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 

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 nineteenth session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) will take place from July 13–17, 2026, in-person only, in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Participants must register by July 3, 2026

, through an accredited NGO via the United Nations Indico platform. Review session information and registration requirements at the registration link above.

EMRIP: Nineteenth Session

The National UNITY Conference is an impactful five-day youth-led annual event held every July in a pre-selected region of the U.S.

UNITY is celebrating 50 years of tradition and Native Youth empowerment. This national conference is a place where Native youth voices are encouraged and valued. We want to commemorate our time through the decades by highlighting some of our organization’s key achievements. Look forward to looking back into UNITY’s immense history along with some familiar faces.

National UNITY Conference — 50th Anniversary

The Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City is an annual event that brings together Tribal leaders, legal experts, and policymakers to discuss critical issues affecting Native American communities. It provides a scholarly and cultural platform to explore tribal sovereignty through legal, artistic, economic, and cultural lenses. While heavily attended by OK-based Tribes, multiple non-OK Tribal leaders and staff also attend.

The Sovereignty Symposium 

2026 Northwest Indian Gaming Conference & Expo

 serves as a unique opportunity for community members to learn about the current state of gaming in Washington and throughout Indian Country.

Attendees get up-to-date information on gaming technology, management solutions, gaming regulations, and the current political issues that affect Tribal gaming operations. 

2026 Northwest Indian Gaming Association Conference and Expo 

June 14–17, 2026 | Renasant Convention Center

Join us for NCAI's 2026 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace! Work collaboratively with federal partners and Tribal organizations to defend and enhance Tribal sovereignty. 

Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and partners from across Indian Country will gather for daily thematic programming featuring plenary panels and breakout sessions highlighting Tribal civic engagement, pertinent legislation and advocacy updates, and Tribal governance best practices.

At the National Congress of American Indian's (NCAI's) 2026 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace, attendees will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with federal partners and tribal organizations to defend and enhance Tribal sovereignty. This in-person convention takes place June 14–17 at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Tribal leaders, NCAI members, Native youth, and partners from across Indian Country will gather to embark upon a new era of Nation-to-Nation engagement, including proactive strategy development, advocacy, and much more.

2026 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace

The Native American Fish and Wildlife Society (NAFWS), in coordination with Tribal partners, is conducting a webinar series designed to explore existing, new, and emerging technologies that support wildlife research and management in Tribal contexts. This series provides a dedicated space for Tribal fish and wildlife professionals to share knowledge and coordinate priorities that support Tribal sovereignty and the stewardship of natural resources.

The second session, scheduled for June 11, 2026, will focus on Environmental Sensor Data. This session is co-hosted by 

, an online platform that simplifies the processing, organization, storage, and sharing of environmental sensor data. Participants will learn how these tools can enhance data collection and analysis to support robust Tribal fish and wildlife programs.

 Oct 8, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. ET and Feb 11, 2027, at 3:00 p.m. ET

NAFWS Webinar Series: Emerging Technologies in Wildlife Management

Kicking off our ORLP webinar series, this first session introduces the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program and TPL's new technical assistance resources for prospective applicants through our partnership with the National Park Service. Participants will hear directly from the National Park Service on program goals, eligibility requirements, and what's new for 2026, including expanded opportunities for tribes and Indigenous communities. A case study presentation on Dream Keepers Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma will offer a real-world look at what a competitive ORLP application looks like. The session will close with an overview of TPL's full ORLP technical assistance program, including one-on-one application support, self-guided resources, and what to expect in the next webinar.

Unlock Federal Funding to Expand Outdoor Recreation Access: A Guide to the ORLP

U.S. Department of Transportation National Small Business Matchmaking Series

Join the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for the next IGA–NCAI Task Force Meeting on 

Created in response to emerging threats to Tribal sovereignty and Tribal treaty rights, the IGA–NCAI Task Force brings together Tribal leaders, attorneys, lobbyists, and other interested parties to discuss legal, administrative, and legislative challenges impacting Tribal Nations.

This meeting will provide updates on recent threats to sovereignty and treaty rights related to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s allowance of sports contract prediction markets as financial derivatives. IGA and NCAI will also share information on ongoing efforts to protect Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights through agency action, legislation, and litigation.

Register today to join the discussion and stay informed on this critical issue impacting Tribal Nations.

IGA–NCAI Task Force Meeting

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office of Partnership and Engagement, on behalf of the Department of Justice, is hosting a webinar on the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) — a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian art and craft products within the United States. The webinar will cover the work of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board (IACB) of the U.S. Department of the Interior and will feature a recently prosecuted case from the District of Alaska involving over $1 million in fraudulent artwork falsely marketed as authentic Alaska Native art. This training is free and open to all interested parties.

Protecting Tribal Culture: The Indian Arts and Crafts Act

Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for a special fireside chat featuring Associate Chief Chris French of the United States Forest Service and NCAI leadership for a timely conversation about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service and what it means for Indian Country and the government-to-government relationship.

NCAI Fireside Chat with the United States Forest Service

Join the co-chairs of the Tribal Border Task Force on May 28, 2026, for a virtual meeting to prepare for NCAI's 2026 Mid Year Convention & Marketplace in Memphis, Tennessee.

The purpose of the NCAI Tribal Border Task Force is to ensure that original peoples of this land can continue to cross, trade, visit, enhance language reclamation, practice traditions, conduct cultural ceremonies, and protect their homelands as our ancestors have done since time immemorial.

Provide Regional Partner Organization updates (e.g., JTBA, AFN, etc.)

Tribal Border Task Force Meeting

Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University

Open to Tribal Leaders and Tribal communications professionals, the fellowship provides targeted learning and hands-on practice to increase communication skills and expand media presence to meet their community needs.

Build the skills to amplify your Tribal Nation’s priorities in today’s media landscape.

By the end of this training, participants will know how to:

Create strong narratives, tell compelling stories, and deliver effective messages.

Use their voices and digital tools to advocate for policy change at all levels.

Build and maintain relationships with news outlets and media professionals.


I have never been in a room full of people who look like my cousins, studying communications. I was moved. I felt like I was part of something important and I am a vital piece moving forward.

 Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Arizona State University

 includes lunch and snacks for all program days

Transportation to and from the program site, lodging, and additional meals are not included. A room block is available at the U.S. government rate.

 who understand the unique media landscape of Indian Country

 and storytelling techniques to mobilize your communities & advance policy

 reporters, Tribal leaders, and political strategists on the importance of communications.

 and pitch stories that matter while navigating diverse interview environments.

fellows will receive 50% off their registration fee for NCAI's 83rd Annual Convention & Marketplace

 in October 2026 after successful completion of the program.

The 2026 Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship is open to Tribal Leaders and Tribal communications professionals and will be hosted at the state-of-the-art Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University on May 27-29, 2026. The fellowship will provide targeted learning and hands-on practice to Tribal Leaders and communication professionals who wish to increase their communication skills and expand their media presence to meet their community needs. Curriculum will be tailored to and facilitated by Native voices with knowledge of the unique media landscape of Indian Country. 

2026 Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship

The 2026 Tribal Leaders Media Training & Communications Fellowship will be hosted at the state-of-the-art Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University on May 27-29, 2026. The fellowship will provide targeted learning and hands-on practice to Tribal Leaders and communication professionals who wish to increase their communication skills and expand their media presence to meet their community needs. Curriculum will be tailored to and facilitated by Native voices with knowledge of the unique media landscape of Indian Country.

Join the Co-Chairs of the NCAI Violence Against Women Task Force on 

 This is the regular monthly meeting of the VAW Task Force.

This meeting will include a conversation on setting the agenda for Task Force meetings during Mid Year, updates from the Task Force partners, and an open discussion.

Events Archive

Who We Are

Our Work

News & Events

Resources

Get Involved

Contractor Opportunities