Ruggles Native American Music Series

The University of Oklahoma’s Ruggles Native American Music Series is an exploration of the diversity of Indigenous music, dance, storytelling, and culture. Each semester the Ruggles series showcases Indigenous talent through live performances, exhibitions, films, and educational workshops. Through its focus on interdepartmental collaboration, the Ruggles Native American Music Series has been a part of university-wide celebrations of Native Culture such as the Native Voices Over the Airwaves: The Indians for Indians Hour Radio Show and the Native Crossroads Film Festival. Previous guests include United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, artist and Native American flutist Timothy Nevaquaya, author of the Super Indian comic series Arigon Starr, and the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. This series was created by ethnomusicologist Paula Conlon and is named in honor of Mary Jo Ruggles who founded the World Music and Native American music programs at the University of Oklahoma. It was her mission to honor and acknowledge the Indigenous people of Oklahoma.