National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. will serve as keynote speaker at the upcoming UHN Awards Banquet.
Wright is a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and served as Chairman for 11 years. He is also a recognized national Tribal leader and advocate, familiar to many on Capitol Hill and in every corner of Indian Country, and has testified before Congress on four occasions. Wright is a military veteran who served in the United States Army National Guard and is dedicated to national advocacy on behalf of Tribal veterans. He has a diverse background in education, management, and entrepreneurship. Read his full biography: https://www.ncai.org/about-ncai/ncai-leadership#executive-director-larry-wright-jr.
Natasha Willis (Mississippi Band of Choctaws) will serve as Master of Ceremonies of the Banquet. UHN citizen Grayhawk Perkins will offer the invocation, and Chief Chaisson will recognize the distinguished guests in attendance.
The UHN Awards Banquet takes place Saturday, December 13, 2025, 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Aphrodite Hall located at 212 Venture Blvd. in Houma, La. Tickets are $12 in advance and $20 at the door, and can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/5n7bnzz9 or by scanning the second QR code in the graphic below. For more information, call the Tribal Office at (985) 223-3093.
🚨LAST CALL FOR UHN AWARD NOMINATIONS!🚨
Monday, December 8th at 12:00 p.m. is the deadline to nominate an individual who deserves to be recognized at the annual UHN Awards Banquet. The nomination categories are:
PIONEER – A tribal citizen who has dedicated years of their life and work towards advancing the UHN and/or in service to UHN citizens
LEADERSHIP – A tribal citizen who has shown exemplary leadership skill and courage towards advancing the UHN and/or in service to UHN citizens
EDUCATION – A tribal citizen or educator who has worked in the field of education who has shown significant dedication and devotion towards promoting education among tribal youth or advancing the outcomes of UHN youth.
ADVOCATE – An individual (tribal citizen or non-native who demonstrated great skill and perseverance by speaking out regarding injustices affecting Houma people and promoting the equal and fair treatment of Houma people, traditions and way of life.
CULTURAL PRESERVATION – A tribal citizen who has shown a deep commitment to the preservation of UHN culture such as art, study and practice of traditional living, language, traditional healing, etc., and has made an effort to pass on that knowledge and way of life to younger generations.
To submit a nomination, fill out the nomination form which can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/5emm576s or by scanning the first QR code in the graphic below.
