Indigenous People’s Day celebrations in Oklahoma

(TULSA, Okla.) On Monday, October 14, Indigenous People’s Day will be celebrated throughout Indian Country, including within communities of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes. Here’s a look at how some of those communities will be celebrating this year.

The Greater Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission will be celebrating the day at Dream Keepers Park starting at 9:00 a.m. 

The festivities will include performances from the Osage Singers, the Cherokee Choir, the Chickasaw Dancers, the Pawnee Singers and Dancers, and the Rising Buffalo Dancers.

Chiefs from Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cherokee Nation, and Osage Nation will also be in attendance at this year’s event. 

The theme will be “Voice Above, Voices Within, and Voices United.” 

“Our theme this year is about celebrating our past, present, and future of Native American heritage and culture,” said Cheryl Cohenour, the Chair of the Greater Tulsa Indian Affairs Commission. “It is a time of celebration and reflection of our history and our future before us. We are a powerful race and we are here to stay.” 

The Indigenous People’s Association is also organizing celebrations at Creek Nation Council House Museum in Okmulgee from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

There will be Native American vendors that include arts and crafts, food, as well as resource booths and make and take activities. 

Michael Loman, a Choctaw Citizen and Native American Dancer and Performer, will be at the event as well as Will Buck, a Native American comedian who is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. 

Mary Hammer, the communication officer of the Northeastern Oklahoma Indigenous Safety and Education Organization (NOISE), Osage Nation WIC site coordinator, and owner of INDIGI Girl Magic, will speak at that event. 

Hammer is a citizen of the Osage Nation. 

For those closer or wanting to travel to Oklahoma City, the First Americans Museum (FAM) will also be celebrating Indigenous People’s Day. 

There will be several cultural performances that will include the Caddo Culture Club, the Danza Yumare Indigenous Dance Group, the De’Wegen Kwek Potawatomi Women’s Drum Group Performance, the Sauk Dancers featuring Young Buffalo Horse Drum, and the Oklahoma Fancy Dancers. 

The Native American USMC Veterans Association will be there to conduct a Native Sign Language demonstration. 

The Oklahoma Arts Council will be celebrating Indigenous People’s Day at the state capitol as well. 

A 45 minute tour will start in the southeast visitors lobby of the capitol at 9 a.m. The free tour will showcase pieces from the Capitol Art collection. 

And if you’re interested in starting the celebrations early, there will be a couple of opportunities to celebrate Indigenous culture this weekend. 

The Broken Arrow Intertribal Veterans Association will host their 3rd annual Powwow on October 12 at the Broken Arrow Freshman Academy Football Field. 

The event starts at 2:00 p.m. 

For those who need humor, the Loony Bin Comedy Club in Tulsa will feature an Indigenous People’s Day showcase on Sunday, October 13. 

The show will be hosted by Sondra Slade and will include Rachel Rose, Brent Deo, Kels Cooper, and special guest Shea Vassar. It starts at 8:45 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online.