The Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium
2026 – HONORING 20 YEARS OF THE VINE DELORIA, JR. INDIGENOUS STUDIES SYMPOSIUM – A YEAR OF REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION
The Northwest Indian College Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium is entering an exciting new chapter. In 2026, we are taking a strategic pause to reflect on and honor the past 20 years of this important gathering. As part of this transition, we will not be hosting a symposium this spring, 2026. Instead, this year will serve as a time of celebration and retrospective, recognizing two decades of groundbreaking ideas, meaningful community partnerships, and Indigenous scholarship.
As we reflect on the symposium’s legacy, we are curating a special selection of past symposium recordings that highlight the incredible journey we have shared. Recordings from the 2025 symposium will be released soon, followed by additional curated recordings later this year.
We deeply appreciate your flexibility, understanding, and continued support as we recalibrate and prepare for the next phase of this vital work.
Thank you for being part of the Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium’s enduring legacy.
Northwest Indian College – Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium Planning Committee
Mission Statement
The purpose of the Vine Deloria, Jr. Indigenous Studies Symposium is to honor the life and continue the work of one of the nation’s foremost authors, scholars, and intellectuals who passed away on November 13, 2005. Throughout his life Deloria maintained ties with friends, tribes, and institutions in the Northwest. One of his final public appearances was as the plenary speaker at the Robert K. Thomas Symposium held in 2005 at Northwest Indian College. Following this event he expressed his desire to make the college the site of a yearly symposium in Indigenous Studies. It is with this mandate in mind that we not only seek to carry out his wishes, but also to name the symposium in his honor.
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Northwest Indian College’s main campus is located at the Lummi Nation. The College also has five full service extended campus sites located at Muckleshoot, Nez Perce, Nisqually, Port Gamble S’Klallam and Tulalip. Please use the location links to view details for each extended campus site.
