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MISSON STATEMENT
The American Indian Women of Proud Nations support American Indian women’s efforts to build healthier lives for themselves, their families, and their communities in a spirit of holistic inquiry and empowerment.
OUR VISION
The American Indian Women of Proud Nations strives to incorporate Indigenous cultural traditions, language, history, and values to build intergenerational relationships and networks locally, regionally, and globally, and to develop a movement-building framework for collaborative leadership in five vital areas: education, community, health, spirituality, and economic development.
GOALS
- Educate and empower young American Indian college and high school students to achieve excellence and embrace the challenges of the 21st century by providing scholarship, advocacy, supportive environments, role models and mentors.
- Educate teachers and the public about what we value and articulate concerns dealing with American Indian history and culture.
- Address issues that impact the educational development of American Indian children and adolescents.
- Understand the complexity of American Indian community problems and develop culturally competent efforts to solve these problems.
- Increase the self-efficacy of American Indian women as agents of change in the educational, entrepreneurial, and political arenas.
- Address the holistic (mind, body and spirit) needs of American Indian mothers and wives.
MESSAGE FROM COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
On behalf of the Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations (AIWPN), it is a pleasure to cordially invite you to attend the fourth annual conference in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. The conference will be held September 16-17, 2010 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel in Cherokee, NC, organized collaboratively by AIWPN, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and the Western Carolina University - Cherokee Center.
The conference theme, “Nurturing and Empowering Our Communities Through Leadership,” reflects the tenor of Indian country today. Women are increasingly taking on the mantle of leadership in a variety of ways. Although the rate of participation by women in tribal government and community leadership is still less than men, women play a significant role in tribal politics and community building.
We welcome Native women from throughout the nation to attend this conference. We are offering a program with statewide and national applications, speakers who are recognized experts in their professions and timely topics. Workshops are focused on building leadership skills. Drawing upon our cultural traditions and values, we hope to encourage networking and offer encouragement and support in building healthy and safe Indian communities.
The conference will convene on Thursday morning at 8:30 am with the first general assembly. Each day includes a luncheon with a keynote speaker. On Thursday evening, the conference will host a banquet to honor women who have contributed to promoting leadership and service in their tribes and communities. The keynote speaker for the banquet is former Principal Chief and current Cherokee Schools Director of Education Joyce Dugan. The conference will conclude on Friday afternoon.
We look forward to your participation in this inspiring and affirming conference that facilitates intergenerational transfer of Native ways and knowledge to young American Indian women and college and high school female Indian students.
For more information about the conference, visit our web site at www.aiwpn.org. We are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aiwpn.
Sincerely,
Roseanna Belt (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians)
Chair, Host Planning Committee
Rosa Revels Winfree (Lumbee)
Chair, Core Planning Committee
PAST CONFERENCES
Past conferences were held at Wake Forest University (2007) and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (2008-09).
The 2011 conference will be held in the Triangle area of NC (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill).
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Last Updated: Thursday, June 10, 2010