Osage Nation, where she worked extensively with trust assets, fee-to-trust transactions, commercial leases, boundary issues, compliance matters, and property oversight. Earlier in her career, she also served as executive assistant to the Assistant Principal Chief of the Osage Nation, supporting executive coordination, policy research, and intergovernmental communication.
Yates Free belongs to the Osage Nation’s Wah-ka-ko-li District. She has served as Secretary of the National Tribal Land Association Board of Directors and is widely recognized for her attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and commitment to tribal sovereignty and the protection of trust assets.
With her addition to its leadership team, Osage LLC continues to strengthen its internal expertise and long-term stewardship of Osage assets, supporting a long-term economy that works for the Osage people.