Media Contact
media@nicwa.org
(Portland, Ore., March 27, 2023)—The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) received two $25,000 host sponsorships from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians for this year’s 41st Annual Protecting Our Children Conference, to be held in Reno, Nevada, with over 1,500 attendees expected.
These extraordinary sponsorships will help NICWA provide a wide range of keynote speakers, workshop presenters, and peer learning opportunities for child welfare workers, tribal leaders, and advocates from across the U.S. and Canada at the premiere national event addressing tribal child welfare and the well-being of Native children.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a long-standing supporter of NICWA and its mission of strengthening the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children, families, and communities. Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is a first-time sponsor. The Protecting Our Children Conference is an important gathering for tribal leaders and frontline workers from across North America.
“I am honored by the continued generosity of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the new, prominent partnership of Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians,” said NICWA Executive Director Sarah Kastelic. “At our first in-person conference since 2019, with the theme ‘Healing Our Spirits: Nurturing and Restoring Hope,’ these sponsorships—and many others—allow NICWA to host our largest gathering of advocates for Native children in our history.”
“The Seminole Tribe of Florida supports NICWA in partnering to progress in our fight to protect our children,” said Tribal Chairman Marcellus W. Osceola Jr. “The Seminole Tribe of Florida Advocacy Program’s goal is to promote and support the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.”
“The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is honored to host the 41st Annual Protecting Our Children Conference,” said Chairwoman Regina Cuellar. “Our tribe is steadfastly committed to ensuring that Indian children stay with Indian families and this conference plays a crucial role in our collaborative efforts to support that mission. It’s through education and training that we align our values and goals of protecting our children who are the future of our culture and heritage.”
# # #
About the National Indian Child Welfare Association
The National Indian Child Welfare Association works to support the safety, health, and spiritual strength of Native children along the broad continuum of their lives. NICWA promotes building tribal capacity to prevent child abuse and neglect through positive systems change at the state, federal, and tribal level. For more information, visit www.nicwa.org.
About the Seminole Tribe of Florida
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is headquartered in Hollywood, Florida. It is a federally recognized sovereign government with an elected Tribal Council. Governmental expenditures are earmarked for police and fire protection, emergency medical services, education, health care, housing, water treatment, economic development, and parks and recreation. For more information, visit https://www.semtribe.com/
About Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians
The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is a federally recognized tribe with an independent, sovereign tribal government. As one of the area’s largest employers, we own and operate a variety of businesses that are creating economic independence for today and future generations. Most importantly, we are a family that is working hard to honor and preserve our culture and traditions. To learn more about the Tribe, please visit www.shinglespringsrancheria.com.