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Native Nations Center

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Welcome to the Native Nations Center

The University of Oklahoma recognizes the sovereign status of the Native Nations of Oklahoma and the institution-to-institution relationship between the University of Oklahoma and Native Nations.The Native Nations Center was officially established in 2015 as a part of the Department of Native American Studies. The Native Nations Center is now a Provost direct unit with office space and a special events space in Copeland Hall.  It is our hope that, someday, the NNC will fulfill the vision of OU’s American Indian students and President William Bizzell and grow into a stand-alone building. In 2018, the Chickasaw Nation endowed the Native Nations Center to ensure its future. The center works to enhance research opportunities for scholars and provide much-needed resources for Oklahoma’s tribes while also enriching the lives of our students and all Oklahomans.


Current Events


Provost Academic Bulletin: Event Title: Native Nations Center Community Welcome Event Event Date:  March 23rd, 2023 Event Start Time: 3:00 P.M.  Event End Time: 5:00 P.M. Where: Native Nations Event Center, room 233 in Copeland Hall Please join Native Nations Center, along with our partner Native American Studies, for a NNC Community Welcome. This is an event in which our Native and Indigenous community, partners, faculty, staff, students, and researchers can welcome Tana Fitzpatrick (Crow Tribe of Montana) as the new Director of the Native Nations Center and celebrate the elevation of Native Nations Center to align under the Office of the President and within the Office of Tribal Relations here at the University of Oklahoma. Tana will also outline her plans for the future of the Native Nations Center going forward. Please join us and feel free to bring a dish or just enjoy the food provided by our community partners! Visit our Native Nations Center Website or contact Evelyn Cox at ecox@ou.edu or Katie Bayliss at nas@ou.edu for more information about this event.

Native Nations Center Community Welcome Event

Introducing New NNC Director, Tana Fitzpatrick

Event Date: Thursday, March 23, 2023

Event Time: 3:00PM - 5:00PM (CST/CDT)

Event Title:  Native Nations Center Community Welcome Event

Location: Native Nations Event Center, Room 233 of Copeland Hall, 860 Van Vleet Oval, Norman OK 73019


Please join Native Nations Center, along with our partner Native American Studies, for a NNC Community Welcome. This is an event in which our Native and Indigenous community, partners, faculty, staff, students, and researchers can welcome Tana Fitzpatrick (Crow Tribe of Montana) as the new Director of the Native Nations Center and celebrate the elevation of Native Nations Center to align under the Office of the President and within the Office of Tribal Relations here at the University of Oklahoma. Tana will also outline her plans for the future of the Native Nations Center going forward. Please join us and feel free to bring a dish or just enjoy the food provided by our community partners! This event is open to all.  

RSVP Online



Native Nations Center at OU presents Tony Tiger Exhibition and Artist Talk: Sharing Our Stories and Building Community Please join Native Nations Center as we bring you OU Alumni and Native artist Tony Tiger for an "Exhibition" and "Artist Talk" as part of our Native Nations Center 2022-2023 Theme of "Sounds, Images, Places of Belonging." See event descriptions and details below: EXHIBITION - Sharing Our Stories and Building Community Open Daily, Monday-Friday  February 6 – April 14, 2023  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Native Nations Event Center , Copeland Hall Room 233 on the Norman OU Campus  * Exhibition pieces are available for purchase. Visit the Native Nations Center to inquire about purchasing an exhibit piece on display. For further information or accommodations, please contact the Native Nations Center at nnc@ou.edu or call (405) 325-2806 / (405) 325-4553.   ARTIST TALK - Sharing Our Stories and Building Community  Tony A. Tiger (Sac and Fox, Seminole, and Muscogee Creek) artist, independent art curator and art educator   Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023  Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.  Where: Native Nations Event Center, Copeland Hall Room 233 on the Norman OU Campus

Sharing Our Stories & Building Community

Tony A. Tiger (Sac and Fox, Seminole, and Muscogee Creek) artist, independent art curator and art educator

EXHIBITION  - Sharing Our Stories and Building Community

Open Daily, Monday-Friday

February 6 – April 14, 2023

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Native Nations Event Center , Copeland Hall Room 233 on the Norman OU Campus

* Exhibition pieces are available for purchase. Visit the Native Nations Center to inquire about purchasing an exhibit piece on display. For further information or accommodations, please contact the Native Nations Center at nnc@ou.edu or call (405) 325-2806 / (405) 325-4553. 


ARTIST TALK - Sharing Our Stories and Building Community

Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Where: Native Nations Event Center, Copeland Hall Room 233 on the Norman OU Campus

Tony Tiger (Sac and Fox, Seminole, and Muscogee Creek) is an artist, independent art curator, and art educator. Tiger earned an MFA from the University of Oklahoma and a BFA from Oklahoma State University. He is active in the Indigenous Art field and enjoys encouraging and inspiring young artists. You can see more of his art and career on Facebook and Instagram ARTIST WEBSITE These events are open to all.  

Register Online


Event Date: Monday, April 10, 2023  Event Time: 3:00PM (CST/CDT)  Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth Rule, Ph.D.   Venue: Northeastern State University, 703 N Grand Avenue, Tahlequah, OK  In this talk, Dr. Elizabeht Rule will presetn on her guide to Indigenous DC, a digital map and mobile app feautring sites of importance to Native peoples across the Nations's captial, and her affiliated full-length book, Indigneous DC: Native Peopels and the Nation's Capital (Georetown Universit Press, 2023). See flyer for QR code to register for the event as space is limited.

Indigenous DC Guide to Mapping Native Sites

Northeastern State University / Dr. Elizabeth Rule


Event Date: Monday, April 10, 2023

Event Time: 3:00PM (CST/CDT)

Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth Rule, Ph.D. 

Venue: Northeastern State University, 703 N Grand Avenue, Tahlequah, OK


In this talk, Dr. Elizabeht Rule will presetn on her guide to Indigenous DC, a digital map and mobile app feautring sites of importance to Native peoples across the Nations's captial, and her affiliated full-length book, Indigneous DC: Native Peopels and the Nation's Capital (Georetown Universit Press, 2023). See flyer for QR code to register for the event as space is limited.  

Event Date: May 4 - May 5th, 2023   Event Time: See flyer for Detials  Submissions Open: February 8th, 2023.   Venue: Norman, OK  IndiGENcon is looking for submissions for lighting talks, posters, presentations and artistic or artisan expressions. They aree working to share stories and achievements as well as asspirations. They would like to showcase their success in implementing traditional knowledge practices in institutions of higher ecudation and discuss new Indigenous standards of success. See flyer for QR code to submit for the event or for additional information.

IndiGENcon Creating Connections and Making Space

Call for Lightning Talks / Posters / Artisans


Event Date: May 4 - May 5th, 2023 

Event Time: See flyer for Detials

Submissions Open: February 8th, 2023. 

Venue: Norman, OK


IndiGENcon is looking for submissions for lighting talks, posters, presentations and artistic or artisan expressions. They aree working to share stories and achievements as well as asspirations. They would like to showcase their success in implementing traditional knowledge practices in institutions of higher ecudation and discuss new Indigenous standards of success. See flyer for QR code to submit for the event or for additional information.  


Also on the Horizon: NNC Podcast Workshop Series - Learn Skills to Conduct Professional Level Podcasts and Recordings

This workshop will give you hands-on experience, training, tools, and exposure to resources needed to take the leap and create your own podcast. Our Native Nations Center Director, Brian Burkhart will be instructing this series with one workshop devoted to Mac users and the other to PC users integrating the latest software.


Current News


Tana Fitzpatrick

OU Names Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations

March 22, 2022

The University of Oklahoma announced today the appointment of Tana Fitzpatrick as associate vice president of tribal relations, pending OU Board of Regents’ approval.

Ryan Lee

New American Indian Programs & Services Coordinator

August 11, 2022

The Office of Student Life welcomes Ryan Lee as the new Coordinator, American Indian Programs & Services. For more information, contact Ryan Lee at rtlee@ou.edu.



Native Nations Center Themes Graphic

Twelve OU Faculty Selected as Research Consortia Leader for Native Nations Press

Twelve faculty at the University of Oklahoma, representing departments spanning Native American studies, law, education, visual arts and more, will comprise an inaugural Research Consortia Leaders for the Native Nations Imprint of the University of Oklahoma Press.

Funded by a historic grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the imprint aims to deepen the University of Oklahoma Press’s Native American engagement in collaboration with OU’s Native Nations Center. Amanda Cobb-Greetham, professor of Native American studies and the founding director of the Native Nations Center, serves as the inaugural coordinator of the Native Nations Imprint.

Read More Here

Native Nations Center Themes Graphic

Our Goals


  • Provide a “front door” and clearing house for those interested in Native initiatives at OU.
  • Provide nationally known guest speakers, governance workshops, and applicable curriculum for faculty, students, and tribal nations. 
  • House a research and policy center with full-time research faculty (non-advocacy, applied research).
  • Provide research opportunities for OU, Oklahoma, national and international scholars. 
  • Provide significant opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student recruitment and retention.
  • Provide a gathering place and educational leadership programming for Native students.
  • Promote and support the use of innovative technology within our Native community for cultural continuance, sovereignty, representation, and sustainability.
  • Elevate and institutionalize OU’s existing relationships with tribal nations.
  • Make OU the “hub” of related Native American and Indigenous activities in the state.

 


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