A colorful collage titled "Indigenous Equity, Policy, and Innovation" highlights themes like cultural heritage, data sovereignty, language preservation, education, and health equity. Key phrases include "Weaving Our Story," "Re-Indigenizing Modern Spaces," and "Holistic Learning." The design combines text and graphics to emphasize collaboration and cultural preservation.

Dec. 5 and 6, 2024

Doing Research in Indigenous Communities Conference

Thank you for joining us for the seventh annual Doing Research in Indigenous Communities Conference on Dec. 5 and 6, 2024, at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. Hosted by the Office of American Indian Initiatives and the College of Health Solutions and funded by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre, this conference offers an opportunity to understand and address the research needs of tribal nations and communities.

The no-cost conference includes plenary panels and breakout sessions structured to encourage learning and discussion. Day one focused on timely policy issues impacting Indigenous equity, policy and innovation. Day two focused on supporting and developing the next generation of researchers by cultivating Indigenous students' research knowledge, skills and scholarly journey.

Students, researchers or community members interested in research issues and opportunities within Indigenous communities are encouraged to attend the conference each year.

Conference highlights

2024 agenda

Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024

8–8:30 a.m.	Continental breakfast and check-in
8:30–9 a.m.	Opening blessing Arizona Ballroom Elishua Shepherd, Mr. Indigenous ASU Land acknowledgement Welcome Arizona Ballroom Jacob Moore, vice president and special advisor to the president on American Indian Affairs, ASU Opening blessing video
9–10:15 a.m.	Weaving Our Story: Extending Cultural Heritage Arizona Ballroom Dr. Beth Maloney, executive director, Act One Violet Duncan, creative director, Young Warriors Books and Designs Catherine Eng, co-founder, CTO, OurWorlds Amon Chavez, program director and founder, Native Like Water Weaving our story video
10:15–10:30 a.m.	Networking break
10:30–11:45 a.m.	Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and the Impact on Data Sovereignty Arizona Ballroom Tyson Winarski, intellectual property law professor and patent attorney, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU Gerty Tsinnie, CEO, 917 SOLUTIONS RJ Huskey, president and vCISO, HOZHO Cybersecurity, LLC. Trevor Reed, professor of law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU Data sovereignty video
11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m.	Lunch Plenary Session: Institutional Review Boards for Tribal Communities Arizona Ballroom Session moderator: Jacob Moore Dr. Amanda Hunter, assistant professor, College of Health Solutions, ASU Dr. Myra Parker, Associate Professor in the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behavior in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Director for Seven Directions Del Yazzie, director and senior epidemiologist, Navajo Epidemiology Center Plenary session video
1:30–1:45 p.m.	Break
1:45–2:45 p.m.	Breakout session one Option 1. Indigenous Health Equity, Policy, and Innovation Arizona Ballroom Session moderator: Nate Wade, assistant research professor and executive director for strategic initiatives and innovation, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University Agnes Attakai, Director of Health Disparities Outreach and Prevention Education for the Arizona Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Dr. Angela Gonzales, professor and director, American Indian Studies, ASU Breakout session video Option 2. Language Preservation Pima Room Dr. Wendy Wolfersteig, research professor, Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, ASU Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, chief executive officer, Phoenix Indian Center and Instructor, American Indian Studies, ASU Dr. Natalia Rodriguez-Gonzalez, research analyst, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, ASU Elicia Goodsoldier, language and culture program manager, Phoenix Indian Center Option 3. Immersive Experience one Turquoise Room OurWorlds and Agog Indigenous Artist
2:45–3 pm	Transition break
3–4 p.m.	Breakout session two Option 1. Indigenous Education Innovations Pima Room Session moderator: Dr. Jessica Solyom, associate director, Center for Indian Education, ASU Grace Karikari, PhD, MPH, CHES, NBC-HWC, assistant professor, Department of Indigenous Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Heaven Sepulveda, doctoral candidate, Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, ASU Option 2. Indigenous Health Innovations Arizona Ballroom Session moderator: Dr. Jessica Hogan, assistant teaching professor, College of Health Solutions, ASU Cherry Y.E.W. Yamane, PhD student in Indigenous health, University of North Dakota Jared Duval, assistant professor, Northern Arizona University Breakout session video Option 3. Immersive Experience Two Turquoise Room Act One
4:15–4:45 p.m.	Call to action and closing remarks Arizona Ballroom Closing remarks video
5 p.m.	Reception Arizona Ballroom

Featured panelists, guest speakers and moderators

Dr. Beth Maloney, executive director, Act One
Violet Duncan, creative director, Young Warriors Books and Designs
Catherine Eng, co-founder, CTO, OurWorlds
Amon Chavez, program director and founder, Native Like Water
Tyson Winarski, intellectual property law professor and patent attorney, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU
Gerty Tsinnie, CEO, 917 SOLUTIONS
RJ Huskey, president and vCISO, HOZHO Cybersecurity, LLC.
Trevor Reed, professor of Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, ASU
Dr. Amanda Hunter, assistant professor, College of Health Solutions, ASU
Dr. Myra Parker, Associate Professor in the Center for the Study of Health and Risk Behavior in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and Director for Seven Directions
Agnes Attakai, Director of Health Disparities Outreach and Prevention Education for the Arizona Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Nate Wade, assistant research professor and executive director for strategic initiatives and innovation, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University
Del Yazzie, director and senior epidemiologist, Navajo Epidemiology Center
Jacob Moore, vice president and special advisor to the president on American Indian Affairs, ASU
Dr. Angela Gonzales, professor and director, American Indian Studies, ASU
Dr. Wendy Wolfersteig, research professor, Office of Evaluation and Partner Contracts, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, ASU
Jolyana Begay-Kroupa, chief executive officer, Phoenix Indian Center and Instructor, American Indian Studies, ASU
Dr. Natalia Rodriguez-Gonzalez, research analyst, Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, ASU
Elicia Goodsoldier, language and culture program manager, Phoenix Indian Center
Grace Karikari, PhD, MPH, CHES, NBC-HWC., assistant professor, Department of Indigenous Health, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Heaven Sepulveda, doctoral candidate, Leadership and Innovation, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, ASU
Dr. Jessica Solyom, associate director, Center for Indian Education, ASU
Cherry Y.E.W. Yamane, PhD student in Indigenous health, University of North Dakota
Jared Duval, assistant professor, Northern Arizona University
Dr. Jessica Hogan, assistant teaching professor, College of Health Solutions, ASU