Oklahoma City, OK- The Native American and Indigenous Studies Association (NAISA) is excited to announce its 2025 annual conference, which will take place June 26-28, 2025, at the Omni Oklahoma City Hotel. This conference will bring together scholars, community leaders, artists, advocates, and experts worldwide to discuss Indigenous issues, research, and innovation. NAISA is also hosting a ticketed event, Tribal Nations Night at the First Americans Museum on June 27— an evening of showcasing the Tribal cultures that represent the Native Nations of Oklahoma.

NAISA, one of the largest and most respected organizations dedicated to advancing Native American and Indigenous Studies, was founded at the University of Oklahoma in 2007. Since then, it has grown into a global network of over 1,000 members committed to nurturing scholarship accountable to Native and Indigenous communities. The annual conference is a vital space for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across disciplines and communities.

As we gather in the region where NAISA was conceived, our 2025 conference will explore the theme of “Roots and Origins.” Dr. Henrietta Mann, a Cheyenne scholar enrolled with the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, recently said the following at the 2025 Oklahoma Native American Youth Language Fair, underscoring the significance of Indigenous roots: “We have spiritual roots that extend in the very soil of this ground that we walk on and live on today.” This theme invites participants to reflect on the foundational aspects of Native American and Indigenous Studies, to consider the origins of our field, and to engage with the deep-rooted histories and traditions that shape Indigenous Peoples locally and globally today.

The 2025 conference will feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and artistic and cultural presentations that highlight myriad Indigenous peoples’ scholarship and lifeways. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with leading scholars and professionals while exploring pressing topics related to Indigenous sovereignty, history, policy, and the arts.

NAISA invites organizations, businesses, and individuals to support this important event through sponsorships and exhibitor opportunities. For sponsorship inquiries or additional questions, please contact NAISA Secretary, Dr. Farina King, at naisa.secretary@gmail.com. We welcome our Native community members and commit to cultivating a space that is inclusive for all who attend. We need to continue to gather and support Native American and Indigenous Studies more than ever during these times. We hope that as many people who can join us will come, especially in this heartland of Native America.

To learn more about NAISA, visit https://naisa.org/. To register and learn more details about the NAISA 2025 conference, check out the conference website at https://www.naisaconvention.org.

*We have discounted registration rates for Oklahoma residents, retirees, community members, and students. The early bird registration deadline has been extended to April 22, 2025.

Register today and join us in Oklahoma City, June 26-28, 2025.