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56th Algonquian Conference (2024)

56th Algonquian Conference

An international meeting for Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and community members to share research relating to Algonquian peoples.

October 24th to October 27th, 2024

Click Here for Early Registration

Sponsors

Endangered Language FundNSFMarcia HaagEastern Shawnee TribeSac and Fox Nation

The 56th Algonquian Conference will be held in First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, October 24th to October 27th, 2024.

The conference is co-organized by James Pepper Henry (Kaw Nation; First Americans Museum), Raina Heaton (Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma) and Douglas H. Whalen (Endangered Language Fund).

We invite you to attend the 56th Algonquian Conference at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. This will be the first time that the series has been in Oklahoma, home to 12 Algonquian tribes. As always, the conference is an international meeting for indigenous and non-indigenous scholars and community members to share research relating to Algonquian peoples. There is a major focus on language, both description and revitalization, as well as cultural aspects of the Algonquian peoples.

Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), we will offer free registration, travel and hotel accommodations, for the 56th Algonquian Conference to students at institutions of higher education, and to recent graduates (in the past two years). The conference will take place at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, 24-27 October 2024. The NSF grant is funding a special session on Archives and Technology, which will have talks by leaders in the field. It is the source of the funding for this opportunity.

Student/graduate recipients will be expected to help with logistics for a few hours but will be able to attend all lectures. Applications from students and post-docs interested in archiving and language technology will be given special consideration. Interest the Algonquian languages is also expected.

To apply, please send a brief description of your interest by 13 September 2024 to endangeredlanguagefund.org stating:

  • Your name, school, and expected (or recently achieved) year of graduation.
  • Your advisor’s name and contact information.
  • A brief paragraph describing your research interests, especially as they apply to the special session and to the topics of this conference.

We hope to see your application.

Doug Whalen DhW

James Pepper Henry

Raina Heaton

Program

The 56th conference will have several special features (beyond taking place in one of the newest and most exciting museums dedicated to Native American culture):

Two special sessions

Archives and Technology
Keynote Address

Technology for Revitalization: New approaches to archives from National Breath of Life.

— Daryl Baldwin, Myaamia Center; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and Jerome Viles, Myaamia Center; Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

  • Community-friendly portals to language data.

    — Jonathan Amith, Gettysburg College

  • Technology for Anishinaabemowin: Language learning and beyond.

    — Christopher Hammerly, U. British Columbia

  • Promoting online learning with 7000 Languages.

    — Mosiah Bluecloud, U. Arizona; Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma

  • Prospects and pitfalls in using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Algonquian revitalization.

    — Caroline Running Wolf, FLAIR Initiative; Crow Nation and Michael Running Wolf, FLAIR Initiative; Northern Cheyenne/Lakota/Blackfeet

  • 21st Century Tools for Indigenous Languages.

    — Antti Arppe, U. Alberta

Language and Health
Keynote Address

Indigenous approaches to health and wellbeing.

— Maria Crouch, Yale U.; Deg Hit’an and Coahuiltecan Tribes

The relationship between Indigenous language and health outcomes.

— Melissa Lewis, U. Missouri; Cherokee Nation

  • Eyewitness accounts of health benefits due to Menominee language revitalization.

    — Jennifer Gauthier, College of Menominee Nation

  • Creation of Myaamia nahi mehtohseeniwinki, the “living well” model.

    — Haley Shea, Myaamia Center; Miami Tribe of Oklahoma

  • Funding a language program through the health department.

    — Valerie Switzler, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation

  • Support from the National Institutes of Health.

    — TBA

  • Two (optional) visits to the archives at the Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma in Norman
  • Simultaneous with the 3rd Annual Algonquian Language and Cultural Convention
  • A banquet on Friday, 25 October, that will honor language activists from Oklahoma tribes
  • Catered lunches on Friday and Saturday

Note that there are limited options for dining in the immediate area of the museum, so the registration fee includes two lunches and the banquet. Details on menus and accommodations for dietary restrictions will be posted later.

Key Dates

24-27 October 2024: 56th Algonquian Conference

24 October

Tour of Sam Noble Museum archive; opening reception

25 October

Special session on Archives and Technology; tour of Sam Noble Museum archive; breakout sessions; banquet

26 October

Special session on Language and Health; breakout sessions

27 October

Half day; breakout sessions

Call for Papers: Now Closed

If you are interested in making a presentation, please send a title and abstract of at most one page to the following address: ac56@endangeredlanguagefund.org.

All presentations will be in person at the conference venue.

The subject line of your e-mail must read “Algonquian Conference Abstract” and the text of your e-mail message must include your name, institutional and/or tribal affiliation as well as the e-mail address of each speaker. Please also indicate your requirements for audio-visual equipment.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

Appel à communication:

Les personnes qui souhaitent faire une présentation sont priées d’envoyer un titre et un résumé d’au plus une page à l’adresse suivante: ac56@endangeredlanguagefund.org

Toutes les présentations se feront en personne sur le lieu de la conférence.

L’en-tête de votre message courriel doit porter la mention CONGRÈS DES ALGONQUINISTES. Le texte de votre message doit inclure toutes vos coordonnées: nom, institution ou nation, et adresses électroniques de tous les coprésentateurs. N’oubliez pas de nous faire part de vos besoins en termes d’appareils audio-visuels et électroniques.

Les soumissions seront acceptées jusqu’au 3 septembre 2024.

Access & Venue

First Americans Museum

Exterior view of First Americans Museum
659 First Americans Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73129
Map

Hotel Accommodations

We have reserved blocks of rooms at two hotels in Oklahoma City, the Skirvin and the Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Downtown. Both are a few blocks from the restaurants and entertainment of Brick Town. Information on transportation to the First Americans Museum will be posted later. Both hotels have listed a rate of $110 per night. There are many other choices available, both at hotels and AirBNBs.

Skirvin

To receive the discounted rate, you may either call the reservations line at 1-800-HILTONS and mention the Endangered Language Fund (or group code 91L), or you may use the link below to easily book online within the block.

Book the Skirvin

Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Downtown

Rooms at the Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Downtown can be reserved by phone at 405-228-8000, or through their website from the link below.

Book the Wyndham Grand

Contact

Enquiries can be sent to ac56@endangeredlanguagefund.org.