Beautiful weather and vibrant fall colors made it easy for attendees on their way to conference events to enjoy the Conference Center campus, situated along the city’s Riverfront Park and winding River Walk. There was plenty of positive AISES energy underlying the hustle and bustle of more than 3,300 conference-goers, making this the most well-attended National Conference ever.
From left: Emcee Lillian Sparks Robinson; the Presentation of Colors; and Firestone Drum Group
The talented emcee for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies was Lillian Sparks Robinson. True to AISES practice, the conference opened with the Presentation of Colors. Among those bringing in the colors Gig Lebert, Vince McDonald, and James Roundstone, Angela Adams, Frances Dupris, Nicolas Kowalski, Derek Atkins, Dave Roundeagle, and Haida StarEagle, supported by the numerous AISES veterans in attendance. As host drum, the Firestone Drum Group offered honor songs for the AISES Eagle Staff and all veterans.
Monica Tenasket welcomed attendees.
Monica Tenasket of the Spokane Tribal Business Council welcomed attendees to her ancestral lands and encouraged everyone to enjoy the beautiful city of Spokane. Keeping to a cherished AISES tradition, the Council of Elders then took center stage, introduced by Dr. Bret Benally Thompson, who offered a morning blessing and welcoming remarks.
Dr. Bret Benally Thompson introduced the Council of Elders.
“It feels incredible to see the numbers sitting out there today compared to when I first started at AISES,” he said. “As our beloved elder Stan Lucero used to say, ‘All I see is a ballroom full of beautiful Native nerds.’”
“The fact that you are here to better yourself and care for Grandmother Earth, this is what defines you as Native — it is not a card you carry.”
— Dr. Bret Benally Thompson, AISES Council of Elders
Interspersed with the subsequent speakers was a series of videos from AISES sponsors. The first of the welcoming videos featured NASA astronaut Nicole Aunapu Mann, a member of the Wailacki Tribe of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Northern California. “We are America’s first scientists, and your country needs you and your energy and ideas,” she pointed out. “I am the first Indigenous woman in space, and I won’t be the last!”
After Robinson reviewed the long list of Gemstone, Native Circle, and Academic Sponsors — as well as additional sponsors of special events — a video welcome from National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan encouraged attendees to take advantage of STEM opportunities. He reminded everyone that for 70 years the agency has been investing in STEM at every level. “No matter where you look across the whole spectrum of science and technology, there are tremendous opportunities opening every day for students, researchers, and startups,” he said.
Student reps Jayson Pomfret, Peter Thais, and Makayla Mather leave the stage after speaking.
Next up were the student representatives: Senior U.S. National Student Representative Makayla Mather, Junior U.S. National Student Representative Peter Thais, and Junior Canadian National Student Representative Jayson Pomfret (Senior Canadian National Student Representative Hailey “Lee” Barrell was unable to attend). The student representatives reviewed the Code of Conduct and Safe Camp policies.
Marc Allen, the chief strategy officer at Boeing, gave his remarks on video. “Aerospace transforms the world,” he said. “We are about attracting the best, most brilliant talent to make the advances we must make to change the world. That’s why we collaborate with AISES on STEM education.”
Dr. Lee Francis IV, a.k.a. Dr. IndigiNerd, had the audience laughing.
A discussion between David Cournoyer, AISES senior advisor, and featured guest speaker Dr. Lee Francis IV (“Dr. IndigiNerd”) focused on unconventional approaches to STEM education for Native young people. Dr. Francis, who founded Indigenous Comic Con and opened the world’s first Native comic book shop, explained that he works at the intersection of Indigenous identity, futurism, and pop culture. An AISES member since middle school, he is the writer and host of the web-based PBS Learning series Indigi-Genius. “It’s a fun kind of goofy show to show the genius of people and what we have been doing,” he said as he showed an episode on drum making. “We are peoples in North America who have been defined outside of ourselves. We can change that. We have been scientists since time immemorial — we are star watchers. There is no separation in my mind between tradition and technology.”
“There is no separation in my mind between tradition and technology.”
— Dr. Lee Francis IV (“Dr. IndigiNerd”), Guest Speaker
Tina Terrell, deputy chief for the National Forest System, spoke on video about the 30 years of joint endeavor between AISES and the USDA Forest Service to advance both. “We welcome Indigenous knowledge about what happens on the landscape,” she said.
From left: Governor Joe A. Garcia; Irvin Harrison; Nonabah Lane; and Dwight Gourneau were remembered at the Opening Ceremony.
The Council of Elders then came forward to remember some of the AISES members who have passed away. “It is important to honor loved ones who have gone beyond to walk on to a happy place. Take the time to remember them,” said Cecelia Lucero, who memorialized Governor Joe A. Garcia. Steve Darden recalled Irvin Harrison, Antoinelle Benally Thompson remembered Nonabah Lane, and Norbert Hill memorialized Dwight Gourneau, saying, “We have such a nice way to talk about heaven as the ‘other side camp.’”
Keith Parker and Victoria Stott spoke about contemporary issues, such as climate change.
AISES President Sarah EchoHawk led a discussion between Keith Parker, senior fisheries biologist for the Yurok Tribe in California and winner of the 2023 Technical Excellence Professional Award, and Victoria Stott, senior program officer, Racial Equity and Community Engagement, at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. “Scientists are looking to Indigenous peoples for solutions to climate change,” said EchoHawk. Speaking about a crisis in the salmon population his tribe relies on, Parker said, “Our food security and food sovereignty are directly impacted by climate change.” Stott added, “Land rights and climate justice are closely connected. These are significant issues for our communities, some of which are literally having to be relocated.” As the panelists discussed what to do going forward, Stott said, “Our voices need to be present, especially when it comes to climate change. Exercise your voting rights!”
“If you were on the 11:30 flight from Minneapolis yesterday, half the plane was Natives coming to the AISES conference. It was so awesome!”
— Victoria Stott, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Next a representative from Wells Fargo appeared on video to talk about the importance of economic well-being to Native communities and encourage attendees to consider careers in finance.
All seven regions made a big noise during the Regional Shout-out.
Then the National and Regional Student Representatives came to the stage to lead the regional shoutout, a boisterous competition among attendees from all seven regions doing their best to “make some noise!” The result was so close that a do-over was called for with a couple of the regions, but in the end Region 3 took home the spirit stick.
Wrapping up the opening remarks was a video message from Intel, represented by the Intel Indigenous Peoples Leadership Council, an employee resource group at this global corporation emphasizing that “at Intel we believe in social impact through partnerships like AISES.”