American Indian Workshop 2026
Survivance
Through the lens gifted by Gerald Vizenor's concept of survivance, the conference seeks to explore the manifold ways in which Indigenous peoples imagine, negotiate, and enact futures that remain anchored in deep historical continuities, cultural memory, and Native presence. Across the globe, Indigenous communities are simultaneously preserving ancestral knowledge and crafting transformative futures: through language revitalisation, climate‑justice initiatives, digital sovereignty, literary and artistic experimentation, and political advocacy. By juxtaposing “futures” with “pasts,” in the context of vital Native inheritances, the conference foregrounds the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation that underpins the Indigenous legacy of self‑determination both for today and tomorrow.
Papers may engage, but are not restricted to, topics like:
- Futurist Imaginaries and Speculative Practices
- Memory and Memorialization
- Language Revitalization
- Digital Sovereignty
- Climate Justice and Environmental Stewardship
- Governance, Law, and Self‑Determination
- Legal Recognition in the US and Canada
- Health, Well‑Being, and Sport
- Food and Foodways
- Education and Pedagogy
- Arts, Media, and Museums
- Youth, Activism, and Community Organizing
- Methodologies and Ethics
- Comparative and Transnational Perspectives
Independent of the conference theme, the AIW always features a “current research” session in which scholars and students can present their most recent research; a Poster session for early-career scholars and doctoral students will also be available.
The AIW 2026 will include, on Tuesday 3 November, a single "virtual" day comprised exclusively of online presentations, which will be screened in an on-site lecture room for those who are present in Geneva. If necessary, a further virtual half-day on Friday 6 November will be scheduled. The remaining two days of the conference (Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 November) will be in-person only with no virtual component. Hybrid panels are not possible.
Proposals must state explicitly whether the paper is intended to be presented online or in-person.
Poster and paper proposals should comprise an abstract of 250 words, 5 keywords, and a 100-word bio. Panel and roundtable proposals should add a 250-word panel abstract.
Proposals will be evaluated by the AIW committee and the papers that are accepted will be grouped into thematic sessions.
To submit a proposal, please send a single file as an email attachment to:
DEADLINE for abstracts: 13 April 2026
DEADLINE for registration: 30 June 2026
Last updated on March 6th 2026