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Sovereign SnapshotSeptember 16, 2025NNCTPR
As of September 2025, no federally recognized tribe (referred to as tribe or Tribal Nation) is believed to have adopted laws regulating the potential risk and benefits posed by artificial intelligence. This Sovereign Snapshot provides a selected overview of laws developed and enacted by governments, including international, federal, and state laws that regulate artificial intelligence and machine learning (referred to collectively as AI). It also identifies the common themes among the selected AI governance laws, reviews the current discussion of AI use and impacts to Tribal Nations, and concludes with tribal policy considerations...
August 19, 2025NNCTPR
Tana Fitzpatrick, J.D., Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations and NNCPTR Director, was awarded the Hargrave Faculty Writing Award at the June 2025 Sovereignty Symposium XXVII for her research titled, “Federal Gatekeeping and Hollow Sovereignty: A Historical Statutory Analysis of Tribal Access to Legal Representation.” Her analysis highlights the legacy of policy barriers that continue to shape what sovereignty looks like in tribal legal representation today. Read the full publication through The Sovereignty Symposium XXXVII 2025 collection link or on the NNCTPR website at ou.edu/nativenationscenter/research.
June 16, 2025NNCTPR
The Native Nations Center hired its first Tribal Healthcare Policy Analyst, Grace Fox, to support policy research and capacity-building in partnership with Tribal Nations. In collaboration with Stephenson Cancer Center, the role focuses on cancer care policy and advancing tribal sovereignty through informed, strategic engagement. Come meet Grace and the NNCTPR staff at our Open House on September 17th from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. We hope to see you there!
FALL 2024
Grace Harris is a member of the Cherokee Nation and senior undergrad double majoring in Political Science and Native American Studies. Her aspirations include going to law school after graduation and focusing on Native law, in hopes of working for either a tribe or the federal government in tribal advocacy. Her time at the Native Nations Center was spent updating a spreadsheet on federal and tribal government relationships, specifically on the consultation process. This spreadsheet includes federal agency liaisons to tribes as well as any important contact information needed in the consultation process. She was also held responsible for completing a research memo on this process, as well as any recommendations for future administrations in attempts to improve the federal and tribal government relationship. Other tasks such as cleaning and setting up for events in the event center, as well as attending important affairs were completed.
Research Blog
I [Scout Huggins] am a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. I am a senior who transferred to the University of Oklahoma in the Fall of 2022 after completing my associate degree in Kansas at Coffeyville Community College where I played baseball. I am a Native American Studies major with a Political Science minor. I am also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. I plan to attend law school after I graduate, specializing in tribal law. As a NAS Mellon Impact Undergraduate Fellow and an intern at the Native Nations Center, I am a beginning researcher who takes pride in helping my people however I can.
November 12, 2025
2:30 - 3:00 pm SovereignCafé Open
3:00 - 4:00 pm SovereignCast Live
Streaming Online via Zoom
Native Nations Event Center, Copeland Hall 233 - 860 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019
Our inaugural episode of SovereignCast Live will be an NNCTPR conversation with Al technical and legal experts about the opportunities and challenges of data centers, as well as issues related to data security and privacy as we seek to delve deeper into our current research on artificial intelligence in a tribal context. Enjoy in-house crafted specialty coffee and pastries from our new SovereignCafé as we prepare for thoughtful dialogue in an informal setting.
Special Guests: Tracy Pearl, J.D.; John Hassell, Ph.D.; Tana Fitzpatrick, J.D., Evelyn Cox, Ph.D.
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa, Osage, and Quapaw nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its Indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgement is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Copeland Hall Room 225
860 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, OK 73019
nnc@ou.edu | (405) 325-4553
