Indian taco sales, Native law learning, and a Native American expo were all held on the Oklahoma City University campuses for Native American Heritage Month.
November kicked off with homecoming week at OCU. The Native American Society president, Juliana Wahnee was a Native American Society (NAS) royalty nominee.
The Indian taco sale was a major event at the beginning of Native American Heritage Month. The Indian taco sale is one of the main fundraising events for NAS. The group spends nights preparing, with these taco sales happening sporadically throughout the school year.
The next event held during NAHM was at the law school, where several panelists spoke on the McGirt decision. The McGirt decision was a Supreme Court ruling that states the Muscogee Nation’s reservation was never abolished.
Professor Casey Ross, the University General Counsel for OCU, panelist for the event, and a member of the Cherokee nation, said “The event was a success! The organizers…did a great job bringing together a group of folks from different vantage points to share perspectives. The event highlighted what the case stands for, and allowed participants to gain a better understanding of issues of criminal jurisdiction inside of Indian country.”
Joseph Gutierrez, senior game design and animation major and Vice President of the OCU Native American Society, gave a land recognition statement at the interfaith chapel service. Gutierrez is a member of the Comanche and Kiowa tribes.
“The land acknowledgement statements are important to me because they shine a light on the deep history of indigenous people – as well as letting everyone know that we haven’t forgotten the harsh and unforgiving laws and broken treaties. They let people know that we are still here and aren’t extinct like some might believe,” Gutierrez said.
The Native American Society ended the month with an expo. The Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center was packed with tables full of Native vendors with blankets, shirts, bags, music, jewelry, and much more, with the sales totaling over $700. The NAS provided free Indian tacos for students and a raffle.
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