Water Ways of Life: Teachings, Practices, and Knowledge in Action, 6th Annual Urban Native Education Conference

Registration is free and includes entry to the Social Networking Event and well as both days of the conference.

Please register through our Eventbrite page linked below.

Ticket Options

We are offering an in-person, virtual, or hybrid options. When registering, there are two types of ticket options- General Registration and a General Registration with option for childcare. The CAICC Education Conference is once again partnering with Title VI American Indian Education Program to provide a children’s room at the Illinois Holocaust Museum during UNEC 2022, for kids ages 5 to 12 years old. The team of excellent childcare workers will engage your children with activities, providing you with that critical peace of mind so you can attend your sessions and events worry-free. Please be sure to select the child care option and read and sign the waiver when you register. Limited spots are available and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis—so it’s recommended that parents register their kids early. Please note that this conference is family-friendly so attendees of any age are also welcome to attend all conference sessions so use of the children’s room is not required.

Forrest Bruce (Ojibwe)

Forrest Bruce (Ojibwe) is a PhD student in the Learning Sciences at Northwestern University. He is broadly interested in land-based education and the design of community-based learning environments that support Indigenous ways of knowing and being. He received a BS in Social Policy from Northwestern University and worked in Chicago Public Schools’ American Indian Education Program (Title 6) for a year before joining the ISTEAM research project, first as a research coordinator then later as a graduate student.

David Deloso

Student, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

Raquel Garcia-Alvarez

Raquel (she, her) is a Program Coordinator at the Forest Preserves of Cook County. She focuses on operationalizing racial equity and facilitating trainings for staff and partners. She is a steward and co-leads Latinx stewardship days.

She founded the Environmentalists of Color (EOC) network. Raquel has a Master’s in Environment and Natural Resource Management from the University of Iceland and a Bachelor’s in Animal Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Patty Loew (Mashkiiziibii–Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe)

Patty Loew, Ph.D., is a journalism professor and was inaugural director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern University. A citizen of Mashkiiziibii– the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, Dr. Loew is a former broadcast journalist in public and commercial television. She is the author of four books, including Indian Nations of Wisconsin and Native people of Wisconsin, used by 20,000 school children as a social studies textbook.

Lynn Long (Ojibwa)

I am a Tribal member on the Lac Du Flambeau Indian reservation in northern Wisconsin. I am currently completing my Curriculum, Advocacy and Policy doctoral program at National Louis University in Wheeling, IL. Personal interests including Chalk-drawing and photography. My involvements also include working with youth and mentoring Native American students in higher education. Also, pursuing growth in my 501c3 Warm the Warriors project helps meet impoverished needs of tribal members on various US reservations.

Maya Mojica

Student, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

Felicia Peters (Menominee and Santo Domingo Pueblo)

Felicia Peters is happy to join ISTEAM as a Program Coordinator. She has worked with ISTEAM and the Chicago Native American Community for over 15 years. Felicia credits ISTEAM for motivating her towards education and becoming a teacher. Since 2015, Felicia has taught Middle School Math and Science in Chicago Public Schools and will miss the classroom but is looking forward to working with Indigenous communities focusing on our homelands, our ancestors and our relatives. Felicia’s son Derrick has also grown up as part of ISTEAM and continues to build relationships with his plant and animal relatives through activities learned through ISTEAM.

Koji Taylor

Student, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University

Ryann Unabia (Turtle Mountain Chippewa)

Ryann is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. She is an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) specialist for Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services. Ryann proudly serves as a liaison between the government, social services, the Native community, and tribal entities.

Ryann started serving the Native community in high school, as a volunteer youth mentor on a reservation. As a withdrawal management center supervisor, she advocated for more health and social services to be provided to community members struggling with substance abuse. Ryann has displayed strong child development ethics while being a teacher for her tribe. Ryann participates in a nationwide Native leadership academy, where she works on increasing leadership skills and confidence in Native adolescents.

Ryann values education and is pursuing a graduate degree in clinical child psychology. Ryann envisions a future where the youth of the Native community, including her own daughter, are more holistically empowered.

Michelle Uting

Michelle Uting (she/her) is the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s grant administrator and works to secure funding for projects that restore human and natural communities. Before joining the Preserves, Michelle was membership and government outreach manager with Chicago Wilderness. Prior to Chicago Wilderness, Michelle spent 12 years working in the non-profit performing arts field, coordinating local and international artist collaborations. She completed her undergraduate degree in literature at University of Illinois at Chicago.