SHI ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FROM PRESENTERS FOR 2023 EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Testimony heard in last of a nationwide series of consultations with Indigenous people
Feb. 23, 2023
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is accepting proposals from presenters for its sixth Culturally Responsive Education Conference, which is part of a larger effort to promote culturally responsive pedagogy in schools.
SHI is soliciting proposals from educators in Alaska and worldwide to present in person or virtually. This year’s theme is Latseen Káx̱ Yéi Atdaané— Gathering for Strength. Educators in early childhood through university and community educators are encouraged to submit proposals for presentations related to the following topics:
- Gathering for professional growth
- Gathering for well-being
- Gathering for wisdom
- Gathering from the land
The deadline to submit proposals is April 7, 2023. SHI will give preference to proposals that illustrate relevance to the conference theme, as well as to presentations that connect to culturally responsive education, equity in education and/or Alaska Native education issues, participant engagement, creativity and demonstrated expertise related to the topic.
The goals are to promote academic success of Native students and cross-cultural understanding, said SHI President Rosita Worl.
“We know through evaluations and academic results that Native children do better in school when their cultures are incorporated into classrooms. Teachers are the key to improving the educational experience of our young people,” Worl said.
SHI’s conference in 2022 served nearly 700 educators from Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington as well as educators from Australia, Canada and Switzerland.
The 2023 conference, scheduled June 13-15 in Juneau, is open to all educators in Alaska and worldwide who are interested in culturally relevant education.
The conference is part of SHI’s education program Thru the Cultural Lens, which was founded in 2012 to give cultural orientations for educators. For more details about the conference, contact Ben Kriegmont at ben.kriegmont@sealaska.com.
Sealaska Heritage Institute is a private nonprofit founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding through public services and events. SHI also conducts social scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee and a Southeast Regional Language Committee.
CONTACT: Kathy Dye, SHI Communications and Publications Deputy Director, 907.321.4636, kathy.dye@sealaska.com