NINAETC Conference History

• 46th - 2026 - Sacramento, California - Exceeding the Vision - Expanding the Possibilities
  Co-Chairs: Kathy Atkins - Florida Governor's Council on Indian Affairs; Jacky England - Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
• 45th - 2025 - Providence, Rhode Island - Empowering Native Communities - Advancing Native Workforce
  Co-Chairs: Kathy Atkins - Florida Governor's Council on Indian Affairs; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 44th - 2024 - Orlando, Florida - Keepers of the Fire - Knowledge, Empowerment, and Opportunity
  Co-Chairs: Kathy Atkins - Florida Governor's Council on Indian Affairs; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 43rd - 2023 - Mashantucket, Connecticut - Unity = Opportunity
  Co-Chairs: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 42nd - 2022 - Catoosa, Oklahoma - Remember - Restore - Rebuild & Rise
  Co-Chairs: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 41st - 2021 - Warwick, Rhode Island - Together One Voice
  Co-Chairs: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 40th - 2019 - Durant, Oklahoma - Together Everyone Achieves More = TEAM
  Co-Chairs: Erwin L. Pahmahmie, Jr. - Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 39th - 2018 - Marksville, Louisiana - Together Achieving Balance
  Co-Chairs: Paula Starr - Southern California Indian Center, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 38th - 2017 - Los Angeles, California - Weaving Native Pathways to Success
  Co-Chairs: Paula Starr - Southern California Indian Center, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 37th - 2016 - Reno, Nevada - Creating Life Success from Cradle Board to Golden Years
  Co-Chairs: Paula Starr - Southern California Indian Center, Inc.; Margaret Zientek - Citizen Potawatomi Nation
• 36th - 2015 -  Durant, Oklahoma - Shifting Gears
  Co-Chairs: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.; Patty Mink - Choctaw Nation
  
• 35th - 2014 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Keys to our Community's Independence
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 34th - 2013 - Acme, Michigan - Spirits United - Controlling our Own Destiny
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 33rd - 2012 - Marksville, Louisiana - United Native Leadership is our Pathway to Success
  Chair: Roselyn Shirley - Navajo Nation
  
• 32nd - 2011 - Scottsdale, Arizona - Today's Challenges + A Stronger Workforce = Stronger Communities Tomorrow
  Chair: Kathy Atkins - Goodlettsville, Tennessee
  
• 31st - 2010 - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Cultivating Today's Native Workforce to Harvest Tomorrow's Leaders
  Chair: Norman Ration - National Indian Youth Council, Inc.
  
• 30th - 2009 - Sacramento, California - Tribute to the Past, Empowering the Present, Continuing the Legacy
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 29th - 2008 - Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin - Voices Spoken, Voices Heard, Strengthen our Voices through Encouragement and Balance
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 28th - 2007 - Newport, Rhode Island - Respect the Past - Live the Present - Build the Future
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 27th - 2006 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Determination - Inspiration - Drive: United We Thrive
  Chair: Larry Ketcher - Cherokee Nation
  
• 26th - 2005 - Houston, Texas - Indian and Native American Employment and Training - It Works!
  Chair: Kathy Atkins - American Indian Council of Arkansas
  
• 25th - 2004 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Commemorating 25 Years of Commitment and Service
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 24th - 2003 - Anchorage, Alaska - First People of Great Land
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 23rd - 2002 - Rapid City, South Dakota - Our Journey Continues Strengthening our Future
  Chair: Larry Ketcher - Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
  
• 22nd - 2001 - Reno, Nevada - Circle of Partners - Building our Native Workforce through Traditions
  Chair: Larry Ketcher - Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
  
• 21st - 2000 - San Antonio, Texas - Facing the New Millennium with Wisdom from the Past
  Chair: Jeff Foster - Four Tribes Consortium of Oklahoma
  
• 20th - 1999 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Two Decades of Dedicated Service
  Chair: Jeff Foster - Four Tribes Consortium of Oklahoma
  
• 19th - 1998 - Spokane, Washington
  Chair: Jeff Foster - Four Tribes Consortium of Oklahoma
  
• 18th - 1997 - Anaheim, California - Native American Bridge to the Future - Employment, Training and Education
  Chair: Karen Kay - Michigan Indian Employment and Training Services, Inc.
  
• 17th - 1996 - Providence, Rhode Island - Surviving Broken Promises - Spirits United - Voice of One
  Chair: Darrell Waldron - Rhode Island Indian Council, Inc.
  
• 16th - 1995 - Bismarck, North Dakota - When Patterns are Broken - New Visions Emerge
  Chair:
  
• 15th - 1994 - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Celebrating 15 Years of Partnership and Shared Vision for the Future
  Chair: H. Clark Hosick - North American Indian Cultural Center
  
• 14th - 1993 -  Denver, Colorado - Strategies for Promoting Self-Sufficiency into the 21st Century
  Chair: Wilbur Red Tomahawk - Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
  
• 13th - 1992 - San Diego, California - Lifting as You Climb
  Chair: Alice Roach - Indian Center, Inc.
  
• 12th - 1991 - Spokane, Washington - Working Together for a Better Tomorrow
  Chair: Frank La Mere - Nebraska Inter-Tribal Development Corporation
  
• 11th - 1990 - St. Petersburg, Florida - Joint Partnership Agreement to Serve our People Most in Need
  Chair: Fred Muscavitch - Milwaukee Indian Manpower Council
  
• 10th - 1989 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - A Decade of Success
  Chair: Thomas M. Dowd - Native Americans for Community Action
  
• 9th - 1988 - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Based on Tradition, Grasping the Future
  Chair: Randy Edmonds - Indian Human Resource Center
  
• 8th - 1987 - Anchorage, Alaska - Culture - Technology - Success
  Chair: Randy Edmonds - Indian Human Resource Center
  
• 7th - 1986 - Reno, Nevada - New Horizons through Employment and Training
  Chair: Kenneth P. Martinez - Dallas Inter-Tribal Center
  
• 6th - 1985 - Los Angeles, California - The Best of Two Worlds through Employment and Training
  Chair: John Smith - Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes
  
• 5th - 1984 - Nashville, Tennessee - A New Beginning
  Chair: Eddie Tullis - Poarch Band of Creeks
  
• 4th - 1983 - Spokane, Washington - Building Pride Through Employment and Training
  Chair: Lonnie Racehorse - Idaho Inter-Tribal
  
• 3rd - 1982 - Albuquerque, New Mexico - Employment and Training...It Works
  Chair: Kenneth P. Martinez - Pueblo of Laguna
  
• 2nd - 1981 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Challenges in the 80's
  Chair: Evelyn Stephens - Oklahoma Tribal Assistance Program
  
• 1st - 1980 - Washington, D.C. - Unity and Purpose: A Future with Progress
  Chair: S. Diane Kelley - Cherokee Nation