Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day: An Oklahoma Story

Today, we honor the first people of this land — the original stewards, storytellers, and nations whose roots run deeper than any border or state line ever could. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not just a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder to pause, reflect, and recognize the truth — that long before Oklahoma was Oklahoma, this land carried the songs, languages, and traditions of Indigenous nations who remain very much alive today.

For me, that truth isn’t abstract — it’s home. I grew up in Talihina, a small town nestled in the Ouachita Mountains, home of the Choctaw Nation Indian Hospital and just a short drive from Tuskahoma, where the historic Choctaw Capitol stands. Every fall, my family went to the Choctaw Festival there. It wasn’t just an event — it was a celebration of community, culture, and resilience. I grew up surrounded by Choctaw friends, classmates, and elders who carried themselves with quiet pride and deep connection to their roots. My family wasn’t on the tribal rolls, but we were raised with immense respect for the land and the people who called it sacred long before we did.

Oklahoma’s very name comes from the Choctaw words okla and humma — “red people.” And our state holds the stories of 39 federally recognized tribes, each distinct, each essential. The same ground that once bore the pain of forced removal now tells stories of renewal and strength. Across Oklahoma, from the Cherokee Nation’s language revitalization programs to the Chickasaw Nation’s investments in education and health, to the Choctaw Nation’s leadership in community and cultural preservation — Indigenous life is not a relic of the past; it’s a vibrant and living force that shapes who we are today.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day invites all of us to go beyond acknowledgment and into awareness. To learn the stories we were never taught. To support Indigenous artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. To attend celebrations like the one at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, where families gather for stickball games, storytelling, and Indigenous cuisine. To teach our children that “Indigenous” means present tense — thriving, creative, and enduring.

At Ed White Law, our work often centers on helping people protect what’s theirs — their ideas, their names, their legacies. On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I am reminded that Native nations have been fighting that same fight for generations — not just for recognition, but for preservation. For the right to exist, create, and flourish on their own terms.

Oklahoma’s story is Indigenous at its core. It always has been. And honoring that truth — not just on this day, but every day — is how we move forward with greater respect, understanding, and humanity.