Harlan Mack Mckosato

Harlan Mack McKosato was born on April 10, 1966 to Hoke Mack McKosato (Sac & Fox Nation) and Bette Marie Free-McKosato (Bah-Kho-Je Nation) in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He grew up in Perkins, Oklahoma with his mother’s people, the Bah-Kho-Je People. Harlan attended Perkins Elementary School, Perkins Middle School, and graduated from Perkins-Tryon High School in 1984. His high school accomplishments include Harrah and Olive Basketball All-Tournament Teams; NewsPress All-Area Player in Basketball and Football; All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State - Basketball; Who’s Who Most Athletic and Best All-Around; All Conference - Basketball; All District - Football and State Honor Society. He then went on to attend his all-time #1 favorite university, The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. He graduated from OU in December 1988. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Journalism from the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Oklahoma. The college later named him one of its distinguished alumni by inducting him into the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. He went on to work for UNITY where he was a mentor to many youths, serving as both a trainer and UNITY Earth Ambassador advisor. After UNITY, he began his work at Native America Calling. He was the voice of the national broadcast radio show Native America Calling for 17 years. Harlan was an icon in Indian Country for his award-winning contributions to world news outlets. He paved the way for many young Native people to join him in the field of communications. He has been named UNITY’s Eddie Wadda Alumni of the Year 2020. The award was presented on Thursday, July 23. In addition, UNITY will be naming communication scholarships in honor of Harlan. The morning of July 21, 2020 our dearly beloved Harlan began his journey back to manetôwa where he was surrounded by his family and friends at his home in Albuquerque. Harlan has walked on to be with his late brother, Mitchell Allen McKosato. He is survived by his son Nekon Che McKosato, brother Kenneth Robert McKosato, and sisters Deanna Lynn McKosato and Shelley Magdalene McKosato-Haupt. Harlan had so many friends and relatives across Indian Country and they all have sent their condolences to the family. His family is honored and humbled by the outpour of love for him. He will be greatly missed. He was a father, husband, son, brother, uncle and grandpa. nemîshâtênemo êhthâkîwiyâni I’m proud to be a Sauk newâkoshêhitho I’m Fox clan Kah-bah-nih-queh I am Harlan Mack McKosato