Featured Native American Events

Native American Heritage Month 2024

COCC is commemorating Native American Heritage Month with a lineup in-person events in November, including at the Bend, Madras, Redmond and Prineville campuses, all free and open to the public.

Storytelling, history, and a film screening, including ways to support Indigenous students and communities are all part of COCC's Native American Heritage Month.

Indigenuity (Indigenous + ingenuity) with Dr. Dan Wildcat, Author and professor, Haskell Indian Nation University. Sunday, November 3, 2p.m. Madras Performing Arts Center, 412 SE Bluff Street, Madras, OR. Dr. Wildcat will highlight topics of how American Indian Nations are dynamic, evolving communities with living cultures, traditions, and knowledge. He will explore the concept of Indigenuity (Indigenous ingenuity) - how ancient wisdom informs modern problem solving - and argue for the critical need for this in unique knowledge in today's world.

Dr. Wildcat student event: Monday, November 4, 11a.m. to noon, COCC Redmond Campus, RTEC 209. Free and open to all COCC Students.

Native American Veteran Voices: Friday, November 15, 6-7p.m. COCC Bend Campus, Coats Campus Center, Wille Hall, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR. Two Native American military veterans will share their perspective on serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Hear their stories and journeys, and learn how they encourage Indigenous resilience in their communities.

Dan Martinez: enrolled in the Confederated tribes of Warm Springs, served four years in the U.S. Marine Corp.

Julie Bettles: enrolled member of the Umatilla tribe and is also Wasq'u, Klamath and Cayuse, served 15 years in the U.S. Marine Corp.

"What Was Ours" Film Screening: Thursday, November 21, 6-7:30p.m. COCC Bend Campus, Pioneer Hall, Hitchcock Auditorium, 2600 NW College Way, Bend, OR. This 2017 documentary film, from Emmy award winning independent filmmaker Mat Hames, follows members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes as the seek to reclaim ancestral artifacts to display in the Wind River Reservation museum. The journey risks opening up old wounds - but offers healing from past traumas.

Throughout November, visit all four COCC campuses to learn about Native American Culture, resources and opportunities to get involved. Bend, Coats Campus Center; Redmond, Technology Education Center lobby; Prineville and Madras, front lobby.

Visit our COCC Multicultural Events page for details.

Indigenous Peoples' Day: October 14, 2024

indigenous peoples day poster 2024

Native American Event Videos

Hip hop and rap artist Blue Framez

Indigenous People's Day 2023. Native Hip Hop artist Blue Flamez give a short concert at COCC Bend Campus

Native American Flute Music by James Edmund Greeley

Indigenous People's Day 2023. James Edmund Greely showing his talent at COCC Bend Campus

Celebrating the Strength & Resilience of Native People

Indigenous People's Day 2023. Presented by COCC world languages instructor Gabriann Hall, from the Klamath Tribes.

Native American Flute Music by James Edmund Greeley

Award winning musician James Greeley from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs shares stories, traditions, knowledge of flutes, and his beautiful Native American flute music in this event which took place in Wille Hall on COCC's Bend campus.

Truth, Reckoning and Healing: A Story of Indian Boarding Schools

Presented by COCC world languages instructor Gabriann Hall, from the Klamath Tribes.

For more information contact Jeremiah Rector, Native American program coordinator, at 541-318-3782 or jrector@cocc.edu.