John F. Maker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was raised in Hominy, Oklahoma, and currently resides in Hominy. He attended public school in Hominy and graduated from Hominy High School. He was a very talented athlete and played on the high school football team as a Hominy “Buck.” After graduation John went to Haskell Jr. College, Lawrence, Kansas, now Haskell Indian Nations University, where he played on the football team as one of the “Fighting Indians”. He also attended Oklahoma State University and is currently attending Bacone/Pawnee College. He has an Associate Degree in American Indian Studies. John also has a Master of Science from Kansas State University.
John is ¾ Osage and comes from a very traditional Osage family. He is a member of the Native American Church and is on the Hominy/Zon Zo Li District Committee of the In Lon Ska. John is very knowledgeable in all aspects of Osage culture and tradition. John’s parents are the late Lloyd G. Maker and the late Virginia Harding Maker. His Paternal Grandparents were Full Blood Osages and original Allottees, they are Ross Maker Allottee #816 and Emma Marie Hoover Maker Allottee #471, Maternal grandparents were Marguerite Penn Harding and Arlan R. Harding. Paternal Great Grandparents were Full Blood Osage Allottees #809 Tah Hah Gah Heh and #810 Wah Hu Sah E. And his Maternal Great Grandparents were Full Blood Osage Allottees #452 Charles Me She Tsa He and #453 Wah Ko Sah Moie.
John is a veteran of the United States Army. He received his Basic Training and Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was selected to attend the U.S. Army Instructor School, where he graduated in the top 5% of his class. John was a member of the Instructor Cadre at Ft. Benning for two years and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal as a top instructor. He was transferred to Garlstadt, West Germany, where he served a two-year overseas duty. He was awarded the Army Overseas Ribbon, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, the Army Achievement Medal and the Expert Infantry Badge.
Before being elected to the 3rd Osage Congress in 2012, John was an employee of the Osage Nation Language Program. He taught Osage language classes to children, adults, elders and also in the Pawhuska High School. And while currently serving on the Osage Congress, he is very active in Cultural events and is still involved in Osage language events.