Hattie Kauffman
Nez Perce

AISES is excited to announce that Hattie Kauffman will be the opening keynote speaker at its signature event, September 21 – 23, 2017 in Denver, CO!  Hear from Ms. Kauffman on Thursday, September 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., and join us to learn from more than eighty speakers who will address the Conference throughout the three-day event.  

Kauffman is a four-time Emmy Award-winning news correspondent and has served as a frequent substitute anchor on CBS This Morning.  In her two decades with the network, Hattie also reported on 48 Hours, Street Stories, Sunday Morning, CBS Radio, CBS Special Report, the Early Show and CBS Evening News.

A featured national speaker and consultant, Kauffman will share her experience on a range of topics including personal growth, women and leadership, television and social media, and career advancement. 

Norbert Hill, Jr.
Oneida Nation of Wisconsin   

Norbert Hill, Jr., retired Director of Education for the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, and Founder of Winds of Change Magazine will address participants as the featured speaker at AISES 40^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, September 23 in Denver.

Hill’s career is deeply rooted in American Indian education, nonprofit leadership, publishing, and philanthropy.  He was Vice President of the College of Menominee for their Green Bay campus and he served as the Executive Director of the American Indian Graduate Center in New Mexico.  Norbert was Executive Director of AISES for 15 years.  Among his other accomplishments is board service for Goodwill Industries, National Indian Youth Council, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian, Native American Sports Council, and the Environmental Defense Fund.  He has served as president of the Dr. Rosa Minoka Hill Foundation since 1982. He holds honorary doctorates from Cumberland College and Clarkson University.

Northern Cree Singers

In 1982 the Northern Cree Singers were founded by Steve Wood, and his brothers Randy and Earl Wood.  The group originates from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation but is made up of members from the Treaty 6 area, most notably the Frog Lake Cree Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Cree Nation, and the Poundmaker Cree Nation. 

Northern Cree currently have 37 albums out on market that are distributed world-wide by their record label, Canyon Records from Phoenix, AZ.  They have garnered multi-Grammy nominations, multi-Juno nominations, and have been awarded multi-Native American Music Awards and Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.  They have also won numerous powwow singing competitions.  Northern Cree is the only traditional Canadian Aboriginal group to have ever been nominated for the prestigious Grammy Award.  They have also created music for, and appeared in, the major motion picture “Grey Owl,” which was produced and directed by the great Lord Richard Attenborough.