Native American Culture to Take Center Stage at SSC’s Tribal Fest

Josh Hutton

Seminole State College will celebrate Native American culture and heritage during its annual Tribal Fest on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the SSC campus and will feature a variety of activities, performances and local tribal resources.

The day will begin with a Browsing Fair from 9 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. at Cook’s Commons, where attendees can explore booths from local tribal organizations. Activities will include a special dance performance by SSC alumnus Asa Samuels, who was named Mr. Indigenous OU in 2023. Beading demonstrations will also be conducted, and local Tribal Princesses will meet and greet attendees. The SSC Belles women’s basketball team will also be on-site, signing autographs. Of the 16 players on the Belles’ roster, 10 are Native American, representing the Absentee Shawnee, Apache, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Comanche, Creek, Delaware, Kiowa, Rosebud Sioux, Sac and Fox, Seminole and Wichita tribes.

Visitors can enjoy food from the Fry Bread Express Food Truck throughout the morning.

This is a photo of Native American hoop dancer Eric Hernandez, who will be the featured performer at Seminole State College’s Tribal Fest on Oct. 9.
Native American hoop dancer Eric Hernandez will be the featured performer at Seminole State College’s Tribal Fest on Oct. 9.

At noon, attendees are invited to the Jeff Johnston Auditorium for a special performance by Native American hoop dancer Eric Hernandez. Hernandez, a member of the Lumbee Tribe, is known for his dynamic performances and previously served as the lead character and dancer in Cirque du Soleil’s “TOTEM,” which toured in over 17 countries. His work showcases the art of hoop dancing while promoting cultural understanding and breaking stereotypes.

This event is free and open to the public. The event is sponsored by several federal grant programs on SSC’s campus, including Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions, Talent Search, Upward Bound and Student Support Services/SSS STEM.

Vendor List

  • Absentee Shawnee Tribe Rising Warrior
  • Chickasaw Nation – Postsecondary Education
  • Chickasaw Nation School-to-Work Program
  • Citizen Potawatomi Nation Department of Education
  • Citizen Potawatomi Nation Diabetes Program
  • Citizen Potawatomi Nation House of Hope
  • Citizen Potawatomi Nation Workforce & Social Services
  • Citizen Potawatomi Nation WSS
  • Gateway to Prevention & Recovery
  • Housing Authority of the Seminole Nation 
  • Kickapoo Tribal Health Center
  • Kickapoo Tribal Health Center – Behavioral Health
  • Kickapoo Tribal Health Center – Diabetes / Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Department
  • Kimora Cosar
  • Mary Haney
  • MMIP Central Oklahoma Chapter 
  • Modoc Nation Tribal Child Support Services
  • Muscogee Nation Higher Education
  • NASNTI
  • Native Connections – Absentee Shawnee Tribe
  • OSU-CHS Native American Primary Care Center of Excellence
  • Ramona Wahpepah
  • Sac & Fox Education Department
  • Seminole Arts Council
  • Seminole Nation – Food & Nutrition
  • Seminole Nation – Job Placement and Training 
  • Seminole State College Recruitment
  • Southern Plains Tribal Health Board
  • SSC Physical Therapist Assistant Program
  • SSC Student Support Services / STEM SSS
  • Tinker Federal Credit Union

Short Film Contest

This year’s event also features a short film competition for high school and college students.

Short films may be submitted by clicking here.

For questions regarding the short film competition, email SSC Upward Bound Coordinator Matt Kappele at m.kappele@sscok.edu.