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UCO to Host Native American Heritage Month Kickoff Event, Nov. 5

Oct. 24, 2025

A group of individuals poses for a picture at a previous UCO Native American Heritage Month Kickoff event.

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Native American Student Association (NASA) will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with an official kickoff event from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms on Central’s campus.

This year’s event will feature a keynote address from Walter Echo-Hawk, a distinguished Native American attorney, tribal judge, author and advocate for Indigenous rights. Echo-Hawk has dedicated his career to advancing justice, sovereignty and the preservation of Native culture.

“Native American Heritage Month is a time for honoring our traditions, amplifying Native voices and strengthening our community ties,” said Riley McClain, president of UCO’s NASA.

“We are honored to welcome Walter Echo-Hawk to campus as we begin this month of celebration and learning.”

The kickoff event marks the beginning of a monthlong celebration recognizing the history, resilience and contributions of Native peoples and features cultural presentations, art, free food, community connection and reflections on the ongoing importance of Indigenous presence and leadership at UCO and beyond.

For more information about this event or NASA, contact Shatima Bennett, NASA advisor, at sbennett18@uco.edu.

Learn more about UCO at www.uco.edu.

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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Native American Student Association (NASA) will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with its official kickoff event from 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, in the Nigh University Center Ballrooms on Central’s campus. Pictured, participants from last year's Native American Heritage Month Kickoff event.

Devan Wielgos

Devan Wielgos

Communications and Marketing Coordinator, UCO University Communications

 

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About University of Central Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma is a campus community in motion—leading, innovating and creating transformative learning opportunities that foster success for our students. As Oklahoma’s largest metropolitan university, we provide high-quality, nationally recognized programs that are always evolving and adapting to the needs of our students and the community. This commitment is rooted in our founding in 1890 as the state’s teacher’s college, training those who would educate the next generation of leaders and innovators. We remain dedicated to offering an accessible, affordable education, earning national accolades for social mobility, veterans’ outreach and first-generation student programs.

Guided by the motto “ubi motus est” – which translates to “where movement is” – the university continues to evolve and grow, offering 119 undergraduate and 81 graduate programs to our more than 12,000 students from our main campus in Edmond, Oklahoma, and facilities throughout the Oklahoma City metro. Our colors were the first adopted of any university in the state, and our Bronze and Blue symbolize our greatest strengths—the illumination of new ideas and the endless expanse of a clear sky above. At UCO, anything is possible.

The university is governed by the Regional University System of Oklahoma Board of Regents and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Contact

100 North University Drive Edmond, OK 73034

405-974-2307

ucomm@uco.edu

www.uco.edu