The Weaving Our Stories Conference was scheduled to take place in Blanding, Utah, according to a notice from Utah State University. The event was designed to bring together students, educators, tribal leaders, community members, artists, practitioners, and organizations to explore how culture, relationships, and shared experiences strengthen communities and shape the future.
The conference was organized to focus on several key themes, including story, memory, and cultural knowledge to explore how lived experiences shape identity. Other areas of focus included building trust and fostering inclusion to strengthen community life, as well as examining how individuals and communities interpret experiences to build on internal strengths. Additionally, the event sought to explore leadership, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.
Keynote speakers for the event included the Honorable Dr. Buu Nygren, President of the Navajo Nation, and Willow Abrahamson, a Lemhi Shoshone clinician and cultural advocate. The conference also featured the presentation of the Hero Twins Transformational Scholarship. This award honors two university students—one from USU Blanding and one from another campus—who embody the values of the Diné Hero Twins, Naayzéé’neizghání and Tóbájíshchíní.
The conference was made possible through NASNTI grant funding, which organizers stated provides a platform to amplify the voices, thoughts, and concerns of Native American students. In compliance with HB261 requirements, the NASNTI grant activities were reviewed and approved by the USU Board of Trustees.
