Join us in inspiring the next generation of Native leaders! NIEA is seeking dynamic presentations for Student Days 2025, happening on Friday, October 10, 2025 during the 56th Annual NIEA Convention & Tradeshow in Spokane, WA.

Student Days is a vibrant space to celebrate and uplift Native students, focusing on cultural identity, leadership, advocacy, and financial empowerment. We invite workshop proposals on topics such as language revitalization, inclusive education policies, mental health support, digital sovereignty, artistic expression, higher education leadership, and more.

Whether you're a seasoned educator, cultural practitioner, or emerging leader, this is your chance to inspire and empower Native youth.

All workshops at NIEA’s Annual Student Day are organized into 9 strands within 3 larger tracks.

Submit your presentation proposal today and be part of this exciting event!

 

Explore this year’s workshop tracks and strands below!

  • Strand 1: Cultural Sovereignty Learning Native languages through games and storytelling.

    • Interactive sessions on traditional arts, crafts, and regalia-making.

    • Exploring traditional ecological knowledge with hands-on activities.

    • Cultural preservation through digital archiving and oral history projects.

    • Showcasing how traditional music, dance, or ceremonies can be tools for advocacy.

    Strand 2: Advocacy Skills

    • Public Speaking Workshop

    • Creating Advocacy Campaigns

    • Peer Leadership Training

    • Digital Storytelling for Advocacy

    • Mock Advocacy Events

    • Coalition Building

    • Youth Empowerment Panel

    • Action Planning Workshop

    Strand 3: Developing Native Leadership in Education

    • Leadership opportunities for Native youth in school settings

    • The role of mentorship in building educational leaders

    • How to foster leadership skills while remaining true to your culture

    • Career opportunities in education and the importance of representation

    • Student led initiatives to support Native youth in Schools

  • Strand 4: Mental, Emotional, and Physical Wellness

    • Cultural Practices for Wellness

    • Resilience Through Identity

    • Wellness Goal Setting

    • Stress-Relief Activities

    • Healthy Lifestyles Workshop

    Strand 5: Community and Peer Connections

    • Building Peer Networks

    • Mentorship Stories

    • Celebrating Community Strengths

    • Collaborative Service Projects

    • Peer Support Leadership

    Strand 6: Prevention, Wellness, and Resilience

    • Culture as Prevention

    • Real-Life Scenarios: Role-play ways to handle peer pressure and make healthy choices.

    • Storytelling for Awareness

    • Community Resilience Projects Learning from Success Stories

  • Strand 7: Language Revitalization

    • Student Led Initiatives for Indigenous Language Revitalization

    • Language Games and Challenges

    • Youth Language Advocates

    • Language preservation Projects

    • Learning from Elders

    Strand 8: Traditional Knowledge and Environmental Stewardship

    • How Native youth can lead sustainability efforts in their communities

    • Tribal knowledge keepers in passing down environmental stewardship

    • Land-based learning

    • Food sovereignty efforts and how youth can be involved

    Strand 9: Culturally Responsive Education

    • Art and Identity

    • Cultural Identity in the Classroom

    • Storytelling Circles

    • Cultural Pride Projects

    • Interactive History

    • Cultural Curriculum Design

    • Tech and Tradition

    • Becoming an Educator

    • Cultural Arts Workshop

 

If you have any additional questions, please contact Helen Thomas at workshops@niea.org.