2027 Nevada Department of Education Indian Education Summit

The Nevada Department of Education invites educators, school, district leaders, and Indigenous education partners to the 2027 Indian Education Summit, taking place March 25–26, 2027, at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

This year’s theme, Strengthening Indigenous Education: Empowering Students Today, Inspiring Success for Tomorrow, will bring participants together to celebrate Indigenous knowledge, strengthen educational partnerships, and explore strategies that empower students and support their academic achievement, cultural identity, and future success.

Location: University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), Joe Crowley Student Union
Dates: March 25 - 26, 2027

Indian Education Summit Flyer 2027

Who Should Attend?

The Summit welcomes district and school administrators, K–12 educators, college and university faculty and staff, traditional educators, Tribal representatives, and Indigenous knowledge keepers. All those committed to advancing Indigenous education and creating meaningful opportunities for students are encouraged to attend.

Join us in strengthening Indigenous education, sharing knowledge and best practices, and inspiring success for the next generation.

Pesa Mannedu Award (Previously spelled Namanedu)

Established in 2010, the Pesa Mannedu Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Indian education in Nevada. The first recipients were the educators who developed the Celebrating Nevada Indians Curriculum.

Pesa Mannedu loosely translates to “Something that has been done well,” reflecting the award’s purpose of honoring meaningful contributions to education.

If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please complete the nomination form by February 1, 2026. Please contact the indianeducation@doe.nv.gov email to get a nomination form.

Summit Background

The idea of hosting an annual Indian Education Summit originated in 2007, following the participation of several tribal representatives in a conference hosted by the Southwest Comprehensive Center (SWCC) in New Mexico. The Nevada Department of Education, with support from the SWCC, the Nevada Indian Commission (NIC), and the University of Nevada, Reno’s Center for Student Diversity organized the inaugural Summit in March 2008. Since then, the Summit has continued to serve as a vital space for educators and tribal communities to collaborate, share resources, and develop collective strategies to address the educational needs of American Indian (AI) students throughout Nevada.

Questions

If you have any questions, please contact the Indian Education Staff at the Nevada Department of Education at indianeducation@doe.nv.gov.

Fran Maldonado, Fredina Drye-Romero, M-Ache Martinez, Tonya Johnson