CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE

2019 CONFERENCE THEME- UNITED FOR OUR CHILDREN, OUR SOVEREIGNTY,

OUR FUTURE

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November 6-7-8, 2019 Apache Casino Hotel, Lawton, OK

The Conference includes a two- and one-half-day agenda that features a plenary session, twenty-two (22) workshops, keynote address, evening dinner and cultural presentations, door prizes, and silent auction. CEU, CLE, LPC, LMFT, CLEET, Foster Care and DHS Training Credit Approved.

WEDNESDAY

The Wednesday one-half day agenda will offer two Plenary Speakers with expertise on a national level. Sheldon Spotted Elk (Northern Cheyenne) is a Director at Casey Family Programs and has extensive expertise on Tribal law, child welfare, and juvenile issues. Mr. Spotted Elk will be presenting a workshop on “ICWA 101”. Jaia Lent from Generations United will be presenting on “Kinship Navigator Programs”. The Evening Program will include a game night hosted by OICWA and a Membership Drive.

THURSDAY

The first full day will begin with an Opening Ceremony and Welcome from the Apache Tribe Chair-woman Laurie Gooday-Ware. The Keynote Speaker and Address will feature Sandra “Sandy” Whitehawk (Sicangu Lakota), Founding Director of the First Nations Repatriation Institute. Sandy is an international Indigenous child welfare advocate who uses personal experience in adoption and trauma recovery to mentor and repatriate adoptees throughout Indian Country.

Sandy Whitehawk and co-facilitator, Priscilla Day, will share a film presentation of the documentary “Blood Memory”, Sandy Whitehawk’s story of removal, adoption and return where she organizes the first Coming Home Ceremony for Adoptees and Fostered individuals on the Rosebud Reservation of South Dakota, the community from which she was removed by missionaries over sixty years ago.

Sandy Whitehawk will present and offer a breakout session of the movie “Dawn Land” that tells of the journey of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Maine, the first ever government sanctioned project. Native and non-native commissioners travel through Maine gathering testimony on the impact of the states child welfare practices with four tribes that make up the Wabanaki people.

Dawnland goes behind the scenes as the commission grapples with difficult truths, redefines reconciliation, and charts a new course of state and tribal relations.

FRIDAY

Guest Speakers include Lisa Johnson Billy, Secretary of Native American Affairs in Oklahoma, and Judge Phil Lujan along with breakout sessions. A new enhancement for the conference is the addition of a planning app (Whova) that includes the following features:

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 • News Feed

 • Agenda and Schedule

 • Speaker Bio and Handouts

 • Conference Attendees and networking

 • Map

 •  Session feedback report

 • Dedicated rep- 24/7 IT support

 • Scholarships supported by the ICWA Partnership Grant

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