News Release
Contact: Karla Gatgyedm Hana’ax Booth For Immediate Release
[email protected] May 23, 2017
(907) 677-1700
“PART LAND, PART WATER – ALWAYS NATIVE.”
2017 ELDERS & YOUTH CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND CALL FOR PROPOSALS NOW OPEN
Anchorage, Alaska – First Alaskans Institute (FAI) is pleased to announce the opening of registration and call for proposals for our 34th annual statewide First Alaskans Institute Elders & Youth Conference taking place October 16th – 18th, 2017 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Each year, we strive to deepen our understanding of the issues and challenges of our time, promote tremendous pride in our cultural identities, and create shared understanding around our responsibility to contribute to our cultures and communities through the transference of knowledge between our precious Elders and our youth.
Our 2017 Conference theme “Part Land, Part Water – Always Native.” speaks to how our identity as indigenous peoples is informed by our deep connection to our lands and waters, no matter where we live, and recognizes that Alaska always has been – and always will be – a Native place. Our theme was crafted using the thoughtful contributions and ideas of our 2017 Statewide Elders & Youth Council, FAI staff, and other members of the community.
Our conference will be preceded by a special “Warming of the Hands Gathering” on Sunday, October 15th from 12:00pm-5:00pm, featuring Men’s and Women’s Houses and regional breakout sessions – a favorite offering of many past participants. We are excited to again host “Chin’an: A Night of Cultural Celebration” on Monday evening, featuring the incredible talents of those in our community who step up to share their gifts with the world!
We are accepting presentations/workshops and arts/cultural offerings proposals through July 21st, 2017. Proposals should be clearly tied to the theme and purposes of the Conference and be grounded in the celebration of who we are as Alaska Native peoples. We prioritize proposals that encourage active participation, and seek presenters that are open to collaboration as we work to craft an indigenized, thoughtful, and exciting conference agenda. You can find more information and forms linked below or complete proposals online here.
Discounted Early Bird Registration is now open online through October 2nd with full price registration available afterward through the conference dates. In response to past E&Y and AFN Conference resolutions, and recognizing the rich learning that occurs during our conference, many school districts offer excused absences to students attending. Please help us spread the word by sharing our Facebook and Twitter posts – we can’t wait to see you in October!
# # #
At First Alaskans Institute, we know we are responsible for carrying more than 10,000 years of ancestral knowledge into the future with rigor, humor, resilience, vigilance, and love. To learn more about us and what we do, please visit our website at www.firstalaskans.org, contact us at
907-677-1700 or [email protected] to learn more.
CONFERENCE FORMS:
