The 2026 AFN Annual Convention is scheduled for October 22-24, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska.

The annual convention serves as the principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing critical issues of public policy and government. The convention convenes thousands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations across the state.

At the Convention, delegates discuss strategic opportunities and challenges, listen to memorable keynote speeches, hear reports from political leaders and presentations from expert panels, and share stories of resilience, experiences, strengths, knowledge, and hope for the future. The resolutions passed by the voting delegates set the priorities for the year and guide AFN’s efforts. The Convention is the largest representative annual gathering of Native peoples in the United States.

2026 Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention 

This year’s conference theme celebrates a powerful truth: 

Indigenous tourism is a living expression of sovereignty.

 Around the world, Native Nations continue to exercise their inherent right to govern themselves—protecting homelands, nurturing economic opportunity, and safeguarding the well-being of their citizens. These sovereign responsibilities extend naturally into the realm of cultural tourism.

True Indigenous tourism must be Native led.

 It must be guided by our people, supported by our consent, and rooted in our authority to decide which stories are shared—and how they are shared. No longer will our stories be told without us. Through Indigenous tourism, we uphold our cultural identities, define our own narratives, and strengthen our nations for generations to come.

As we gather at this year’s American Indigenous Tourism Conference, we honor the sovereignty of our Native Nations and celebrate the transformative role of tourism in advancing our self-determination. 

Indigenous Tourism is Sovereignty in Action—and together, we are creating a future where our cultures, communities, and stories thrive.

It’s an exciting time for travel and tourism in America’s Indigenous communities. The AITC is the only national conference dedicated to growing tourism in America’s Indigenous communities and the energy is electric as we prepare to celebrate the 28th anniversary. Taking place from October 19-22, 2026, at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, Washington, this is a must attend event for anyone looking to grow their presence in this vibrant industry.

Join more than 300 attendees for networking opportunities, high-level keynotes, and informative sessions led by top hospitality and tourism experts. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to celebrate and elevate Indigenous tourism!

28th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference 

Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in Palm Springs, California, for the 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace from October 18–22, 2026.

SAVE THE DATE: NCAI's 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace

SAVE THE DATE: National Indian Education Association 2026 Annual Convention 

The Native Nations Center for Tribal Policy Research at the University of Oklahoma is launching its first Sovereign Policy Intensive (SPI), taking place on September 25, 2026. Geared primarily toward newly elected Tribal officials, SPI offers an objective, nonpartisan orientation designed to build federal systems literacy. This unique program helps clarify how the structures, processes, and institutional dynamics of the federal government interact with Tribal governance and Tribal sovereignty.

The Sovereign Policy Intensive is a fast-paced, information-dense program structured around high-level legal and policy briefings. It is designed to support informed sovereign decision-making without advocating or prescribing specific policy outcomes.

: Sovereign authority, jurisdiction, the federal budget process, and legislative operations.

: High-impact breakdowns of healthcare, land & natural resources, energy, housing, public safety, education, and agriculture.

: Valuable networking opportunities to share insights with fellow tribal leaders navigating similar governance challenges.

: $450 per participant (due upon acceptance)

: Fully in person at the University of Oklahoma Norman campus (Copeland Hall, Room 233)

Navigate Federal Systems with Confidence: Announcing the Sovereign Policy Intensive (SPI)  

Join us as we gather to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tribal Supreme Court project.

 Events will include a Thursday night reception at the National Museum of the American Indian and a Friday legal colloquium at the Eaton DC hotel. Learn more and get tickets below. Space for both events is limited! 

25 Years Tribal Supreme Court Project 

NCAI’s sessions will allow you to hear from members of Congress and agency officials regarding their work for Indian Country. Additional details and confirmed times will be updated as they become available.



SAVE THE DATE: NCAI Tribal Impact Days

NATHPO Conference demonstrates the importance of fostering meaningful connections among Tribal Nations, Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and the diverse sectors and stakeholders that operate in the field of heritage preservation. It highlights the benefits of collaboration grounded in Tribal sovereignty and how that collaboration can lead to achieving shared goals, enhancing mutual understanding, and creating positive impacts for both present and future generations of Tribal citizens and the broader public.

By emphasizing the purpose behind preservation, the conference invites participants to reflect on the values, stories, and identities of Tribal Nations as living, sovereign communities that shape our shared cultural heritage. It also explores how these values can be communicated effectively from a Tribal perspective in service of living cultures, living landscapes, and the continued exercise of inherent Tribal rights. Through thought-provoking presentations, interactive workshops, and site visits, the conference offers a dynamic program designed to inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change centered on Tribal expertise, lived experience, and leadership in cultural heritage stewardship.

26th Annual NATHPO Conference and Sacred Places Summit 

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) National Tribal Health Conference is a week-long event that serves American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes in the space of health — behavioral and public health. The conference will showcase the interconnectedness of policy, advocacy, and Indian health best practices. Programming includes tribal listening and consultation sessions, hands-on training opportunities, plenary sessions, and workshops that cover timely topics such as funding for Indian Health, the business of medicine, health equity, Indigenous determinants of health, Tribal public health, behavioral health, culture, environmental health, and climate change. The conference also includes focus areas on Native youth, Tribal veterans, and elders, a fitness event, exhibit hall and marketplace, culture night, poster sessions, and gala celebration.

NIHB National Tribal Health Conference 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is hosting a Tribal forum to provide information about its preparation to revise the Travel Management Rule (36 CFR Part 212). These regulations govern the designation of roads, trails, and areas for public motor vehicle use on National Forest System lands.

The rulemaking is being initiated in response to 

, Removing Unnecessary and Counterproductive Restrictions on Access to Federal Lands, signed on May 29, 2026, which directs USDA to revise the Travel Management Rule. To support Tribal consultation and engagement, the Forest Service has prepared a National Policy Summary Analysis that outlines the proposed revisions and describes how their implementation may affect Tribal governments, Alaska Native Corporations, and the Tribal citizens they serve.

Please contact the Regional Forester/Forest Supervisor in your area, or the Office of Tribal Relations in Washington, D.C., at 

 to request consultation on this issue or to ask any questions.

USDA Forest Service Webinar on Proposed Revisions to the Travel Management Rule

On July 13, 2026, Clay W. Fulton, Chief of Staff for IHS, sent a letter calling for Tribal consultation and recommendations on the use of $70 million of SDPI funding. The total includes the $50 million increase in 2026 SDPI funding and $20 million one-time unobligated SDPI funding.

 to provide feedback. Submit comments to 

 use SDPI Funding in the title of the comment letter.

Tribal Consultation on $70 Million Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) Funding

Forensic interviewing is an interviewing process used with children for the purpose of providing evidence to the police, prosecutors, and the court in the investigation and prosecution of suspected abuse. The goal of a forensic interview is to obtain a statement from a child in a developmentally sensitive, unbiased, and truth-seeking manner. This training is specifically designed for investigators, prosecutors, and social workers who have responsibility for conducting forensic interviews of child and adolescent victims and witnesses. Priority will be given to those individuals working cases in Indian Country. The attendee will receive instruction on the latest research-based information on interviewing techniques and will be provided opportunities to develop and refine interviewing skills during child interviewing exercises. CLE will not be provided.

This training is offered by the Department of Justice’s National Indian Country Training Initiative and will be held at the National Advocacy Center (NAC) 

in Columbia, South Carolina, from August 10–13, 2026.

 Travel expenses, including airfare and lodging, for approved attendees, will be covered by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Anyone interested in attending the meeting must register no later than June 10, 2026.

 If multiple representatives from the same Tribe or organization are interested in attending the meeting, please submit a separate registration form for each individual and rank them in order of priority for acceptance. Registration for this event is limited.

Applicants will receive notification of their application status by June 15, 2026.

Please do not book travel and lodging until instructions are provided by DOJ.

The Executive Office for United States Attorneys will provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Requests should be made to Deborah Thomas as early as possible, preferably at least two weeks in advance of the seminar. No nominee will be excluded from a course based on a disability-related accommodations request. This training is authorized under the Government Employees Training Act.

If you have any questions regarding this training, please feel free to contact Lamesha Bowman at 

DOJ National Indian Country Training Initiative Course – Forensic Interviewing Techniques for Child and Adolescent Victims and Witnesses

Water resource protection and environmental stewardship are foundational pillars of Tribal sovereignty and long-term community resilience. The 

Changing Currents Youth Tribal Water Summit

 addresses these priorities by providing a structured educational pathway for Native youth to explore environmental science and related career tracks. Throughout the four-day event, participants will be exposed to university-level coursework, build peer-to-peer networks with like-minded youth, and learn directly from Indigenous leaders and environmental professionals. The residency component further elevates student capability by blending leadership training with creative expression, ensuring that emerging advocates have the tools necessary to effectively amplify their voices on critical water issues.

2026 Tribal Youth Water Summit and Pre-College Residency Empowers Next Generation of Indigenous Leaders

U.S. Department of Justice Tribal Consultation on how Tribal Records in the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program Should be Managed.

On July 10, 2026, Gina Allery, Director of the Office of Tribal Justice (OTJ) sent a letter to Tribal leaders announcing a Tribal consultation. The Consultation will be focused on records associated with the Federal Firearms Rights Restoration Program and how these records should be managed.

The Office of the Pardon Attorney (PARDON) will be administering the program and reviewing applications for restoring federal firearm rights under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). Applicants will provide relevant records but PARDON may reach out to tribes to obtain additional criminal records and information. During consultation the Department of Justice hopes to receive feedback on potential concerns of including copies of Tribal records and recommendations of how to handle and store such information.

The deadline to register for the consultation is August 7, 2026.

Written comment letters are due August 28, 2026

, or mail them to the Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20530-0001.

Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportation, or Possession of Firearms

Justice Department Publishes Proposed Rule to Grant Relief to Certain Individuals Precluded from Possessing Firearms

U.S. Department of Justice Tribal Consultation on How Tribal Records in the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program Should be Managed

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is hosting a virtual, government-to-government consultation for Tribal Leaders regarding its plan to consolidate the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) into a single entity called the Bureau of Justice Grants.

This closed-press consultation is a critical opportunity for Tribal Nations to discuss how this reorganization will impact federal grant funding for Tribal justice systems, victim services, and community safety initiatives. A framing paper with additional background information is available from the DOJ to help guide the discussion.

 to secure your spot for the virtual sessions. If you cannot attend, please ensure your voice is heard by submitting written comments to 

. Comments may also be submitted via mail to: Office of Tribal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20530-0001.

Please reach out to the Office of Tribal Justice with any questions or accommodation requests.

DOJ Tribal Consultation: Consolidation of COPS, OJP, and OVW

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Office of Native Affairs and Policy (ONAP) is hosting its Quarterly Informational Webinar. The agenda will include updates from the Wireline Competition Bureau on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes reforms to the Lifeline program, and an NPRM and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at ensuring that E-Rate funded networks and services are used responsibly for educational purposes and that E-Rate program integrity is strengthened. The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will also join to discuss steps to modernize the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). Finally, the Media Bureau will discuss the first-ever filing window for new noncommercial educational (NCE) reserved band FM translator construction permit applications. Inquiries regarding the webinar or specific docket items should be submitted via email to 

FCC Office of Native Affairs and Policy to Host Quarterly Informational Webinar on Broadband Reform and Media Opportunities

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hosting an informational update session on the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebates (HEEHR) Program for Indian Tribes (formerly known as the Tribal Home Energy and Appliance Rebate [THEAR] Program). This program will distribute up to $218.5 million in non-competitive formula grants to support residential energy efficiency upgrades, lower energy utility burdens, and enhance infrastructure resilience in Tribal communities across Indian Country.


Authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, the Tribal HEEHR Program empowers Tribal Nations to develop and execute customized home energy upgrade programs. The DOE recently released updated guidance under 

, which officially reopened and extended the 

program application deadline to December 11, 2026.

During this webinar, the DOE Home Energy Rebates Team will present an overview of the revamped program structure, review the specific guidance revisions outlined in Program Notice 26-3, outline next steps for application processing, and host a dedicated Questions & Answers session. For questions regarding program updates or technical assistance, contact the DOE Home Energy Rebates Team at 

U.S. Department of Energy Hosts Information Session on Revamped Tribal Home Energy Rebates Program

The National Park Service (NPS) has officially released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for two critical grant programs: the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) and the Readiness and Recreation Initiative (RARI). These programs provide significant new opportunities to support the development of outdoor and recreational projects designed to meet the unique needs of Native communities. Expanding access to these resources is essential for promoting the health, wellness, and cultural vitality of Indian Country, while reinforcing Tribal stewardship of natural and recreational spaces.

Recognizing the historical challenges Tribal Nations have faced in accessing 

 (LWCF), these initiatives and their partners aim to improve outreach, reduce administrative barriers, and ensure equitable access to federal funding. To support Native Entities in navigating these opportunities, a comprehensive series of informational webinars has been organized, including sessions specifically tailored for Tribal applicants. 

Before You Apply: Laying the Groundwork for ORLP Success

Step-by-Step: How to Write a Competitive ORLP Application

 Learn more about each program and engage directly with NPS representatives.

National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Webinar Series 

 for the latest update on the 2026 Farm Bill and what it means for Native producers across Indian Country. This webinar will provide an analysis of the Senate’s Farm Bill discussion draft, key policy proposals, and how they compare to the bill passed in the House.

Since the Coalition’s launch in October 2017, more than 170 Tribes, Intertribal groups, other Native organizations, and non-Native allies have become members of the Native Farm Bill Coalition. The Native Farm Bill Coalition was created in 2017 by the IAC (co‐chair), the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) (co‐chair), and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). 

Join the Native Farm Bill Coalition (NFBC) on Wednesday, July 22, at 4 p.m. ET for the latest update on the 2026 Farm Bill and what it means for Native producers across Indian Country. This webinar will provide an analysis of the Senate’s Farm Bill discussion draft, key policy proposals and how they compare to the bill passed in the House.

NFBC Webinar on Senate Farm Bill Discussion Draft

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Department of the Treasury's Office of Tribal and Native Affairs have partnered to host an essential four-part webinar series dedicated to strengthening Tribal economies and expanding housing opportunities across Indian Country. This series is specifically designed to equip Tribal Leaders, economic development directors, and Native entrepreneurs with actionable strategies to successfully finance high-impact community and commercial projects.

Throughout the four installments, leading industry practitioners and federal experts will analyze emerging trends in Tribal finance, navigate complex capital structures, and demonstrate how to leverage innovative financial tools to promote sustainable economic growth while safeguarding Tribal sovereignty.

The series is divided into four focused sessions:

Expanding Financial Institutions in Indian Country

Closing the Gaps: Lender Credit Stacking in Tribal Communities

 — Project finance in Indian Country regularly demands the braiding of public and private capital. Attendees will review recent case studies of participation loans across various regions and examine creative blending solutions to overcome traditional lending hurdles.

Attracting Private Capital in Indian Country Through Tax Credit Financing

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