USU Blanding to Host Weaving Our Stories Conference, Amplifying Voices of Native American Students

BLANDING, Utah — Utah State University Blanding will host The Weaving Our Stories Conference this September, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members to delve into the rich tapestry of topics surrounding Indigenous education and empowerment.

“We are deeply grateful for the NASNTI grant funding that has made this event possible,” said Director of Student Services at USU Blanding Priscilla Arungwa. “We believe this conference will provide a platform to amplify the voices, concerns, and thoughts of Native American students.” The Weaving Our Stories Conference is open to all who wish to attend.

The conference will be held on September 25-26 at the USU Blanding Arts & Events Center. The conference is sponsored by the Native American Serving Nontribal Institutions (NASNTI) program and USU Blanding.

According to Arungwa, the Weaving Our Stories conference will include “engaging sessions and cultural activities that highlight Native American heritage.”

The conference will also host two keynote speakers: Amanda Tachine and Ian Teller. Dr. Tachine, an assistant professor of higher education at Arizona State University, is the author of Native Presence and Sovereignty in College. Teller, who has a master’s in music industry from the University of Southern California, is a social media star, with over 21,000 followers on TikTok, where he posts short, humorous clips of experiences being Navajo.

“We are also excited to welcome guests to our campus who will contribute to the important work we are doing at USU Blanding,” Arungwa said. “This conference is significant to us as it brings together the collective efforts of the entire Utah State University community to support and celebrate Native American student voices.

For more information about the conference and to register, visit statewide.usu.edu/blanding/nasnti/conference.