Thank you to everyone who attended or participated in the 10th Annual Native American Education Conference, Aug. 7-8, 2019, at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyo.
A record 649 people attended this year’s event!
Please save the dates for next year’s conference, Aug. 5-6, 2020, at Central Wyoming College in Riverton.
Congratulations to the 2019 Youth Pacesetter Award winners!
The annual Youth Pacesetter honorees were chosen based on their academic achievement, attendance, leadership among peers, community service and aspirations for higher learning. Congratulations to all winners and their families!
2019 winners:
Delaina Becenti, Mountain View High School
Donavan Underwood, Arapahoe Charter High School
Estrellita Martinez, Arapahoe Charter High School:
Steven Antelope, St. Stephens High School
Orelia Lawson, St. Stephens High School
Jayden Whiteplume, Wyoming Indian High School
Amanda Gardner, Wyoming Indian High School
Kyle Yellowbear, Riverton High School
Belle Young Chief, Riverton High School
Antonio Coando, Lander Valley High School
Gabby St. Clair, Lander Valley High School
A’Kai Grey Bull, Fort Washakie High School
Larami Azure, Fort Washakie High School
Scott Woodruff, Torrington High School
Deshea Schnell, Torrington High School
This year’s featured speakers:
Dr. Lee Francis IV, the “Stan Lee” of the Indigenous comic book industry, offered this year’s opening keynote, The Invisible Struggle: Native Americans In Popular Culture.
U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming offered remarks on education and the U.S. Congressional Award and helped present the 2019 Youth Pacesetter Awards.
Nubia Pena, juvenile justice attorney and advocate for incarcerated youth, discussed solutions to the school-to-prison pipeline in her keynote, Disciplined Too Young & Too Often: Understanding School Push-Out.
COMPLETE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
PROGRAM BROCHURE
ADULT WORKSHOPS
YOUTH WORKSHOPS
Native American Education Conference Mission Statement: Instill pride and strengthen engagement in youth through learning Native American history and culture.
A variety of youth activities – including a basketball tournament and ice cream social – were offered for students entering Grade 6 and up. A total of 69 youth took part this year.
Conference Goals:
- Understanding of and appreciation for the history and culture of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes
- Cultural sensitivity for educators and other adults who impact Native American students
- Instructional and learning needs of Native American students
- Emotional and social needs of Native American students
- Successful transitions for students between school levels
- Empowering youth to develop leadership skills and choose healthy lifestyles
- Promoting understanding, building relationships and generating ideas for engaging families and the community in education of the whole child
- Preventing suicide
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Our Sponsors
Wyoming Humanities
Wind River Hotel & Casino
University of Wyoming Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Office
Safe2Tell Wyoming