Octa Keen Obituary: With hearts full of sorrow and deep reverence, we gather in remembrance of a beloved soul, Octa Keen, who passed from this world on the morning of April 10, 2025. Her journey on this Earth may have come to an end, but her spirit, her teachings, and her immeasurable contributions to her people will echo for generations. Octa Keen was more than an elder; she was a living library, a cultural warrior, a gentle teacher, and a proud matriarch. She was among the few remaining fluent speakers of the Umoⁿhoⁿ language, and she carried that sacred responsibility with both humility and fierce determination. The Omaha Tribe, and all who knew and loved her, have suffered a tremendous loss. But even in our grief, we give thanks for the blessing of her life.
For many years, Octa dedicated herself to the preservation and revitalization of the Umoⁿhoⁿ language—a language of beauty, identity, and history that has carried her people through centuries. She was a vessel of ancestral knowledge, passing down stories, songs, prayers, and teachings not found in books but held in the sacred space of oral tradition. She taught with patience and love, and every lesson she shared was a thread in the tapestry of cultural survival.
In classrooms, at ceremonies, and within her own family, Octa was a source of strength and continuity. She believed that to speak the language was to speak the soul of her people. And so she shared, with unwavering devotion, her words and wisdom, not only to preserve the past, but to inspire the future. Her absence leaves an unfillable silence. Her voice, once so steady in prayer and song, now echoes in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, relatives, and students. But even as we grieve, we must remember: Octa’s life was a gift—not just to the Omaha people, but to all who value Indigenous culture, identity, and resilience.
Those who knew her best will remember her gentle smile, the warmth of her welcome, and the way she always made time to listen. Her home was a haven of language, laughter, and love. She was a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend. She held many titles, but wore them all with grace and pride. Her family was her foundation, and she poured herself into them with the same love she poured into her community.
As we honor her, let us also uplift her family in our thoughts and prayers—especially her children, grandchildren, and extended kin, who now must carry the heavy mantle of loss. We ask Creator to wrap them in comfort and surround them with peace. We ask the ancestors to welcome her with open arms, and to remind her of the impact she made while walking among us. Her wake will be held at All Nations Church in Macy, NE, until Saturday evening, April 12. Her funeral will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 13, at Omaha Nation Public School—a fitting place to celebrate a woman who taught so many, whose life was itself a lesson in resilience, purpose, and cultural pride.
To attend these services is to honor her legacy. But even if you cannot be physically present, you can honor her by speaking the words she spoke, by singing the songs she loved, by teaching your children what she so passionately fought to preserve. Octa Keen was a bridge between generations—a living link to the ancestors and a guiding hand to the youth. She carried sacred knowledge in her heart and offered it freely, not for praise, but because she knew the truth: our language is our strength, our culture is our medicine, and our elders are our greatest teachers.
Her passing reminds us of how precious and rare these knowledge keepers are. Each fluent speaker, each elder, holds an entire world within them. And with Octa’s departure, we feel that world shift. But she did not leave us empty-handed. She left teachings, recordings, memories, and, most importantly, she left people—people who will carry her lessons forward.
Let this moment not only be one of mourning, but also one of commitment. A commitment to continue the work Octa so humbly led. A commitment to speak more Umoⁿhoⁿ words, to learn more stories, to listen more closely to our elders, and to pass it all on, just as she did. To our youth, remember her not only for her age, but for her fire. Remember that this language she protected belongs to you now. It is your responsibility. It is your inheritance. Speak it. Sing it. Teach it. Live it.
To our elders, thank you for continuing to walk the path Octa helped to clear. We see you, we honor you, and we vow to protect and uplift you while we can. To Octa herself—we thank you. Wibthahon Tȟáⁿka, Grandmother, for everything. Thank you for your strength, your love, your laughter, and your endless patience. Thank you for the stories, for the quiet guidance, for showing us how to hold onto who we are. Thank you for choosing to be a keeper of language, even when it was hard. Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for showing us what it means to lead with heart and humility.
As you journey now to the Spirit World, may you be met by the ancestors you so often honored in prayer. May you walk freely and without pain. May the songs of your people surround you, and may you hear your language spoken proudly by the generations to come. Your life was a blessing. Your memory is a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. Rest well, Octa Keen. You earned your place among the ancestors. Your light will guide us always.
