You are invited to attend the National Indian Council on Aging’s (NICOA) 23rd conference on aging in Indian Country. “Resilience for Tomorrow…Together” is the theme of the American Indian Elders Conference, which has been postponed to August 1-6, 2021. The conference will still take place in Reno, Nevada, at the Nugget Casino Resort, alongside the 2021 National Title VI Training & Technical Assistance Conference.

The health and wellbeing of our elders is the most important concern for us during this challenging time. We are sorry to have to postpone the conference for a year, but this will make it an even better one to attend.

All monies paid for membership dues and registration fees will be transferred to the upcoming conference dates, as well as the hotel information and pricing. The Nugget Casino Resort has been very helpful in securing those dates for us.

There will be new information available online and sent to individuals that have already sent in their 2020-2021 NICOA membership dues, with updated deadlines for the conference registration and documents needed for the conference.

If you have any questions, please email Cheryl J. Archibald or Leslie Maly, or leave us a message at (505) 292-2001. The NICOA staff is currently working from home, with three staff members in the office each day to serve our elders as best we can.

Registration for conference attendees is available online and by mail. Pricing is based on your membership type, which is also available for purchase online and by mail. You must apply for or renew your membership before registering for the conference.

NICOA’s conference is the only national aging conference in the country focusing exclusively on the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native elders. It will offer the opportunity to elevate issues in American Indian politics and legislation, and focus on issues such as health, safety, financial management, elder abuse, caregiving, employment, retirement and the Older Americans Act.

Keynote speakers from federal, state and tribal programs and agencies will be present to provide program updates and listen to the aging needs of American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Informational workshops will be provided by service providers and aging network professionals with experience in providing services to Native elders. Workshop sessions include caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, health, nutrition, transportation, disease prevention, long-term services and supports, employment and training, financial assistance and more.

NICOA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976. Our mission is to advocate for the improved comprehensive health, social services and economic wellbeing of American Indian and Alaska Native elders. Our biennial conference is the place where elders can educate and recommend solutions to policymakers to help improve aging services across Indian Country. Members submit resolutions which are presented and voted on by all members attending our biennial conference. Resolutions that are approved are passed on to the National Congress of American Indians for presentation to the appropriate federal government agencies.

Conference attendees represent over 2,000 American Indian and Alaska Native elders, stakeholders, elected tribal representatives, government agencies and aging network providers. Voting members actively participate in caucus sessions representing each of the 12 NICOA regions, participate in the election of board members, submit aging specific resolutions, revise bylaws and develop a collective aging policy agenda for NICOA to advocate in Washington, D.C.

The conference is the elders’ forum; the place to voice concerns, provide recommendations on policies that are important to aging older Indians, and to receive up-to-date information and resources to help elders age at home and in their own communities. NICOA works closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor to advocate for grant funded programs and services such as Title VI Services for Native Americans, Indian Health Services, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, the Senior Community Service Employment Program and others. Officials from federal, state and tribal services and departments are invited to listen, learn and share in the discussion about the successes and concerns impacting aging in Indian Country.