Call for Proposals

It is a pleasure to invite you to the 9th Annual Indigenous Education Research Conference.  This year's conference will be hosted by the Institute for American Indian Education and American Indian Language Policy Research & Teacher Training Center at the University of New Mexico.  The first day of the conference is April 23, 2026 in-person at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM.  The second day of the conference is April 24, 2026 and will be virtual.
The Institute for American Indian Education acknowledges and operationalizes the importance of engaging in research that recognizes the integrity of cultural sovereignty as it is exercised by Indigenous Nations.  As educators, scholars, and Indigenous Peoples, IAIE is cognizant of the critical role that Western and Indigenous-centered education has on pedagogy, policy, research, and practice.  It is in this spirit that the idea for this research conference emerged.
The theme of the 9th Annual Indigenous Education Research Conference is Native language sovereignty: Reclaiming language on Our Terms.  We will focus on the perspectives of Tribal Nations and their goals for the maintenance and reclamation of their languages.  The Conference will highlight a broad scope of interrelated topics including the challenges and success stories of community-driven language initiatives; community control and management of technology in service to Native language preservation efforts; and the appropriate role of institutions, education agencies, and non-tribal organizations in support of these efforts. 
We invite proposals for research-based panels and papers that address:
  • Challenges and success stories of community-driven Native language initiatives
  • Indigenous community control and management of technology in service to Native language preservation
  • Appropriate role of institutions, education agencies, and non-tribal organizations
  • Native language curriculum and pedagogy
  • Elders and community role in language teaching
  • Development and protection of language teaching resource materials

Panels

Panel presentation proposals should include a 200-500 word narrative (excluding reference) explaining how the proposed panel will address the conference theme: Native language sovereignty: Reclaiming language on Our Terms.  In addition to the narrative, a 50-word bio should be submitted for each presenter.  Pan presentations should be no longer than 45 minutes, allowing 15 minutes for a question-and-answer session. 

Papers

Paper presentation proposals should include a 200-500 word narrative (excluding references) describing how the proposed paper will address the conference theme: Native language sovereignty: Reclaiming language on Our Terms.  In addition to the narrative, a 50-word bio should be submitted for each author of the paper.  paper presentations should be no longer than 45 mintues, allowing 15 minutes for a question-and- answer session. 

Submission:

Submit your panel or paper proposal as well as any inquiries you may have regarding the conference to Glenabah Martinez at glenie@unm.edu and Christine Sims at csims@unm.edu 

Important Dates:

Deadline for proposal submission: February 20, 2026
Notification of acceptance: February 25, 2026
Notification from presenters confirming attendance: March 6, 2026
Registration opens: March 2, 2026
Registration deadline: April 10, 2026

Conference dates: April 23 - 24, 2026

There is no fee to attend the conference, but registration is required. 
Breakfast and lunch will be provided on April 23, 2026 at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. 

We look forward to seeing you at the 9th Annual Indigenous Education Research Conference

Thank you,

UNM Native Faculty & IERC Planning Committee

For more information regarding the 2026 Indigenous Education Research Conference please subscribe to our list-serv...