We met online and dated online for a year before finally meeting in person here at the 2019 conference.
— Zunneh-bah Martin and Nathaniel Sayas-Porter
We participated in the STEM Activity Day. We do a lot of events like this but because of what these students knew already, it was great. I didn’t have to tell them about what STEM is. They are delightful, respectful, and it was great to see them so interested.
— Missy Begay, NASA
AISES was so instrumental for me. As a student, seeing the other tribes at the conference was so powerful. AISES will put you on the path to success.
— Cynthia Muller, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
I wrote my book to tell what it’s like to be “otherized†and how I realized how important it is to be reconnected to my values. That’s the key to my resilience.â€
— Edgar Villanueva, keynote speaker, author, and philanthropy executive
We don’t come in here with expectations. We are just seeing how it feels. It takes time to establish a place. But it’s been really good. At the Career Fair, it’s still before lunch and already we’ve seen more people than we expected all day.
— Aric Johnson, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
This is my first conference and it’s so different from every other conference I’ve been to. From the beginning I was impressed with the Native sensibility.
— Casey Carte, Intel Corporation
We have so many opportunities — I tell people not to rule themselves out if they’re not software engineers. And we’ve had a nice, steady stream of people coming through. It’s been amazing.
— Jessica Skye Paul, Facebook
I was surprised at the level of engagement of the students at the Networking Session. They weren’t just passing through — they were on a mission.
— Racquel Jamison, American Chemical Society
My family has always been in AISES. I’ve been involved in AISES since I was 11 years old. Now I’m a PhD candidate.
— Ivan Rajen, University of California San Diego, Bioengineering
I think the Ride and Drive event turned out awesome. It gave students more opportunities to drive/ride in the vehicles provided. Also, I did hear from some of the students who weren’t there that they wished they had come. I heard a student express surprise as we told them that we were letting them drive!
— Aurora White, Fiat Chrysler
For the next conference, it’s easy to get to Spokane, really. For me, from Miami, I connect through Detroit or Chicago O’Hare. It’s not difficult at all for anyone.
— Zaida Morales-Martinez, American Chemical Society
As a teacher I’ve found great resources for citizen science, like opportunities for students to become global observers by entering real data on cloud cover, land, and tree sizes. I’d like to see even more Native science and more Native culture brought into life science.
— Billee Procknow
A significant focus for us is taking a long-term view of agriculture, which is very consistent with Native agriculture. Examples include promoting cover crops and soil health, enhancing soil, conserving water, and tillage management. We are interested in recruiting people who have a passion for the land.
— Greg Kidd, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
We are energizing the chapter at the University of South Dakota. We got a grant and brought a group of high school students from the Rosebud Reservation, and we are helping to start a chapter there with one of the math teachers.
— Leon Leader Charge, University of South Dakota
Go learn and bring that knowledge and those skills back. Here at the DoE we have Native scientists working on their own lands for the federal government.
— Shawn Montgomery, U.S. Department of Energy
This conference is so great. The last time I came here was 20 years ago when I was a student at MIT. When they said we were coming to AISES, I said I have to go!
— Julia Devine, U.S. Department of State
For STEM Activity Day we have set up seven experiments run by our local volunteers. They aren’t doing anything dangerous, but we have them wear goggles to model safe lab procedures.
— Victoria Fuentes, American Chemical Society
You came here whether you are a sponsor, board member, professional, or student, and you’ve made many connections. You will go back home and your life will want to suck you in. But don’t let go of the connections you’ve made here. Keep these relationships the Creator has given you so you can be successful as you continue your journey on your path.
— Rick Stephens, outgoing chair, AISES Board of Directors
I’m a senior at Eagle Butte School in South Dakota. I came to the conference because of the science focus and opportunities as a Native person to learn more. So far, it’s pretty cool — I like it! I learned a lot in the STEM Activity Day, and I’m gaining more knowledge about science and engineering. It’s very new to me. I will come back. Someday I want to be a doctor specializing in OB-GYN so the panel of medical specialists looks interesting. I haven’t picked a college yet, but the University of Minnesota, Morris interests me.
— Shenelle Widow, Pre-college Student, Eagle Butte, South Dakota
