The Indigenous Experience subcommittee was formed in 2024, following our annual conference in Oakland, California. It was created after feedback from attendees, partners, members, and AMCHP staff who underscored the importance of more thoughtfully integrating Indigeneity and Tribal sovereignty into conference spaces, and broadly within maternal and child health (MCH).
The feedback included insights on the use of intentional language, demonstrating respect for Indigenous knowledge, and acknowledging Tribal sovereignty in meaningful ways. This information informed the subcommittee to establish two guiding goals that continue to shape its work: to prioritize opportunities for learning and to cultivate conference spaces that invite reflection, curiosity, and shared understanding. In response, AMCHP introduced the Indigeneity & Health track at the 2025 Conference. The strong engagement and positive response to this topic area affirmed the value of continuing—and expanding—this work at AMCHP 2026.
What does Indigeneity & Health at AMCHP 2026 mean?
Public health and conference spaces have not always offered space for Indigenous knowledge or perspectives. For the Indigenous Experience subcommittee, this work means collaborating closely with the conference planning team to thoughtfully shape brave spaces at AMCHP 2026 that center curiosity, learning, and storytelling.
The subcommittee partners with community leaders and subject-matter experts to help ensure conference content and experiences reflect Indigenous voices and ways of knowing. The goal is to support meaningful engagement and learning across the conference, while also recognizing, respecting, and holding space for the experiences of attendees with Indigenous identities.
A note on terminology – Identity is complex and deeply personal; Indigeneity is no different. Indigenous or Native identity can mean different things to different people based on their Tribal affiliation, geographic region, culture, and other identities. Indigenous or Native peoples in the United States may include Native American, Alaska Native, American Samoa, and Native Hawaiian communities, each with distinct cultures, languages, and traditions. This is not an exhaustive list, nor does it reflect the global diversity of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
There are many terms that Indigenous people may use or prefer, as there is not one singular Native culture or language, nor one comprehensive guidebook. At AMCHP 2026, you may see terms like Indigenous, Native, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Native American used to refer to a group of people or population in the United States. Indigenous and Native are often considered to be the most inclusive terms. American Indian has a specific meaning legally, as it is used in Federal law and by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is best practice to mirror the terms used by the individual or the community who identifies as Native, which is often their specific Tribal or Native nation affiliation.
You can learn more about Native identity and terminology at:
- Native Americans in Philanthropy, Glossary for Terms & Labels Referring to Indigenous Peoples
- Native Governance Center, How to Talk about Native Nations: A Guide
- University of Washington, Indigenous Peoples Terminology Guide
- National Museum of the American Indian, The Impact of Words and Tips for Using Appropriate Terminology: Am I Using the Right Word?
What can attendees expect at AMCHP 2026?
At AMCHP 2026, attendees can expect a blend of continued and new efforts shaped by collaboration across the conference. These include featuring partner spotlights that reflect the conference theme, coordination across subcommittees to support thoughtful language practices, new experiences such as The Recording Womb, and sessions for both learning and reflection. The Indigenous Experience subcommittee invites attendees to engage thoughtfully with these offerings and consider how insights from the conference can be carried into their own partnerships beyond the event.
- The Recording Womb
The subcommittee is also excited to welcome Melissa Ivey, a musical doula, artist, storyteller, and educator, who will host The Recording Womb at AMCHP 2026. This mobile, womb-like dome offers an immersive visual and audio experience centered on reflection, storytelling, and connection across generations. Inside the space, attendees are invited to engage with ancestral textiles and record messages for future generations.
The Recording Womb will be open to all conference attendees from the late afternoon of Saturday, March 7, through Monday, March 9. We hope this space offers an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the stories, people, and places that inspire maternal and child health work.
- Indigeneity & Health Sessions
The Indigeneity & Health topic area continues to grow at AMCHP 2026, with an increase in proposals and sessions led by experts in Indigenous epidemiology, data practices, birth work, and Tribally-led Maternal Mortality Review Committees. Attendees are encouraged to engage thoughtfully with this content and consider how lessons shared can inform work in their communities.
- Off-Site Exploration
Lastly, AMCHP staff have curated a list of “Things to do in Washington, DC” that will continue to be updated on the AMCHP 2026 website. This list includes two activities that the Indigenous Experience Subcommittee highly recommends to all attendees who are able to engage in these activities. The National Museum of the American Indian is free to explore, offering an opportunity to learn more about Native American history and to enjoy Native-inspired foods at the Mitsitam (Let’s eat!) café. If you are able and weather permits, the subcommittee recommends attendees consider a walking tour of D.C.’s Indigenous History with a free app available for Apple and Android users called “Guide to Indigenous D.C.,” created by Dr. Elizabeth Rule as a part of the Guide to Indigenous Lands Project. This tour takes you on a trip through history to learn about Indigenous peoples’ contributions to the city and acknowledge their homelands, which we now know as the District of Columbia. While you might not have time to take the full, four-hour and nine-mile walking tour, you may be able to visit one or two of the 17 locations included on the app during your time in DC. Below is a list of the 17 locations that the tour includes:
- US Marine Corps War Memorial featuring Ira Hayes
- Analostan/Theodore Roosevelt Island
- Indigenous Peoples March – the Mall
- Occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Department of the Interior Murals
- Mural of Piscataway History and Culture
- Indian Artifacts on White House South Lawn and Ellipse
- Native Nations March
- Kicking Bear and Buffalo Sculptures at Dumbarton Bridge
- Embassy of Tribal Nations
- Cowboy and Indian Alliance Camp
- Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Black Canoe
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Native American Veterans Memorial Site
- Native Leader Statues at U.S. Capitol
- Liberty and Freedom Lummi Totem Poles
- Tribal Delegates at Congressional Cemetery
Download the app to learn more! You may also consider reading “Indigenous DC – Native Peoples and the Nation’s Capital,” a book that accompanies the app created by Dr. Elizabeth Rule that uplifts the visibility of the history of Native people and land in DC.
