Indigenous higher education consortium meeting registration opens

The World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium will host its annual general meeting at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Troth Yeddha’ Campus in Fairbanks from July 16-20, 2023. 

The consortium’s annual general meetings bring together Indigenous institutions and programs from across the world. UAF will host the event for the first time in Alaska this year.

Organizers invite those who are interested to attend, learn about WINHEC and share with the community. Members of the public are welcome to register for the event. 

“Sharing and respect are shared Indigenous cultural values around the world,” said Sean Asikłuk Topkok, the event co-chair and director of the UAF Center for Cross-Cultural Studies. “It is our hope that Alaskans will better understand what WINHEC and their members have to offer as Indigenous-serving institutions and Alaska Natives find opportunities to become more active at the global level. There are many great innovations in Alaska and other Indigenous communities.”

WINHEC was established in August 2002 at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education in Alberta, Canada. WINHEC brings professionals together to achieve common goals through higher education. Members come from many different countries and a variety of diverse areas, such as university departments, research organizations and government agencies.

“As Sean and I have attended many of the WINHEC activities in the last 10 or so years, we felt connections across the world with other Indigenous peoples who are experiencing the same struggles in being recognized as equals in our academic institutions,” said Amy Topkok, the event co-chair and the reporting and outreach coordinator for UAF’s Biomedical Learning and Student Training program. “We feel as more people get to know of these struggles and see the similarities, we can help each other and lift each other up to continue sharing our culture and our values.” 

Visit the conference website to register for the meeting.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Journalists who wish to cover the conference for their news organizations should email public information officer Suzi Tanski to register.
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