Webinars
NIEA has conducted informational webinars across a wide variety of topic. Please peruse and enjoy our webinar offerings below.
Recent Webinars
Native Authors for Young Readers: Stories and Voices for the Classroom
In this webinar Cynthia Letitch Smith, New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and anthologist of more than 20 books for young readers, is joined by up and coming authors Karina Iceberg (Aleut (Unangax̂) and Alutiiq (Sugpiaq)), Christine Hartman (Cherokee), and Kauakanilehua Māhoe Adams (Native Hawaiian). They discuss their soon to be released book, Legendary Fry Bread Drive In. The authors share their story behind their communal approach to writing portions of the anthology with other authors and discuss the relevance of Native stories told by Native voices for youth, especially in classrooms.
A Conversation on Indigenous Place and Worldviews in & out of the Classroom with Educator Day Keynote Author Christine M’Lot
In this pre-event for the 2025 Educator Day, we engage in dialogue around the work of Author Christine M’Lot, a proud member of Swan Lake First Nation living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and editor of Resurgence: Engaging with Indigenous Narratives and Cultural Expressions In and Beyond the Classroom and Renewal: Indigenous Perspectives on Land-Based Education In and Beyond the Classroom. We discuss the relevance of furthering work among tribal nations spanning borders and differences as we all advocate for educational sovereignty in our communities. Christine shares more about her work and how it can improve teaching strategies in the classrooms as well as among educators. The model used in her texts are applicable to all levels of educators, in all spaces, and regardless of their background.
Building Resilient Students: Culturally Grounded SEL and Prevention Strategies
This 90-minute virtual training was designed to equip educators, school leaders, and mental health professionals with culturally grounded strategies for supporting student well-being. This session focuses on integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) and prevention practices, providing practical tools to foster resilience, remove barriers to mental health support, and create inclusive, supportive environments. Through expert panel discussions, we explore how culturally responsive approaches can strengthen SEL and prevention efforts, promoting mental health and emotional growth. Participants will takeaway actionable insights and resources to better serve their students and communities.
Native Educator Programs Showcase:
Institutions with Native Support Systems Panel Discussion
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was honored to host the third virtual webinar in our Native Educator Programs Showcase with teacher educators and leaders from the University of Kansas, the University of Washington, and the Institute for Native-serving Educators (INE) at Northern Arizona University. This webinar panel discussion showcases strategic and creative ways that institutions can provide intentional systems of support that influence the creation of strong, qualified Native educators.
Native Educator Programs Showcase:
Native-Centered Programs Panel Discussion
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was honored to host the second virtual webinar in our Native Educator Programs Showcase with teacher educators and leaders from the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at the University of Arizona and the Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education program at the University of Hawai’i - Hilo. This webinar panel discussion showcases unique and effective educator preparation and development programs, practices, and policies that are combating the teacher shortage of educators and providing unique pathways of programs to create or support for strong, qualified Native educators.
Native Educator Programs Showcase:
Tribal Colleges and Universities Panel Discussion
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was honored to host a panel discussion with educators and leaders from Tribal Colleges and Universities, including Fon du Lac Tribal and Community College (MN), Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (NM), and Muckleshoot Tribal College (WA). This webinar panel discussion showcases unique and effective educator preparation and development programs, practices, and policies that are combating the teacher shortage of educators and providing unique pathways of programs to create or support for strong, qualified Native educators.
When Indigenous Students are Classified as English Learners in School: Contexts, Opportunities, and Dilemmas
English learner (EL) status is a protected status in U.S. K-12 schools; a status that comes with additional resources for language instruction and accessible core content. Federal law differentiates eligibility for Indigenous students, and nearly one in ten Indigenous students in the U.S. is classified as an EL. Yet an absence of federal guidance on this differentiation has led to a situation in which Indigenous students’ place in EL programs remains ambiguous and variable across states.
In this webinar, Dr. Ilana Umansky and Dr. Taiyo Itoh from the University of Oregon will share findings from their research studies that examine how states identify Indigenous students as EL-eligible. Drawing on reviews of state policies and interviews with state education leaders, they will explore the contexts, dilemmas, and opportunities associated with EL identification for Indigenous students. This webinar aims to create a space for Indigenous education stakeholders and others to discuss critical questions around EL status and ways to improve EL policies and practices for Indigenous students.
NIEA & Heartdrum/Haper Collins presents “Meet the Authors”
NIEA was proud to host a "Meet the Authors" Webinar with Heartdrum, the Native voices imprint at HarperCollins Children’s Books. Register to hear a conversation with author and curator Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee) and authors Byron Graves (Ojibwe), Emily Bowen Cohen (Muscogee), and Kim Rogers (Wichita) to discuss their recently published works and the importance of Native representation in children's and young adult literature.
2023 NIEA Book Club featuring Angeline Boulley
Watch the Part 1 and 2 recordings of the book talk with Angeline Boulley as she shares about her books Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed.
Book Club Part 1
Click here for the Part 1 recording. Be sure to use the passcode below to access the recording.
Passcode: ?8Y*Mv^8
Book Club Part 2
Click here for the Part 2 recording. Be sure to use the passcode below to access the recording.
Passcode: arL1*NF!
Archive Webinars
NIEA & AFT Presents: Authentic Ways of Representing American
Indian Culture in PreK-12 School Curriculum
NIEA's Education Specialist, Casie Wise joined our AFT partner Giselle Lundy-Ponce for the webinar Authentic Ways of Representing American Indian Culture in PreK-12 School Curriculum at the 2021 Share My Lesson Conference. The webinar addresses the problem of representation in curricular resources. Why are Thanksgiving, Pocahontas or sports mascots the only time that non-Native students tend to hear about American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians? American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian culture is widely misrepresented and misappropriated in schools and school curricula. The session deconstructs how these detrimental stereotypes originate and how to dismantle them through supporting Native and non-Native educators as they teach about American Indian culture and history in the classroom. This webinar will help educators learn how to represent Native cultures appropriately and take an asset-based approach to teaching that American Indian culture is current and thriving. The presenters share instructional resources and experiences to open a dialogue about representation in the classroom and how it benefits all students.
** The webinar is free for on-demand viewing and is housed on the AFT sponsored website Share My Lesson. To view the webinar, a brief registration is required.