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

This year’s conference is being held at Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel in
Cherokee, NC.

Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel is located in the heart of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

North Carolina has over 100,000 American Indians. The eight tribes of North Carolina are the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan.

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Turtle with Shaman's Knot

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Last Updated: Thursday, June 10, 2010