By Chery Manon, Senior Communications Manager, AMCHP

As we prepare for our annual conference, we are excited to announce the Indigenous Experience at AMCHP 2025. This initiative is led by our newly formed Indigenous Experience conference planning sub-committee. It aims to create a welcoming and inclusive space for attendees, particularly those from Indigenous backgrounds, at our 2025 conference in Washington, DC, while ensuring the recognition of Indigeneity and Tribal sovereignty as integral to discussions surrounding maternal and child health.

To provide a better understanding of what the Indigenous Experience at AMCHP 2025 entails, this month, we invited the sub-committee chair, Kameron Jones, who is also AMCHP’s Program Analyst of Reproductive and Maternal Health, to answer some questions and help conference attendees learn about the origins and goals of the sub-committee, as well as what they can expect this year as part of the Indigenous Experience.

When was The Indigenous Experience sub-committee created, and why?

The Indigenous Experience sub-committee was created after the AMCHP 2024 conference in Oakland, CA. The conference highlighted a need for AMCHP to better integrate an understanding of Indigeneity and Tribal sovereignty in maternal and child health. AMCHP attendees, partners, staff, and members provided valuable feedback on how to apply inclusive language practices, demonstrate respect for Indigenous knowledge, and acknowledge Tribal sovereignty at future conferences.

What does the “Indigenous experience at AMCHP 2025” mean?

The Indigenous experience at AMCHP 2025 means discovering opportunities for inclusivity of Indigenous identities as well as elevating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. The subcommittee aims to foster a sense of belonging for all attendees, particularly those with Indigenous backgrounds, with goals to expand conference content and integrate Indigenous voices.

Disclaimer: There are many terms that Indigenous people may use or prefer, as there is not one singular Native American culture or language, and there is not one comprehensive guidebook. At AMCHP 2025, 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. In the United States, it is common for there to be differences in identity descriptors based on region, age, and culture. Indigenous and Native are considered to be the most inclusive terms. American Indian has a specific meaning legally, as it is used in Federal law and by the US 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:

• National Museum of the American Indian, The Impact of Words and Tips for Using Appropriate Terminology: Am I Using the Right Word?

• University of Washington, Indigenous Peoples Terminology Guide

• Native Governance Center, How to Talk about Native Nations: A Guide

What are some of the focus areas or goals of this sub-committee?

The sub-committee has developed two goals with several focus areas that will hopefully unfold at AMCHP 2025 and beyond. Our goals, as listed above, include fostering a space that is both inclusive and educational. The sub-committee is focused on providing guidance for conference speakers on how to effectively communicate about maternal and child health topics without perpetuating harm towards Indigenous people and Native communities. In addition, the subcommittee will be working with the Communications subcommittee to put together a “Did You Know” series educating attendees about Indigenous history, culture, and health issues, including inclusive language use practices. Looking forward, the subcommittee looks to engage Indigenous scholars and thought leaders to ensure there is more conference content reflective of Indigenous perspectives.

For someone unfamiliar with Indigenous history, what are some relevant facts to know?

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 list is not exhaustive. There are Indigenous peoples from Canada, Central and South America, the Pacific, and other parts of the world with their own histories and identities as descendants of those prior to European colonization.

Native people in the United States are more likely than any other racial group to identify as two or more races, an important fact to acknowledge when studying and challenging current data collection methods. While these methods are aimed at helping us understand public health at the population level, they may contribute to the erasure of Indigenous people from these data sets.

Historically and globally, Indigenous populations have faced systemic violence, colonization, forced sterilization, and racism, which continue to impact their health outcomes and experiences. While there is nuance amongst Tribal nations, they are sovereign, and it is essential to understand and respect their governance structures, which differ from how you may interact with other partners or community organizations. The history of boarding schools and other forms of cultural erasure have had lasting effects on Indigenous communities, including trauma that continues to shape experiences today.

Before traveling to AMCHP 2025, the subcommittee encourages attendees to learn more about the history of Native people in Washington, DC. The American Library Association has a webpage on the Indigenous Tribes of Washington, DC. This page includes information regarding both historical context and recognition in the 21st century, in addition to links for the websites of local Tribal nations.

What can attendees expect at AMCHP 2025 as part of the Indigenous experience?

Attendees of AMCHP 2025 can expect to see a few changes from previous conferences. First, the subcommittee is working alongside other AMCHP conference subcommittees to develop guidance on inclusive language practices. We hope that conference attendees also adopt and model harm-reducing language at the AMCHP conference and beyond.

AMCHP staff have curated a list of “Things to do in Washington, DC,” that will continue to be updated on the AMCHP 2025 website. This list includes two activities that the Indigenous Experience Subcommittee highly recommends to all attendees who are able to engage in these activities. First, 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. Second, the subcommittee recommends attendees take 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:

1. US Marine Corps War Memorial featuring Ira Hayes
2. Analostan/Theodore Roosevelt Island
3. Indigenous Peoples March – the Mall
4. Occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
5. Department of the Interior Murals
6. Mural of Piscataway History and Culture
7. Indian Artifacts on the White House South Lawn and Ellipse
8. Native Nations March
9. Kicking Bear and Buffalo Sculptures at Dumbarton Bridge
10. Embassy of Tribal Nations
11. Cowboy and Indian Alliance Camp
12. Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Black Canoe
13. National Museum of the American Indian
14. National Native American Veterans Memorial Site
15. Native Leader Statues at US Capitol
16. Liberty and Freedom Lummi Totem Poles
17. Tribal Delegates at Congressional Cemetery

Download the “Guide to Indigenous D.C.” 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.

In addition, the subcommittee is actively working to include different opportunities for Indigenous perspectives and knowledge to be shared in conference content at AMCHP 2025 and future conferences.