2026 NAPSA Annual Conference
March 7-11, 2026 • Kansas City, MO

"We are all guests on Indigenous land. Our responsibility is to learn from it, to honor those who have cared for it, and to uphold our own relationships with the land and one another."
— Adapted from the guiding principles of Indigenous land stewardship

If you are joining the 2026 NASPA Annual Conference in person, your presence in this place—known as Kansas City, situated along the Missouri River and within the traditional homelands of the Osage Nation, Kaw (Kanza), Otoe-Missouria, and Kickapoo Peoples—should be coupled with reflection on how you came to occupy this place, and your relationship with and to this land.

The language above has been developed by members of past Conference Leadership Committee Indigenous Engagement Work Groups.

Tribal Nations and Communities in the Kansas City Region

Learn more about the Indigenous nations whose homelands encompass present-day Kansas City:

• Osage Nation – Headquartered in Pawhuska, Oklahoma; their ancestral lands extended through much of present-day Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.
• Kaw (Kanza) Nation – Headquartered in Kaw City, Oklahoma; their name gives Kansas its name and their ancestral territory includes the Kansas and Missouri River valleys.
• Otoe-Missouria Tribe – Originally from the Great Lakes region and later the Missouri River valley; now headquartered in Red Rock, Oklahoma.
• Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas – Headquartered in Horton, Kansas, and one of four federally recognized Kickapoo tribes.

View a map of present-day Native American tribal entities in Kansas and Missouri from the U.S. Department of the Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Explore the Native Land Digital map to identify the Indigenous nations connected to your current location.

Local Organizations and Cultural Centers

American Indian Council (AIC)
Founded in 1972, the AIC serves as a community-based organization supporting Native people in employment, training, and education across the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Heart of America Indian Center
A hub for cultural preservation and community events, the center promotes Indigenous heritage through programming, gatherings, and education.

Mid America All-Indian Center (Wichita, KS)
Located about three hours from Kansas City, this museum and cultural center highlights Native art, traditions, and contemporary stories from tribes across the Plains.

Kansas City Indian Center
Providing social services, cultural education, and advocacy for Native people, the KC Indian Center supports the well-being of Indigenous families and fosters connections between Native and non-Native communities.

Learn, Support, and Act

Support Native-Owned Businesses and Artists
Explore Native artisans and makers in the Kansas City area through networks such as KCIC Market and regional Indigenous artist markets.

Visit the Osage Nation Museum
Located in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, the oldest tribally owned museum in the U.S. offers a rich account of Osage history, culture, and contemporary life.

Honor and Bring Attention to the MMIWGP Crisis
The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and People (MMIWGP) remains urgent across both reservation and urban communities. Learn more from organizations such as MMIW USA and The Sovereign Bodies Institute, which work to raise awareness and support affected families.

Additional Resources

• Native Land Digital: Learn about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations.
• Kansas City Indian Center: Learn how to support Indigenous-led work locally.
• NASPA Indigenous Peoples Knowledge Community: Explore resources and community connections centered on Indigenous peoples in higher education.