USU Blanding hosted the Weaving Our Stories Conference September 25-26, 2024. The conference brought together students, faculty, staff and community to learn about how to best support Native American students throughout the USU system.
Quote IconWe are deeply grateful for the NASNTI grant funding that has made this event possible. We believe this conference will provide a platform to amplify the voices, concerns and thoughts of Native American students..
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dr. Amanda Tachine
Assistant professor in educational studies at the University of Oregon and author of Native Presence and Sovereignty in College.
Ian Teller
TikTok star, with over 21,000 followers who watch his short, humorous clips of experiences being Navajo.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
We are grateful for our presenters who shared such engaging and valuable information.
Dash Icon DAY ONE Dash Icon
Faculty, Staff & Community
Student-Centered
Hogan
8:00 am | BREAKFAST
Plate and Utensils Icon Join us for breakfast.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
9:00 am | OPENING
Plate and Utensils Icon Welcome.
Kristian Olsen, Senior Associate Vice President - Blanding/Moab
Dr. Jane Irungu, Special Advisor to the President
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
9:30 am | SESSION 1
Spencer Spotted-Elk
Sunshine Brosi
Becky Williams
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Connecting Appreciative Advising and Way-Making: Expanding Holistic Approaches for Student Success
Shelly Kotynek
Tylan Dee
Maygen Simm
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
10:30 am | SESSION 2
Foregrounding Indigenous Strengths in Writing Classes
Beth Buyserie
Travis Franks
Genevieve Ford
Zack Gregory
Heather Lyman
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
11:30 am | SESSION 3
Chad Ford
Seamus Fitzgerald
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Dare to Know: Learn How USU Honors Can Support Your Leadership Journey
Kristine Miller
Danielle Ross
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
12:30 pm | LUNCH
Plate and Utensils Icon Eat a delicious lunch while enjoying a special performance.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
2:00 pm | SESSION 4
Julie Stevens
Sunshine Brosi
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
3:00 pm | SESSION 5
A Culturally Rooted Approach to Implementing Restorative Practices
Trevor Olsen
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Sitting in a Circle: Nurturing Reciprocity and Indigenous Identity
Rosa Thornley
Amanda Katz
Deanna Allred
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
4:00 pm | KEYNOTE
Key Icon Ian Teller
TikTok star, with over 21,000 followers who watch his short, humorous clips of experiences being Navajo.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
5:30 pm | DINNER
Plate and Utensils Icon Traditional native sheep butchering, dinner and a performance by Neon Nativez.
Neon Nativez blends Native American tribal beats with electronic dance music. Desiree Benally, Ms. Utah Navajo, will also introduce herself, and we will recognize the people who made the "Weaving Our Stories Conference" possible.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Dash Icon DAY TWO Dash Icon
Faculty, Staff & Community
Student-Centered
Hogan
8:00 am | BREAKFAST
Plate and Utensils Icon Join us for breakfast.
BAEC Auditorium
9:00 am | KEYNOTE
Key Icon Dr. Amanda Tachine
Assistant professor in education studies at the University of Oregon and author of Native Presence and Sovereignty in College.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
10:30 am | SESSION 1
A Native American Performing Arts Department on the Blanding Campus
Gustavo Ovando-Montejo
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Clair Canfield
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
11:30 am | SESSION 2
Talanoa & Noatala: The Weft and Warp of Indigenous Pacific Pedagogy
Michael Ligaliga
David Whippy
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
Expanding Horizons: Developing Intercultural Intelligence via Study Abroad
Shannon Peterson
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
12:30 pm | LUNCH
Plate and Utensils Icon Eat a delicious lunch while enjoying a special performance.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
2:00 pm | SESSION 3
Tapping into Tradition: Restorative Practices in the San Juan School District
Paula Smith
Christine Fitzgerald
Derek Begay
Brenda Whitehorse
Trevor Olsen
Lamar Spotted Elk
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
3:00 pm | SESSION 4
Kelsey Bushman
Heather Lyman
Kimberly Hiatt
Toni Dee
Location Icon BAEC Conference Room
Hannah Parker
Nicole Black
Location Icon
San Juan High School
*This session is for San Juan High School students only.
4:00 pm | PERFORMANCE
Key Icon Living Legends
A vibrant display of energy, music, costume, and dance with performers of native descent capturing and portraying the fascinating legends of Native American people.
Location Icon BAEC Auditorium
5:30 pm | DINNER
Plate and Utensils Icon End the day with a delicious meal.
Location Icon Blanding Arts & Events Center
Dash Icon POSTER SESSIONS Dash Icon
Sunshine Brosi
Gustavo Ovando-Montejo
Mark Chynoweth
Claudia Radel
Juan Villalba
Peter Howe
For additional info, contact:
Joao Bueno
Grant Director - NASNTI II
(435) 678-8212
Blanding, Admin 102
joao.bueno@usu.edu
In compliance with HB261 requirements, NASNTI grant activities have been reviewed and approved by the USU Board of Trustees.
CO-SPONSORS
- College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- College of Science
- Quinney College of Natural Resources
- USU Honors Program
- Department of English
- Department of History
- Department of Social Work
- Heravi Peace Institute
- Center for Empowering Teaching Excellence
- Center for Intersectional Gender Studies & Research