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.
Title: Tribal Nations 101 with Tana Fitzpatrick, Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations
Event Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Event Start Time: 1:30 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. CST/CDT
Summary: This is an introduction to Indian tribes and tribal sovereignty and how OU can partner with tribes in mutually beneficial collaborations.
Venue: Native Nations Event Center, Room 233 in Copeland Hall/Virtual
Description: Are you interested in learning more about Tribal Nations? The Tribal Nations 101 seminar seeks to provide an introduction to Indian tribes and tribal sovereignty. This seminar will review the federal government’s unique government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes, as well as state-tribal relationships. Current tribal issues will also be highlighted.
Point of Contact: Tana Fitzpatrick tana.fitzpatrick@ou.edu or Joy Pendley pendley@ou.edu
Event Title: Talking Leaves & Pixels: The Cherokee National Collection
Event Date: February 9th, 2023
Event Time: 3:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M CST
Where: Native Nations Event Center, Room 233 in Copeland Hall/Virtual
Join Native Nations Center in collaboration with Native American Studies as we offer this panel presentation titled “Talking Leaves & Pixels: The Cherokee National Collection. This event is open to all, but space is limited. Please register using the button below or contact Farina King at farinaking@ou.edu, Evelyn Cox with the Native Nations Center at ecox@ou.edu, or Native American Studies at nas@ou.edu for more information.
Event Date: February 10, 2023
Event Start Time: 1:30 to 2:30
Where: Native Nations Event Center, room 233 in Copeland Hall
Join Native Nations Center in collaboration with the Center for Faculty Excellence and Tana Fitzpatrick, Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations at OU as we offer a continuation of our “Centering Indigenous Research Series.” This year’s “Ethical Tribal Engagement Series #2: Meeting Tribal Needs Through Collaboration” panel seeks to bridge Indigenous and institutional perspectives around research and collaborative community engagement. Our panelists of scholars, researchers and Tribal professionals will speak to the nuances, protocols, concerns, ethics, and best practices of engaging in research or collaborations with and about Indigenous communities or collections. This event is open to all but in-person space is limited. To reserve a spot, please regiser using the link below:
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.
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.
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.
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.
