41st Annual Conference
April 1-3, 2026
Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel
37500 SE North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, 98065
Featuring:
Workshops, Clock Hours, Culture Room, Merit Awards, Vendors,
Parent and Teacher Training Opportunities, Native Student College Fair & Post-Secondary Opportunities Day, and much more!
Sponsored by the Washington State Indian Education Association.
Lodging Information
We are excited to partner with the Snoqualmie Hotel/Casino (37500 SE North Bend Way, Snoqualmie, 98065) as this year’s conference site and look forward to offering a block rate for conference attendees.
Stay tuned for more information and room options.
WSIEA NATIVE STUDENT DAY
We will be offering a youth strand April 1 and 2 running concurrently with the WSIEA Conference for Native students in grades 9-12 including fun and enriching/interactive activities, speakers, and workshops. Sign up your students on this year’s online or printed WSIEA registration form below:
https://www.wsiea.org/registration
The registration fee is $175.00 and will include lunch, snacks, (both days and they will share the general session breakfast each morning) and session materials.
For more information contact Sage Pina at mpina1128@outlook.com.
We have limited vendor space this year and would like all vendors to pre-register and pay in advance. Pre-registered vendors will have reserved spots. Vendor set up time will be on Wednesday April 1, 2026 beginning at 7:00 am ending on Friday April 3, 2026 at noon. PLEASE NOTE: Exhibit fees do not include conference activities such as meals, conference registration, and WSIEA membership dues. You are welcome to purchase meal tickets at the registration table.
❖ The vendor fee includes one 1 table and 2 chairs. Vendors are welcome to bring their own extra tables, clothing racks, etc.; however, they must fit within their allotted area. We have a little less vendor space to work with this year and ask that vendors keep that in mind when deciding what extra furniture/display tables to bring.
❖ Remember we are selling authentic native arts and crafts, these items will be checked out by the WSIEA committee/board members if there is a question of items being sold, you will be asked to remove the item.
❖ The WSIEA & Snoqualmie Casino/ Resort are not and will not be responsible for lost, stolen, damaged materials or injuries to person.
❖ You must have paid for a spot in order to sell or advertise information at the conference.
❖ For profit vendors it is also requested you donate one item for the WWIEA silent auction or door prizes.
Indian Arts & Craft Act of 1990. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 makes it illegal to market an art of craft item using the name of a tribe if a member of that tribe did not actually create it. For a first time violation of the Act an individual can face civil or criminal penalties up to $250,000 fine or a 5-year prison term, or both. If a business in violation, it can face a fine up to $1,000,000.
Vendors Welcome!
2026 CONFERENCE THEME LOGO CONTEST
HONORING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE - Resilience, Response, Action
This art contest invites participants to express their understanding of resilience through the lens of Native education, emphasizing response and action in a changing world, while honoring our past.
Logo Contest Guidelines
• Contest is open to Native Americans of all groups
• Artwork must be original and hand drawn. Copyright of winning entries will belong to WSIEA. The winner's artwork will be used for the WSIEA annual conference promotional use and logo items. The artist will be unable to use the artwork for other events or distribution.
• Deadline for artwork submission is Friday February 20, 2026 at 5:00pm
Winning entry
• The winner of the logo contest will be recognized at the awards banquet on Thursday April 2, 2026 at Snoqualmie Casino/Hotel.
• Winner will receive a monetary award
Artwork Submission*
• Submitting by mail, mail to:
Otellie Trujillo, 1720 Oak Street Milton, WA 98354
• Submitting by email, send to:
*Submissions must be received by Feb. 20, 2026
Please include your name, age, Tribe, school, school district, Title VI Coordinator, email, parent name and contact for student submissions under 18 years
Questions? Please contact:
Otellie Trujillo
otrujillo@fifeschools.com • 253-517-1000 ext. 29168
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CALL FOR PRESENTERS
The Washington State Indian Education Association (WSIEA) Board invites presenters to share their experience and knowledge with educators, students, and administrators at our 41st Annual WSIEA Conference held on April 1-3rd
Presentations should be positive, engaging, and informative. Our goal is to enhance conference participants’ knowledge, skills, and experiences in areas related to Indian education, Native youth empowerment, community involvement, and Indian self-determination. Please indicate which track your workshop best aligns with: Early Education/Preschool, K–12 Education, or Higher Education.
Our tentative plan at this time is to hold concurrent workshop sessions (60-90 minutes each *times are approximate)
Wednesday (PM) and Thursday (AM and PM)
Please complete an outline of your presentation using the google form. For additional information or clarification please contact our board members coordinating our workshops.
>>For clock hour purposes, please include a brief personal biography<<
Requested Due Date: Monday, March 2, 2026
Rachael Barger-WSIEA 2nd Vice Chair
Bethel School District, 516 176th Street East, Spanaway, WA, 98338, rbarger@bethelsd.org
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RECOGNITION & STUDENT MERIT AWARDS
The Washington State Indian Education Association (WSIEA) proudly recognizes outstanding Native individuals each year during its annual conference, honoring those who have made significant contributions to Native education as well as exceptional Native students.
Award categories include:
Indian Educator of the Year
Indian Elder of the Year
Indian Parent of the Year
Higher Education Indian Student of the Year
High School Indian Student of the Year
WSIEA awards one high school senior and one higher education student with monetary merit awards of $800 and $1,000 respectively, with recipients announced at the WSIEA Awards Banquet during the 41st Annual WSIEA Conference, held April 1–3, 2025.
Nominations are required for the Indian Educator, Indian Elder, and Indian Parent of the Year awards, while applications for both student merit awards and all other nominations must be received by March 3rd.
For more information, please contact Rachael Barger at rbarger@bethelsd.org
Merit Awards:
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CULTURE ROOM
We are excited to offer the Culture Room again this year. The purpose of this room is to provide a hands-on experience for educators to participate in culturally relevant activities within Native American culture. Local Native Americans will be invited to be a part of this interactive culture room and may include: beading, carving, cedar work, sewing regalia, drum making, jewelry making, painting, basket making, and other activities.
If you would like to lead a craft session in the culture room, please contact Martha Sherman at m76sherma@hotmail.com.
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WSIEA DRAWING
WSIEA will be holding a drawing for donated items during the conference to support our recognition and scholarship awards. Please consider donating an item for our drawing and bring it to the conference registration table before noon on April 1, 2026. For more information, please contact Martha Sherman at m76sherma@hotmail.com.