In partnership with the Nevada Indian Commission and the University of Nevada, Reno, the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) holds an annual American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Education Summit each year. The next AI/AN Education Summit is scheduled for March 19 & 20, 2012 at the University of Nevada, Reno. The Summit offers training to Nevada’s educators, and provides information and resources on our tribes in Nevada. Keynote speaker for the 2012 Summit is D. J. “Eagle Bear” Vanas, motivational storyteller, leadership expert, author and warrior. A link to the Agenda as well as each of the Summit Registration, Application and Nomination forms is found below. The Agenda will be reposted as updates are made.

This year, ten scholarships to attend the AI/AN Summit are available. If you are an educator or know of an educator who should attend the Summit but may not be able to afford it, please submit a nomination, using the Scholarship Nomination form. The Summit also features arts & crafts and informational vendors. Space is limited, but if you are interested in applying as a vendor, please complete and submit the Vendor Application form. Vendor applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis.

• Agenda (pdf)

• AI/AN Summit Registration form (pdf)

• Scholarship Nomination form (pdf)

• Vendor Application form (pdf)

• Pesa Namanedu Award Nomination form (pdf)

• Travel Planning Information (pdf)

Each year at the AI/AN Summit, the Summit Committee, in conjunction with the NDE, presents the “Pesa Namanedu” award to honor American Indian Educators in Nevada who have made significant contributions toward Indian Education in the State of Nevada. At the 2011 Summit, two individuals, Claire Manning‐Dick and the late Harold Abel, were recognized for the work done toward the Great Basin Native American Language Endorsement for the Paiute (Northern & Southern), Washoe and Western Shoshone languages. Today native languages are taught in various schools. If you know of an educator who has made a significant contribution toward Indian Education in the state of Nevada, please nominate them for the Pesa Namanedu award.

• 2012 Pesa Namanedu Recipients: TBA

• 2011 Pesa Namanedu Recipients: Great Basin Native American Language Endorsement Committee

• 2010 Pesa Namanedu Recipients: Celebrating Nevada Indian Curriculum Teachers