Otoe-Missouria Day

Sept. 25-27, 2026

The fifth annual Otoe-Missouria Day in Nebraska took place at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on the Platte River.

Read about it

Schedule

Friday, Sept. 25

Optional Lincoln, Neb., day-time events for Otoe-Missouria tribal members:

• Morning visits to the archives at the Nebraska State Historical Society (1500 R St.) anytime from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Nebraska History Museum (131 Centennial Mall N, Lincoln) at 9:30 a.m. 
• Kihega Garden visit at Prairie Pines, 3000 N 112th St., Lincoln (any time)
• Indian Center mural visit, Lincoln Indian Center, 1100 Military Rd, Lincoln, meet the muralists 11 a.m.-noon.

1-2:30 p.m.: Performance by Olivia Komahcheet at the Lincoln Indian Center, 1100 Military Rd. Free and open to all.

4 p.m.: check-in at Mahoney State Park's Kiewit Lodge for Otoe-Missouria tribal member lodging (cabins and lodge rooms). Dinner on your own.

7-9 p.m.: Food bingo in Jiwere-Nut'achi for tribal members in the Nebraska Room, Kiewit Lodge.

Saturday, Sept. 26

9-11:30 a.m.: Workshops and presentations for Otoe-Missouria tribal members (limited to 30 people each, sign up at check in), Kiewit Lodge

• Playwriting presentation with Anevay Greenwood, Native in America, Kiewit Lodge, Red Oak Room
• Native plant/medicine workshop with Jeri Devitt and Marci Black, Kiewit Lodge. This workshop discusses plants native to North American that have been used for centuries by Indigenous people. Tribal members will learn plant identification, where they grow, medicinal benefits, usage as well how to process them into teas, syrups, salves and tinctures, Kiewit Lodge, Cedar Room.
• Language, culture, and history workshop with Wosgą Wokigo (Christina Goodson, Elsie Whitehorn, Alvin Moore, Kelene Deer). This session will cover the origins and history of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe from Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska to the current location in Red Rock, Okla. It will also cover language and cultural loss and what efforts Jiwere-Nut’achi Wosgą Wokigo is undertaking to revitalize language and culture. Kiewit Lodge, Nebraska Room.
• Art workshop with Tom Farris: Relief printing is the oldest form of printing, dating to around 255 BCE. The process has evolved to include stamps, woodblock prints and linocuts. In this class tribal members will have the opportunity to create your own ribbonwork pattern relief print. Kiewit Lodge, Blue and Prairie Agate Rooms.

9-11:30 a.m.: Workshop with Niko DeRoin-Davidson for non-Natives, Burr Oak picnic shelter. Niko is an enrolled member of the Otoe-Missouria tribe and a descendant of the Oklahoma Band Choctaw. This workshop is for non-Natives who want to learn more about powwow etiquette, protocols, and engaging respectfully with Native people. This event is currently full.

9-11:30 a.m.: Youth activities with Big Gumdrop Outdoors for tribal members. Drop off children and sign a waiver at 8:30 a.m., Lakeview picnic shelter. 

12-4 p.m.: Otoe-Missouria social dance. There will be opportunities for non-Natives to take part in dancing. Bring your own camp/lawn chair. Guests can purchase food from the food trucks parked on site. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

5 p.m.: Dinner prepared by Chef Anthony Warrior, Activity Center Pavilion. REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR NON-OTOE-MISSOURIA.

6:30-8:30 p.m.: Program at Activity Center Pavilion
Staged reading of Native in America by Anevay Greenwood with Elise Bear, Miwese Greenwood

Performance by Olivia Komahcheet 

Sunday, Sept. 27

6:30-9:30 a.m.: Sunrise gathering led by Miwese Greenwood, picnic shelter

11 a.m.: Deadline for checking out of lodging

Optional activities in Lincoln, Neb., for Otoe-Missouria tribal members:

• Kihega Garden visit, Prairie Pines, 3000 N 112th St., Lincoln, any time
• Indian Center mural visit, 1100 Military Rd, Lincoln, any time

4 p.m.: Olivia Komahcheet at the Johnny Carson Theatre, open to all, pay-what-you-can tickets. 
 

FAQ

Where are the events?
Most events will take place at the Activity Center Pavilion. Workshops will take place either at the Kiewit Lodge or a nearby picnic shelter.

What if I'm a tribal member but do NOT need lodging?
Let Dominique Ellis (see contact info below) know if you are attending and do not need lodging.

State park entry
You are required to display a state park pass while at Mahoney State Park. Day passes are $7 for Nebraska state residents and $14 for out of state.

Questions
Please contact Dominique Ellis at the Center for Great Plains Studies at 402-472-3964 or dellis25@unl.edu. Additionally, you can contact Cory DeRoin at corylderoin@gmail.com