2009 AISES National Conference

Here's a recap on the 31st Annual AISES National Conference held in Portland. Turquoise sponsors were: Boeing, Bonneville Power Administration, Lockheed Martin, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The conference was a success! Members of Phoenix AISES present were: Tony Kahn, Olivia Scott, Bunny Begay, Sheila Lopez-Aguirre, Jonathan Clark, Kristina Halona, Lavonda Begay, Pam Tracy, Marvin Luna, Nina Begay, and AISES founder Al Qoyawayma. Conference highlights: Professional Development workshop presented by UCLA Anderson Executive Education. Presenter spoke on "Innovative Thinking for Extraordinary Outcomes", and gave real world examples of outside-the-box project management and the opportunities the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake presented, where the construction contractor rebuilt the failed freeway in 2 months, a significant decrease from the contract deadline of 6 months. Opening Ceremony, keynote address by Winona Laduke, Anishinaabe member, founding director for White Earth Land Recovery Project. Laduke challenged the college students to come up with energy solutions to make tribes self sufficient and not reliable on oil/gas and nuclear power. Pam Silas gave the state of AISES. Emcee was Conroy Chino, Acoma Pueblo, former Albuquerque TV newscaster. Chapters of the Year were: South Dakota School of Mines, Northern Arizona University, and two other schools. Student scholarship winners were blessed by the Council of Elders. The Career Fair exhibit booths were sold out! Students toured Portland State University on Friday. General members meeting had about 25 general members in attendance. Reviewed the AISES By-law changes which revised the AISES membership to include all indigenous people of North America, and include tribes as members. Professional chapter by-law changes were reviewed. The Professional Members dinner on Friday evening was well attended. The keynote speaker was Olav Kjon, Mohawk, program manager for Lockheed Martin, and the 2009 AISES Executive Excellence Award Winner. Professional chapters & individuals who gave chapter updates were: Phoenix (Tony introduced all Phx chapter members in attendance), Middle Rio Grande (New Mexico, Sandra Begay-Campbell), Columbia River (Portland, Don Motanic), Alaska (Dorothy Pender), Lake Erie (Joe Connolly), Oklahoma (Dan Faddis). Chapter awards were: Hungriest Chapter: Middle Rio Grande. High Rollers (best fundraisers): Phoenix. Last to arrive: Ki Tecumseh. Other activities were raffle prizes and a slide show. The Halloween Party was a blast! Students and professionals dressed up to celebrate Halloween. Standout costumes were: Swine flu, Michael Jackson, Freddy Kruger, Balloon man, Fisherman & Fish, Bobs big boy, AISES staff as queen (Pam) and princesses. The Sequoyah Breakfast was a special event where the new Sequoyah Fellows were honored with a medal, smoke blessing and honor song. Keynote speaker was Sandra Begay-Campbell. Professional Chapters meeting was very well attended and every seat in the room was taken. The question was asked about chapter's successful programs and Phoenix listed off our many successful programs. There are eight re-chartered chapters (Phoenix, Alaska, Columbia River, Western Washington, Northern California, Northeast Massachusetts, Lake Erie, Middle Rio Grande). Three pending chapters (OK, Washington DC, Willamette River). Three terminated chapters (Montana, Northern AZ, Tucson). Concurrent sessions included: NTUA Celebrating 50 years of Service to Navajo Nation. At the Honors Banquet, Sandra Begay-Campbell (Navajo) was honored as this year's Ely S. Parker award winner. Professional of the Year was Kimberley Oldham, Muscogee Nation. The new AISES board of directors was installed. New Chair is Tony Kahn. Vice-chair is Mary Jo Ondrechen. Secretary is Marlene Watson. Treasurer is Kiutus Tecumseh. Board members are: Dean Seneca, James May, Otakuye Conroy, Chris Echohawk, Melinda McClanahan. Overall it was an excellent conference! If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. Thanks, Tony Kahn AISES BOD Chair Phoenix AISES VP