Dear AISES Community,
I’m writing to share an important reminder about our annual spring regional conferences. Earlier this year, we made the decision that AISES will not hold regional conferences in 2026, and we want to ensure everyone in our community has this information.
Our strategic plan calls for reimagining how we bring AISES capabilities and programming to communities in ways that create lasting, place-based change. Regional conferences in their current form are one-time annual events, and we’ve been asking ourselves: Is this the most effective way to serve our communities?
Regional conferences have brought our communities together in meaningful ways, and we recognize this news may be disappointing. We value these gatherings deeply, which is why we’re committed to taking this time to reimagine how we can most effectively serve Indigenous STEM communities regionally. This pause allows us to assess what regional engagement should accomplish, explore models that are more sustainable and impactful, and rethink how we serve our people year-round—not just through annual events.
If chapters want to move forward with hosting a regional or local conference, they can certainly do so. We can provide some guidance but cannot provide in-depth support or financial resources. We’d be happy to have conversations with anyone who is interested in hosting a regional or local conference in 2026 to discuss what support we can provide. Please reach out to Shelly Dreadfulwater, Director of Chapter Engagement, at SDreadfulwater@aises.org.
While we won’t have regional conferences in 2026, we look forward to gathering with you at:
- AISES Canada National Gathering in Toronto – March 5-7, 2026 (Registration is now open and we’re accepting session proposals here)
- NAISEF (National American Indian Science and Engineering Fair) in Oklahoma – April 2026
- AISES National Conference in Portland, Oregon – October 15-17, 2026
Our AISES chapters remain vital spaces for connection and community. We encourage those of you who are part of a chapter to stay engaged. We will share further updates as we work to develop new approaches to supporting you regionally throughout the year.
Thank you for your continued support of AISES and our shared mission. Together, we’re building a sustainable future for Indigenous peoples in STEM.
Ta’Tura Tsiksu (With Much Respect),
Sarah EchoHawk (Pawnee)
President, AISES