2026 North Dakota Indian Education Summit

The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI), Office of Indian/Multicultural Education and the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission are pleased to announce the 12th Annual North Dakota Indian Education Summit (NDIES). This two full-day event will be held at the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck, ND on July 28-29, 2026. The NDIES is open to all ND educators and educators in training. It is designed to provide professional development and education on best practices in Indian education.

Check-in opens at 7:45am on Tuesday. Continental breakfast will be available at that time. The welcome and introductions will begin promptly at 8:30am and the Summit will conclude by 5:00pm each day.

The registration cost includes two full days of dynamic keynotes, educational breakout sessions, cultural presentations, breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks, handouts/resource materials, product vendor and information exhibitor booths, door prizes, and great networking opportunities.

Single day, student, and group rates are not available. Lodging is not included and is not arranged by Summit staff.

• Early Bird Attendee Registration Fee (April 6 - May 16) - $175
• Attendee Registration Fee (May 17 - June 30) - $200
• Late Attendee Registration Fee (July 1 - 20) - $250
• Product Vendor Fee (7:30a - 4:30p, both days) - $100
• Informational Exhibitor Fee (11:00a - 1:00p, both days) - $50
• Additional Meal Package (for booth staff helping registered vendor/exhibitor) - $50
• Presenter Registration - FREE

**On-site registrations will NOT be accepted.**

There is limited space available for this popular event, so be sure to register early. We will only be able to accommodate the first 200 registrants. Registration payments must be made online with a credit card at the time of registration. Payments by cash or check will no longer be accepted for any registrations.

You will receive a confirmation email after your payment has been received. You are not registered until you have received a confirmation and printable ticket via email. Registered attendees will receive a certificate of attendance.

*NDDPI reserves the right to change the room , topic, or presenter for any session based on Summit needs. Be sure to check the schedule in your attendee packet and listen for updated schedules and information at the event.

Cancellation/Late Registration Policy: We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise and prevent you from attending the Summit. Submitting the online registration signifies your plan to attend. If your plans change or you will not be able to attend, you must notify the Indian Education Office as early as possible.

All cancellations or refund requests must be made to the Indian Education Office via email and through the Eventbrite Request Refund function no later than 12:00pm on Monday, July 20, 2026, as commitments for food and materials must be secured. **After noon on Monday, July 20, all registration fees become non-refundable.**

Continuing Education: The NDIES is offering one continuing education workshop credit through the University of Mary for $45. The registration deadline for credit is July 28, 2026. You must make payment via credit card at the time of registration through the continuing education credit website as the University of Mary does not accept checks. Students are able to access the workshop through University of Mary Canvas Catalog or enroll for the GWC/CEU workshop by following the Direct Course link. The Canvas Catalog system will not allow students to register without making payment.

If you have any questions not answered by the following resources (items will be linked when details are finalized), please contact the Indian Education Office.

• 2026 NDIES Agenda
• Breakout Session Schedule
• Session Overviews w/Presenter Bios
• Capitol Ground Floor and Complex Maps
• Workshop Credit, University of Mary
• Local Community Information, including hotel specials, local promotions, nearby attractions, etc.
• Thank You - 2025 Sponsors, Presenters, Exhibitors, Planning Committee

Keynote Addresses

• Martin Sensmeier, Actor, Producer, Youth Advocate
• Educating American Indian Students: Communicating, Caring, Connecting - Nadine Groenig, Owner/CEO, Sun Clan Consulting

General Sessions

• Infinite Campus Update - Steve Snow, Systems Integration Specialist, NDDPI
• Human-Shaped Learning and Indigenous Wisdom: Remembering How Humans Learn - Dr Scott Simpson & Sharla Steever, Compass Partners in Learning

Cultural/Student Presentations

• Darren Thompson - Ojibwe Musician
• Youth Speaker

Breakout session titles include (but are not limited to):

• AI & Cultural Identity
• Building Stronger Federal Programs
• Creating a Culturally Responsive Environment in a Secondary Setting
• Embedding Community and Culture within Your Classroom Through Connection
• NIEA Sponsored PD: Solutions for Changing Workplace Environments
• Understanding the CHINS Unit: Referral Pathways and Youth Eligibility
• Building Strong Teachers Through Mentoring and Meaningful Support
• Native American Needs Assessment Stakeholder Listening Session
• Teaching Tribal Sovereignty as Civics: Native Books and Primary Sources in the Classroom
• Teaching Native Content Through Place: A Native Education for All Framework
• INSTEM: Indians into STEM
• Strengthening Tribal Community and Family Ties with Early Childhood Education
• Educational Stability for At-Risk Students
• Rules, Requirements, and Reminders... Oh My!
• Wowachinyanka (Listening with Respect): Using Compass to Elevate Staff and Student Voices
• Beyond Problem Solving: Co-Creating Solutions with Families
• From Student Voice to Sustainable Impact: Building Strategic Partnerships
• It Takes a Community: Leveraging Legendary Learners to Support School Readiness
• ND COUNTS: Updates

Product Vendors - ND State Capitol, Ground Floor West Hallway, 7:30am - 4:30pm, both days

Information Exhibitors - ND State Capitol, First Floor, Legislative Hall, 11:00am - 1:00pm, both days

• North Dakota State Library
• State Historical Society of North Dakota
• Waterford.org

Generous 2026 Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

• ND Department of Public Instruction

Ruby Sponsors

Emerald Sponsors

• Theodore Jamerson Elementary School, United Tribes Technical College

Platinum Sponsors

• Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Cloverdale Foods
• Short River Enterprises LLC

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

• Anonymous Individual Donors

If you have questions about the 12th Annual North Dakota Indian Education Summit, please feel free to contact the NDDPI, Office of Indian/Multicultural Education via email at [email protected] or via phone at 701-328-1718 or 701-328-2254.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Dept. of Public Instruction