2026 Navajo Research Conference

The 2026 Navajo Research Conference, also referred to as Diné College's Indigenous Research Symposium, focuses on exploring Indigenous realities and research methodologies grounded in Navajo ways of knowing. The conference aims to showcase Indigenous student research, emphasizing relationship-building with community, language, geography, and cultural practices as a primary agenda. Research topics highlighted include the resilience of Diné ceremonial practices amidst health crises, the role of cultural arts in instilling life-long skills, the economics and cultural significance of home-butchered mutton, and the dynamics of Diné female leadership within traditional and modern contexts. The event promotes self-reflective and culturally relevant research approaches within tribal colleges.