On behalf of the Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations (AIWPN), it is a pleasure to cordially invite you to attend the sixth annual conference on the beautiful campus of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The conference will be held September 19-21, 2012.

The conference theme, “A Prayer For Healing: Strengthening Our Native Communities,” focuses on healing through an effort to facilitate a coordinated response to violence in Native communities across North Carolina and the nation. There is a need to bring the stakeholders together to share information and to use their distinct roles to improve our responses to and prevention of violence against Native women. These groups may include but are not limited to: victim advocates, police officers, prosecutors, judges, probation and correction officials, leaders within the faith communities and survivors of violence.

The first general assembly will convene at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 19. The opening session focuses on building a foundation for comprehensive, culturally based coordinated responses to end violence against Native women.  A welcome reception will follow at 6:00 p.m. On Thursday and Friday, the sessions will address topics dealing with education, spirituality, economic development, health and community. Specific topics may include the following: Health Strategies for Working Women; Navigating Tribal Political Waters; Circle of Women; Mentoring and Networking; Developing Positive Assertiveness; Open Forum on Women in Politics; Domestic Violence: Breaking the Silence, Stopping the violence; and Dealing with Professional Jealously. The conference will conclude on Friday evening with a banquet celebrating the Women of Honor and the Women to Watch. We will honor women from tribal and urban communities in North Carolina and the nation who continue to break barriers and provide positive leadership in their tribes and communities.  

Since its establishment in 2006, the Conference for American Indian Women of Proud Nations has worked diligently to reaffirm Native traditions including a holistic approach to wellness, encourage contemporary artistic expression and empower Native women and girls. That’s what AIWPN, Inc. is all about: telling the American Indian women’s story - the good and the bad - and helping to build healthy youth, families and communities.

We look forward to your participation in this inspiring and affirming conference that facilitates intergenerational transfer of Native ways and knowledge to young American Indian women and college and high school female Indian students. A special feature this year is the invitation to high school male students to attend the conference. 

Please join AIWPN as we continue to empower our communities. For more information about the conference, visit the web site at www.aiwpn.org. We are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aiwpn and Twitter at www.twitter.com/aiwpn.

We are honored by your interest and support in helping us to build strong and vibrant communities.

Sincerely,

Candace Harke(Lumbee) and Kayron Maynor (Lumbee)
Co-Chairs, Host Planning Committee

Rosa Revels Winfree (Lumbee)
Chair, Core Planning Committee

This year’s conference is being held at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke in Pembroke, NC.

North Carolina has over 100,000 American Indians. The eight tribes of North Carolina are the Coharie, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, Sappony and Waccamaw Siouan.

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Turtle with Shaman's Knot

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Last Updated: Friday, April 20, 2012