The 12th annual Upper Peninsula Indian Education Conference, “Engaging American Indian Youth in the Classroom and Beyond,” will be held on Monday, Sept. 29, at NMU. It is designed for educators such as principals, counselors, teachers and school system staff who work with American Indian students and families on a regular basis.

There is no charge to attend the conference, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the NMU University Center. The schedule includes breakout sessions and a lunch with the keynote speaker, D.J. “Eagle Bear” Vanas.

Vanas is an internationally acclaimed motivational storyteller and success coach. He is also the author of the book the “The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery and Achievement.” Vanas is Odawa and uses traditional warrior concepts and wisdom to inspire others to achieve their best in life and career. He has delivered programs in 45 states and overseas to audiences including NASA, IBM and hundreds of tribal governments, communities and schools.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 24. Online registration is available at www.nmu.edu/cnas. For more information, contact the NMU Center for Native American Studies at 906-227-1397.