We are located in Life Sciences East, the building directly west of Edmon Low Library.  The Center is located in rooms 104, 105, and 106 with the main entrance through door 104.

Apart from our official name (The OSU Center for Sovereign Nations), our students refer to us as "the CSN" or "the Center". Our students do not prefer "The Sovereign/Sovereignty Center/Office", "The NASA Center", or "The Native Center/Office".

No, the OSU Center for Sovereign Nations is not a student organization, although we do advise the OSU Native American Student Association and strongly support and promote other OSU Native-affiliated student organizations. We are a student resource, sovereignty education, and partnership center at OSU - Our "home" unit is Academic Affairs.

Our center is generally open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Specific events and activities may cause this schedule to vary, and we welcome the opportunity to be responsive via email.

We hope you will stay connected with us on social media and through our calendar! Each week, we also post a Weekly Update with recaps and information, so be sure to check it out!

We are always busy! We host an annual week-long birthday celebration, Soverienty Speaks© educational events, Lunch-A-Month student engagement events, tribal nation meet-and-greets, special workshops, guest speaker presentations, NASA meetings and activities, a full calendar of events for both Native American Heritage Month (November) and American Indian Awareness Week (in the spring), and more! We also partner on events throughout the year, including campus showcases, Nike N7 Field Day, First Nations Day, National American Indian Science & Engineering Fair, and many other important initiatives.

Our center provides a welcoming space to learn about tribal sovereignty and connect with fellow students. Whether you’re interested in academic resources, cultural learning, or other opportunities, we offer valuable experiences for all students.

The Center offers a variety of resources to support students, promote partnerships, and educate about tribal nation sovereignty. Our website and social media contain information on scholarship opportunities, ways to get involved, sovereignty resources, and upcoming events and activities. Students can also find resources in the physical Center for Sovereign Nations, including a community space, electronics, scantrons/blue books, snacks, interactive activities, sovereignty resources, scholarship information, and much more. Our most important resource is our student leadership team, as there is always someone to help connect you with resources and information!

We are a student-led center at OSU, employing a team of around 15 undergraduate Student Leader Ambassadors. These students serve on functional teams that drive Center infrastructure and operations - Everything you see from the OSU Center for Sovereign Nations has student inolvement and leadership at its core. Our Student Leaders also focus on professional development, academic distinction, and career readiness. You can learn more about our full team here.

We think about scholarships for Native students in three group “types”, which can be found here. While our office doesn't offer any scholarships directly, we do help students connect with scholarships and support from OSU, Tribal Nations, and other sources.

• • Tribal Nation Scholarships: Many tribal nations have a Higher Education program and a Foundation with separate scholarships, so make sure you’re checking both of these, if applicable to your nation, to maximize opportunities.

  • OSU Scholarships: Your application to OSU will serve as their scholarship application for OSU scholarships for your first year.  In subsequent years, annual college-wide and departmental scholarships are through a student’s individual college (and sometimes department).  These scholarships normally “go live” in early November and have various deadlines, so make sure to check with your college and/or department this fall regarding next year’s application.

  • “Other” Scholarships: There are a lot of what we call “other” scholarships available for Native students.  While we don’t ever propose to have an exhaustive list, we do try to share a lot of these on our website and on our social media.  Please visit our Specific Scholarships page for a good place to start exploring.

OSU Student Affairs also has some scholarships with specific criteria, so feel free to explore these and see if any are applicable.

We also suggest students connect with OSU Financial Aid and the OSU Bursar Office to explore any additional opportunities:

• • Office of the Bursar

  • Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid

Lastly, you students should visit this student support page to learn more about some of the opportunities mentioned in this email, along with other financial assistance programs.

We understand that exploring tribal citizenship can be both meaningful and complex. While the OSU Center for Sovereign Nations does not conduct genealogical research or determine citizenship eligibility, we are here to help connect you with resources that can support your journey.

It is important to know that tribal citizenship is a legal status—similar to being a citizen of a country. DNA tests might suggest Native ancestry, but citizenship typically requires documented lineage from someone already enrolled in a federally recognized tribal nation. For many tribes, this means tracing ancestry to someone listed on the Dawes Rolls, a historical record maintained by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Each tribal nation sets its own rules and requirements for citizenship, so there is no one-size-fits-all answer. We recommend reaching out directly to the enrollment or membership department of the tribal nation to which you believe you may be connected.

 

Here are a few additional resources and tips to help you get started:

 

• • The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture offers well-researched articles on many tribes and background on the Dawes Rolls.

  • If you have ancestor names, you can use genealogy tools like Ancestry.com to build a family tree and cross-reference with historical records.

  • Think like a researcher: ask “Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.” For example:

    • Where did your ancestors live? Many tribes in Oklahoma were relocated from other regions (helpful maps).

    • When were they born or active? Census records taken every 10 years can be helpful.

    • What tribal affiliations or historical events might be relevant?

Although this is not an exhaustive list, we hope it provides a solid starting point. If you are unsure where to begin, don't be afraid to ask questions!

Absolutely! The OSU Center for Sovereign Nations is open to all students, regardless of tribal affiliation. We encourage anyone interested in tribal nation sovereignty, community, and leadership to visit and participate with the Center. Positivity and inclusiveness are pillars in the CSN!

Yes! OSU offers an American Indian Soverignty course (AMIS 4013) and an Introduction to American Indian Studies course (AMIS 2013), along with other courses. Students can also pursue a minor in American Indian Studies (AMIS). The OSU Center for American Indian Studies is co-located with the OSU Center for Sovereign Nations in 104/105/106 Life Sciences East.