SCAAS 2019 Conference on Cultural Astronomy in the Greater Southwest
Native American Cultural Center
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ
April 24 - 28, 2019
Land and Sky in the Cultural Sciences of the Greater Southwest
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Applied Indigenous Studies Program
We are excited to organize our next Society conference to be held at the Native American Cultural Center of Northern Arizona University. For this conference we are planning to invite scholarship through papers and presentations addressing the development of science within native cultures to give us a broader perspective of how the science of a native tribe’s astronomy fits within a broader “cultural classification system” or Cosmovision. We will continue to focus on the integration of land and sky into a cultural landscape with an emphasis on astronomy lore, ethnobotany, climate patterns and resource management in an ever changing world. We believe it essential that native voices be heard in the discussion and learning about native sciences. Native people and researchers interested in participating at the conference are asked to follow the Conference Presenters Information link on this page.
SCAAS members receive discounts to conference registration.
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Daily Schedule of Events
(Subject to change)
Wednesday April 24, 2019
Forum on Native American Traditional Knowledge
Our conference will open with a Native Drum Ensemble and a short Native American ceremony and blessing, followed by Mrs. Ann Marie Chischilly, Director of Indigenous Tribal Environmental Professionals and Member of the United Nations Committee on Native Rights. She will be speaking on cultural intellectual property, and legal and appropriate use of tribal cultural information. Educators, students, elders and traditional experts from the Flagstaff area will gather in a forum of presentations, demonstrations, and discussion on traditional knowledge contained in cultural practices. These activities include a wide array of different native practices from different regional tribes. The day is sponsored by the Applied Indigenous Studies Program and the GeoFamily Foundation. A traditional Native American lunch is included.
Conference Registration and Reception at Embassy Suites Hotel Flagstaff, AZ
Thursday April 25, 2019
Field Research and Paper Presentations
The conference will present a more customary day of field and research presentations by native sky-watchers, SCAAS members, students, anthropologists, archaeologists, and the public research community. Feedback will be available in an interactive format from Native American teachers and educators, respected elders and keepers of traditional knowledge, and your fellow conference participants so that we can hone our skills in the appropriate interpretation and presentation of information related to Native American cultural practices.
Public Outreach Event – Lowell Observatory
Join the conference and the public for an evening of special presentations sponsored by the acclaimed Lowell Observatory. SCAAS members and invited guests will receive a brief guided tour of the observatory. Open to all conference participants and the general public will be a program by Navajo Verna Tallsalt, a recognized expert on Navajo astronomy. We are also working with a Hopi sky-watcher to also present. Dinner available for purchase at Lowell.
Friday April 26, 2019
Forum on Native Education and the Role of Traditional Knowledge
We begin with Mrs. Melodie Lopez (Hopi/Navajo/Puebloan/Mexican) Director of Indigenous Strategies, LLC, Board Member of Native Education Alliance, Vice-President of Arizona Indian Education Association and Founder of WARRIOR native experiential program. She will address the role of traditional knowledge in native schools. We are working to pull together two different panel discussions on how traditional knowledge can stimulate better native education. After our sponsored lunch, we are hosting regional middle and high school cultural teachers and principals at predominantly native schools, education oriented college native students, and conference participants who will be tasked with interpreting and transcribing the knowledge shared in presentations to augment educational curriculum that also meet state education standards. This day is sponsored by Northern Arizona University President Dr. Rita Cheng, Vice-President for Native American Initiatives Dr. Chad Hamill and the Geo-Family Foundation.
SCAAS Awards Dinner
We will be holding a catered dinner for conference participants at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Flagstaff. The dinner will feature a cash bar, Southwest layered dip appetizer, Chicken Parmesan buffet with salad and garlic bread, plated Eggplant Parmesan as the vegetarian option and desert. We will be having an evening program that includes award presentations and a distinguished speaker.
Saturday April 27, 2019
Continued Presentations on Traditional Cultural Knowledge
Regional native science practitioners share their traditional knowledge, as culturally appropriate, on a wide range of subjects. Additional cultural astronomy research, and working with cultural teachers will be held. A discussion forum assessing the conference the future will be held.
Sunday April 28, 2019 – Field Trips
We begin with breakfast followed by tours of the research programs at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Additional field trips to be announced in the near future.
Additional Conference Events (Free to registered participants)
Native Drum Ensemble will open our conference and provide musical education and entertainment on April 24.
Keynote Speaker – Melodie Lopez (Hopi/Navajo/Pueblo/Mexican) will be assisting us throughout the conference and giving a keynote address on the role of traditional knowledge in native education.
SCAAS Business Meeting – Date and time to be announced
“Ongtupqa” (meaning Salt-or Grand- Canyon) will provide us with an evening of traditional Hopi music at the Native American Cultural Center.
SCAAS Conference Registration
The 2019 conference is a four-day event starting on Wednesday April 24, 2019 and ending on the evening of Saturday April 27, 2019. Optional field trips and a special tour of the Museum of Northern Arizona will be held on Sunday April 28, 2019 for registered conference participants. All conference registrations include daily beverage service, morning and afternoon refreshments, and lunch. All-inclusive registrations include the conference awards dinner. The awards dinner can be purchased separately. A very limited number of two-day conference only registrations will be made available for our guests. The two-day conference only registration is good for Thursday April 25, 2019 and Friday April 26, 2019 only. Daily admissions may be opened in April on a space available basis.
This conference is a unique opportunity for people to interact with Native American students, elders, educators and keepers of traditional knowledge. Interest in the conference is very high and we expect registrations to fill rapidly. SCAAS members receive discounts and advanced access to registration. Remember to go to the iTunes and Google Play stores to download our app so you can track your membership and event registration. Search for Wild Apricot for Members.
Registration for Society members opens on January 16, 2019 and extends through April 20, 2019. You will need a paid SCAAS membership to login and access the SCAAS member discount and advanced registration. Please visit our “Join Us” page and become a member today. Student memberships require full time enrollment and must be approved before you can register for the conference. SCAAS donor memberships support the Society and receive complimentary conference registration. Registration for nonmembers begins on February 6, 2019 and extends to April 20, 2019.
SCAAS Associate and Student Memberships
Conference Registration Fees
4-day All-inclusive for SCAAS members......................................................................................$166.00/person
4-day All-inclusive for nonmembers...........................................................................................$180.00/person
4-day Conference Only for SCAAS members................................................................................$126.00/person
4-day Conference Only for nonmembers.....................................................................................$140.00/person
2-day Conference Only for SCAAS members................................................................................$72.00/person
2-day Conference Only for nonmembers.....................................................................................$80.00/person
SCAAS Award Dinner (no discounts) ...........................................................................................$40.00/person
SCAAS Conference Hotels
The organizers have made arrangements with the Embassy Suites Hotel and the Econolodge University in Flagstaff, AZ for discounted rates for the duration of our conference. Both hotels are located adjacent to and within easy walking distance of the Native American Cultural Center at Northern Arizona University. You must be a registered conference participant to receive the discounted hotel rates.
All discounted hotel reservations must be made by March 24, 2019.
Embassy Suites Hotel 706 South Milton Road, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86001 (928)-774-4333
Nestled in the heart of Flagstaff, Arizona, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Flagstaff hotel is located one mile north of the I-17/ I-40 Interchange and is adjacent to Northern Arizona University (NAU). Our all-suite Flagstaff hotel provides a free made-to-order breakfast every morning and a complimentary Evening Reception with drinks and light snacks. Your discounted hotel registration includes basic free WiFi and parking. The highly discounted hotel rate is $135.00 per night plus applicable taxes for the nights of Wednesday April 24, 2019 to Saturday April 27, 2019. Rooms are available with one King bed or two Queen beds. If desired, discounted room rates are offered for the nights of Tuesday April 23, 2019 and Sunday April 28, 2018 based on availability. To make reservations for these nights, please contact Embassy Suites Director of Sales Keele F. Smith via email at Keele.Smith@hilton.com.
Econolodge University 914 S. Milton Rd., Flagstaff, AZ, 86001 (928) 774-7326
Located next to the Embassy Suites, the Flagstaff Econolodge University has easy access to the conference venue and features free basic WiFi and parking. A complimentary Deluxe continental breakfast is included with your stay. Rooms are available with one King bed or two Queen beds.
Conference Room Rates (plus applicable taxes)
Tuesday April 23, 2019 $52.00
Wednesday April 24, 2019 $52.00
Thursday April 25, 2019 $52.00
Friday April 26, 2019 $52.00
Saturday April 27, 2019 $78.00
Sunday April 28, 2019 $42.00
Additional nearby hotels:
Drury Inn & Suites.............................(928) 773-4900
Hilton Garden Inn..............................(928) 226-8888
Doubletree by Hilton..........................(928) 773-8888
La Quinta Inn...................................(928) 556-8666
Budget Host Inn................................(928) 779-3631
Budget Inn.......................................(928) 774-5038
Howard Johnson by Wyndham..............(928) 774-3381
Days Inn..........................................(928) 774-5221
Stay tuned as additional announcements will be forthcoming.
For more information please contact us at conference@scaas.org