AURORA, Colo.—Approximately 120 people convened Sept. 18–19 on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center Campus for the Native Children's Research Exchange Conference. Attendees included researchers, practitioners, federal staff, and funders engaged in work that aims to support the well-being of American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Indigenous children and families.
Support from the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center and the National Institute on Drug Abuse added greater emphases on early childhood issues and understanding and addressing the impact of substance use on development.
This year marked the 15th anniversary of the conference, which is led by Michelle Sarche, a professor at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, and Nancy Whitesell, a professor in the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Colorado School of Public Health.
“As we celebrate 15 years of the Native Children’s Research Exchange, I am inspired by the dedication and expertise this network brings to the vital work of supporting Native children, families, and communities,” said Sarche, a Tribal citizen of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Ojibwe. “Participants came from shared waters across the United States, South America, Canada, and Caribbean and Pacific Island nations, united by a commitment to sharing culturally grounded research, mentoring the next generation of scholars, advancing the health and well-being of Native children and youth, and addressing research priorities related to preventing the development of substance use problems and addressing their impact on children and families.”
The conference serves as a gathering place for members of the Native Children’s Research Exchange (NCRE), a national initiative that brings together researchers studying child and adolescent development in American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Indigenous communities. Members convene biennially at the conference to share information and ideas, build relationships, mentor new scholars, and disseminate knowledge.
The conference also serves as a touchstone for early-career child development and substance use researchers who are part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse-funded Native Children’s Research Exchange Scholars program.
The theme of this year’s event was "Supporting Native American Children’s Health, Wellbeing and Thriving through Indigenous Connectedness: Learning from Current Research and Practice.”
Presenters shared research approaches, methods, and findings on a variety of topics, including cultural connection, land-based healing interventions, parenting and home visiting programs, substance abuse prevention, youth resilience, suicide, and autism.
“It’s truly inspiring to see so many visionary individuals sharing their groundbreaking work to transform health and well-being in their communities,” said conference participant Evan White, director of electroencephalography core and Native American research at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research and an enrolled member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. “The collective energy of this gathering is unparalleled, and its growth only makes it better.”
Participants also attended the opening of the “Tell Clyfford I Said Hi!” exhibit at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver. The exhibit was co-curated with children, ages 3-14, from the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington.
Conference support was provided by the Tribal Early Childhood Research Center, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Bezos Family Foundation, the Indigenous Early Learning Initiative, Clyfford Still Museum, and Lakeshore Learning.