WELCOME TO THE
The Native Nations Center at the University of Oklahoma is a research and policy institute situated within the Office of Tribal Relations in the Office of the President. The NNC works to enhance mutual understanding and engender good relationships between the Center and Tribal Nations to support and respond to their research and policy needs. The NNC recognizes the sovereign status of Tribal Nations and strives to strengthen the institution-to-institution relationship between the University of Oklahoma and Tribal Nations through the work that we do.
February 19, 2025
12:00 - 1:15 pm CT
Streaming Online via Zoom
Native Nations Event Center (Copeland Hall 233 - OU Norman Campus)
*Registration information will be available at a later date.
March 5, 2025
12:00 - 1:15 pm CT
Streaming Online via Zoom
Deco Room (Adminstration Building - OU Tulsa Campus)
*Registration information will be available at a later date.
TBD (June 16-27, 2025)
TBD
Streaming Online via Zoom
TBD (OU Health Sciences Center - Oklahoma City)
*Registration information will be available at a later date.
November 15, 2024OU News
Tahdooahnippah examined the trust relationships embedded in treaties between Tribal Nations and the U.S. government. His presentation included... the historic and ongoing significance of treaty rights as more than legal contracts — they represent sacred agreements founded on trust and mutual respect, grounded in the sacrifices made by Native ancestors.
“For Indigenous peoples, treaties represent not just rights, but also responsibilities passed down from generations who fought, suffered and even gave their lives to secure them,” Tahdooahnippah said. “These are not just legal documents; they are human rights and fundamental rights that define the trust relationship between tribes and the federal government.”
Read the full article here: https://ou.edu/news/articles/2024/november/ou-hosts-comanche-nation-chairman-for-tribal-engagement-series
November 1, 2024Native Nations Center
The Native Nations Center proudly celebrates Native American Heritage Month this November—a time to honor the history, traditions, contributions, and... enduring cultures of Native and Indigenous Peoples, past and present.
We also invite you to join us for upcoming events in our Ethical Tribal Engagement Series, focused on fostering respectful and meaningful engagement with Tribal Nations during this important month of recognition. Spaces are filling quickly for in-person attendance for our upcoming Keynote and Poster Showcase happening on November 7, 2024, from 12:00 pm - 3:00pm at the OU Norman campus.
Learn more about the ETE Series here: https://www.ou.edu/nativenationscenter/events/ete
October 16, 2024Native Nations Center
The Native Nations Center Team is growing! The NNC worked with the SCC NACCHE team on this grant and will soon be adding a new tribal healthcare policy analyst position....
American Indian people suffer from incredibly high rates of cancer. We are excited to work with the dedicated team at SCC NACCHE to address and elevate policy considerations at the intersection of tribal health sovereignty and federal priorities, particularly in the area of cancer health disparities. More to come about the new position.
#nncou #nativenationscenter #policyanalysis #policyresearch #tribalsovereignty #selfgovernance
September 11, 2024Native Nations Center
The 2024-2025 Ethical Tribal Engagement Series is coming soon! Save the dates and join us throughout the year at OU Norman, OU Tulsa, and OU Health and Sciences Center for impactful... gatherings on ethical tribal engagement and collaboration. For more details and registration, visit nnc.events/ete. Follow us throughout the year as we roll out details about the ETE series!
May 1, 2024Native Nations Center
For the past 12+ months, the Native Nations Center has worked diligently to renew its focus on research and tribal engagement. We are excited to provide the first-ever year-in-review ... to highlight our team's extraordinary efforts.
January 18, 2024Native Nations Center
The Native Nations Center is excited to invite you to our first of four events of the Spring 2024 Ethical Tribal Engagement Series! We are kicking off the series with a pa...nel featuring Kelly Berry, Robin Minthorn, Paul Spicer, and Daniel Wildcat at the OU Norman Campus. Come join us on February 7th!
For more information and to register, visit our new dedicated webpage for the Ethical Tribal Engagement Series at https://www.ou.edu/nativenationscenter/events/ete.
October 20, 2023Native Nations Center
The Native Nations Center is honored to have collaborated and supported an insightful interview of Yancey Red Corn discussing the preparation behind the highly anticipated film Killers of the Flower Moon.
As we prepare to witness the unfolding of this gripping narrative on the big screen, the Native Nations Center recognizes the importance of preserving the stories and traditions of Native Nations and how the past influences the present. In this interview, Mr. Red Corn shares insights behind A Pipe for February, written by his late father, Charles Red Corn, and published by the OU Press in 2005. He also sheds light on the importance of active listening and meaningful engagement with tribes in film making, and Killers of the Flower Moon promises to be a significant step in sharing stories of the Osage Nation—from their perspective—with the world.
As we honor and celebrate the release of this film, we are mindful that together we can build a world that respects and honors the legacies of Native communities.
Credits: The Native Nations Center would like to thank Senator Mary Boren (Senate District 16) for this collaboration. We would also like to extend our thanks to Scout Higgins (Mellon Impact Fellowship intern at the Native Nations Center), who interviewed Mr. Red Corn on location at the Native Nations Event Center on September 21, 2023.
March 31, 2024Tribal Business News
The latest private equity investments are part of the tribe’s broad investment portfolio with venture capital and private investments in several industries including energy, healthcare, technology, real estate and other sectors.
December 6, 2023The White House
The EO aims to respect tribal sovereignty by reforming federal funding to support Tribal Nations in having greater control over how they invest federal funding, acknowled...ging their expertise in addressing the needs of their communities.
October 26, 2023U.S. GAO
Selected Tribes and tribal-serving organizations cited concerns about BIA's timeliness and communication in delivering real estate services. In particular, they told GAO ...that BlA's lengthy processing times can adversely affect applicants and may disincentivize lending or investment on tribal lands. Tribes and others also indicated that BIA's communication regarding the status of applications and other real estate matters can be untimely, unclear, or inconsistent-leading to frustration, delays, or other negative outcomes.
October 29, 2023Tribal Business News
Federal Tribal Consultation Notice: The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is formally consulting with tribes beginning in January 2024. As the federal agency responsible f...or granting patents and registering trademarks, the USPTO’s domain is intellectual property. The 2024 consultations seek to better protect tribal cultural resources, cultural expressions, and traditional knowledge. In addition to federally recognized tribes, the consultations include dates for state recognized tribes, Native Hawaiians, and inter-tribal organizations.
September 27, 2023CISA.gov
WASHINGTON - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the opening the application process ...for $18.2 million available through the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program (TCGP) to help tribal governments address cybersecurity risks and threats. With the release of a Notice of Funding Opportunity, applicants have until January 10, 2024 to apply for a grant, which can be used to fund new or existing cybersecurity programs.
“We know that Tribes face unique cybersecurity challenges and often lack the resources needed to address them. The Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program will play a critical role in helping Tribal governments build their capability and capacity to protect their communities from cybersecurity threats,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “We encourage all federally recognized Tribal governments to apply for grant funds to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure and communities from malicious cyber activity. CISA is here to provide the expertise, tools, and technical assistance to be a reliable partner to Tribal governments in combatting the emerging cyber threats Tribes face each day.”
September 27, 2023CRS
Fresh off the presses! Excellent CRS report providing an overview of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Budget. Aptly, the report notes that tribes often testify to the negativ...e impacts of government shutdowns on tribal citizens and resources, particularly for public safety and economic development. While Congress recently supported limited advanced appropriations for some federal programs, such as for Indian Health Service’s programming, “Many tribes have expressed support for advance appropriations to mitigate tribal impacts of government shutdowns, and to uphold federal treaty and trust obligations.”
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its Indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgement is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.