NASA Hosts Safe Dating Awareness Event in Partnership with Tonkawa Tribe

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Native American Student Association (NASA) hosted a  Safe Dating / Domestic Awareness Event this week, partnering with the Tonkawa Tribe’s Indian  Tribal Government Program to educate students about domestic violence, healthy relationships,  and available support services.  

The Tonkawa Tribe program, established in 2020, provides legal services and advocacy for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking.  Representatives from the tribe, Dawn Rowe, program coordinator, and Daniella Guzman,  outreach coordinator, spoke to students about the services they provide to tribal and non-tribal victims alike.  

The program assists clients with filing police reports, child custody orders, divorce and separation cases, and offers court accompaniment and safety planning.

Victims can also access resources for housing, financial support, education, and community connections. For those in need of immediate safety, the Tonkawa Tribe maintains two cabins that serve as temporary emergency shelters, offering privacy and protection for those in need. 

“Legal services and assistance to victims are at the core of what we do,” Rowe said. The program serves an average of five to six clients each month and continues to grow its outreach across  Oklahoma.  

According to data shared at the event, one in six women experiences sexual abuse while dating,  and more than half of those cases occur in college-aged populations.

In addition, one in three college students reports experiencing physical assault in a relationship. The speakers emphasized that domestic violence is not limited by race, age, education, or background.  

“Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to exert power and control over another person,” read a pamphlet distributed by the Tonkawa Tribe. “Abuse isn’t always physical; it can  be verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, or even spiritual.” 

NASA’s event included interactive  activities aimed at recognizing “red  flags in relationships and promoting  consent education. Attendees could  participate in a “green flag/red flag”  dating scenario game and contribute  to a reflection wall with the prompt  “Safe dating looks like…”

The event also offered food, drinks, and informational materials from both organizations. 

NASA President Tēa Tahchawwickah said events like this help create important conversations within UCO’s Native community. “Tribes are all very different; they are their own individuals,”  Tahchawwickah said.

“Native populations are highly affected by issues like domestic violence,  so we want to create a space where people feel safe to talk and ask questions.”  

NASA member Anna Lankin said the association strives to be an inclusive and welcoming community. “I didn’t grow up around the culture, so I didn’t feel ‘Native enough’ to belong,”  Lankin said.

“NASA shows that there’s no limit or amount you need to be, it’s about connection  and learning.”  

NASA continues to build a community on a largely commuter campus, working to provide cultural education and support for Indigenous students.

The organization’s upcoming programming includes the Native American Heritage Month Kickoff on Nov. 5, featuring traditional food,  dance, and storytelling, and the Miss Native UCO Pageant on Nov. 11, celebrating Indigenous identity and leadership on campus.  

For legal or victim support, feel free to contact:  

Dawn Rowe, Program Coordinator — drowe@tonkawatribe.com, (580) 628-2561 ext. 801 

 Daniella Guzman, Outreach Coordinator — dguzman@tonkawatribe.com, (580) 628-2561 ext.  803