It is with great pleasure that I invite you to participate in the Second Annual American Indian Women’s Conference.

This year's conference theme is “A Gathering: Strengthening the Circle."

We are offering a program with statewide and national applications, speakers who are recognized experts in their field, and timely topics.  The topics are focusing on mind, body and spirit, entrepreneurial initiatives, student scholarships, financial literacy, a panel discussion on a study on sexual violence toward Native women done by Amnesty International, and best practices in education.  Best practices in education will focus on the academic achievement of Indian students.  We are most interested in identifying promising practices designed to enhance educational opportunities for American Indians.  Ample time is scheduled for discussion sessions.  In addition, the program will feature music, dance and a celebration of American Indian children.

Keynote speakers will include NC State School Superintendent, Dr. June S. Atkinson; Director of the American Indian Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Clara Sue Kidwell(White Earth Chippewa); noted Lumbee lecturer Wanda Maynor Carter of Charlotte, N.C.; President of Americans for Indian Opportunity, LaDonna Harris (Comanche); Dr. Willard Sakiestewa Gilbert (Hopi), president of the National Indian Education Association, and Mary Kim Titla (San Carlos Apache), former Arizona TV news reporter and Democratic candidate for the Arizona Congressional District 1.  Dr. Helen Maynor Scheirbeck (Lumbee), a recent retiree from the Museum of the American Indian, is serving as Elder-in-Residence for the conference.  Dr. Scheirbeck will address the often-unique situations and the concerns of our Native communities.

It is our vision that conference participants will leave this gathering with a renewed mind, body and spirit and empowered with an agenda for action on behalf of American Indian women, their families and their communities.  We will be honored by your participation and commitment.

Sincerely,

Rosa Revels Winfree (Lumbee), Chairperson
Conference Planning Committee

This year’s conference is being held at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Founded in 1887 to train American Indian teachers, UNC Pembroke was recently designated as North Carolina’s Historic American Indian University.

UNC Pembroke is located in the heart of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

North Carolina has over 100,000 American Indians. The eight tribes of North Carolina are the Coharie, Eastern Band of the Cherokee, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw-Siouan.

Shaman's Knot, the logo for the conference, is found throughout southeastern American Indian artwork.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, February 13, 2008