2022 AISES National Conference Wrap-Up

2022 AISES National Conference Wrap-Up: 
Celebrating 45 Years of Advancing Indigenous People in STEM

Appropriately for this milestone year, the AISES National Conference was a resounding success with record-setting attendance! The annual gathering took full advantage of the beauty and energy of the Cahuilla Valley over the course of three activity-packed days, October 6 to 8, at the Convention Center in Palm Springs, Calif. Conference-goers came together from all regions of the U.S. and Canada to celebrate Indigenous talent and achievements in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). During the conference attendees contributed to informative sessions, connected with a dynamic and diverse network, celebrated the accomplishments of STEM leaders, and enjoyed exploring our host city.

Total Attendance: 2,771

Attendance
STEM Interest Area
Race
Professionals: 542
Science: 597 - 22%
Indigenous - 57%
College Students: 698
Technology: 499 - 18%
Non-indigenous – 43%
Pre-College Students & Chaperones: 294
Engineering: 693 - 25%

Exhibitors & Sponsors: 1099
Mathematics: 40 - 1%

Advisors: 107
Health Science: 250 - 9%

Elders: 31
Other STEM Related: 223 - 8%


Other Non-STEM Related: 377 - 14%

STEM Activities Day

A STEM Activities Day for pre-college students and their teachers was held October 5 in the Primrose Ballroom. Sponsored by the Boeing Company, this year’s pre-conference event offered 18 interactive stations where students could experience hands-on learning. The activities were designed for participants to connect with STEM-based concepts and find real-life applications for what they learned. Meta also brought beatmaking and coding to life through an afternoon with students helping them create musical beats using block-based coding. The day was energized with the sounds of laughter and conversation, and it was clear that the students left STEM Activities Day with renewed inspiration as well as actionable information about how the world works.

The Main Event

During the three days of the Conference, over 140 events, sessions, and activities were held to engage participants in STEM, provide ample opportunities to make valuable contacts through networking, and offer career-building experiences. 

This year’s attendance set a record at over 2,700 participants. On Thursday, October 8, the standing-room-only Opening Ceremony in the California Grand Ballroom began with a welcome from Mistress of Ceremonies Lillian Sparks Robinson (she also ably hosted the Sequoyah Breakfast and Closing Banquet). The room was brimming with excitement during the two-hour opening program with a drum group, Color Guard, and the TM BirdSingers. The chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, Robert Smith, greeted the crowd with a warm welcome and expressed his support for making education more accessible at all levels. 

Dr. Bret Benally Thompson, AISES Council Elder introduced other members of the AISES Council of Elders and shared a message of support and unity saying, “Your blood quantum, the shade of your skin, hair, or eyes, where you grew up, or how much you know about your tribal history or ceremonies does not define to us whether you are Native or not — it does not define whether you are ‘enough.’ We hope you will seek out and find your history and the ceremonies to sustain yourself.” 

Bird Runningwater, known for his commitment to Indigenous film, was the Opening Ceremony keynote speaker. Runningwater has been nurturing new generations of filmmakers through the Sundance Institute, and now champions Indigenous cinema through his company, Cloud Woman Media. His message urging attendees to “dream big,” and “carry yourself with dignity because you are a descendant of warrior people” received a standing ovation. 

An inspiring conversation, including Geneva Wiki, senior program manager at the California Foundation, Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes, principal deputy solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior, and AISES CEO Sarah EchoHawk, created learning opportunities about mentorship, self-care, and a strong message about how the science community can make STEM more inclusive, representative, and accessible. 

Not all the pivotal experiences happened at the convention center: tours departing from the conference included the Palm Springs windmills, the California Indian Nations College, and the University of Redlands. 

A mainstay at all AISES events is the esteemed Council of Elders. In addition to making themselves available for one-on-one private consultations, the elders facilitated several convenings and talking circles, and their Elder Storytelling session was standing room only.

Celebrating the AISES 45th Anniversary Together

On Saturday evening conference-goers packed the Oasis Ballroom for the Closing Banquet. Highlights of the event were the featured entertainment provided by the Soaring Eagle dancers from San Diego, followed by the traditional celebration of the winners of the Ely S. Parker Award, the Professional Awards, and the Partner Service Awards. 

The Professional of the Year Awards were presented to Deneen Hernandez, Christian (Chris) O'Gorman, James Leatham, Dr. Sonia Ibarra, Rachel Yellowhair, and Angela Teeple.

The Ely S. Parker Award – the highest AISES honor — was presented to Dr. Wren Walker Robbins. She was recognized for her exemplary leadership and contributions in support of the AISES mission of increasing the representation of Indigenous people and Pacific Islanders in STEM studies and careers. A leading scientist and educator, now a department chair at Salish Kootenai College in western Montana, Dr. Walker Robbins has spent a distinguished career helping others achieve success. She continues to be a force in the growth and development of Indigenous talent in the rising generation.

Thank you for being part of the AISES community!

Thank you to everyone who made the 2022 AISES National Conference a success, especially our sponsors. 

We encourage you to revisit the highlights of the National Conference in the digital Winds of Change 2022 National Conference Wrap-Up debuting soon! This issue highlights the exciting moments, exhibitors, and key sponsors who made this AISES event extraordinary.

You can view the 2022 AISES National Conference below or access the album here. To request permission to use images, contact Montoya Whiteman at mwhiteman@aises.org.

2022 AISES National Conference

Save the date!

The 2023 AISES National Conference takes place October 19–21, 2023, at the Spokane Convention Center, Spokane, Wash