2026 Conference Program
Wednesday, March 25
Evening Welcoming Reception at the Four Points Hotel
Gather at the Four Points Hotel to say hello to those you may not have seen in a while, and to meet new colleagues and friends!
- 4:30-6:30 pm those who have registered online by March 20 can pick up their conference badges at the Four Points hotel between. During this time, attendees can register at the hotel via QR code but check or cash payments for registration will not be available until the next day on campus.
- 6:00-8:00 pm Welcome Reception
Thursday, March 26
- 8:00 am Viking Student Union Opens and exhibitors begin setting up in the Multipurpose Room (MPR) on the 6th floor of the Viking Student Union of the Western Washington University Campus.
- 8:00 am – 3:30 pm Information Desk and Registration – MPR Foyer, 6th floor of the Viking Student Union, on the Western Washington University campus. Check or cash payments available for onsite registration.
- 9:00 am Sessions, symposia, and meetings begin at the Viking Student Union
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Social Event for People Interested in Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Anthropology – See the agenda on the conference App for further details.
- 12:00 – 1:30 pm Employment Expo – Those who are looking for work or workers can gather in the MPR from 12-1:30 pm. The Employment Expo is a chance for employers to meet with students and new professionals, set-up interviews, answer questions about job postings, and generally provide mentorship for new CRM professionals. Exhibitors may bring flyers, business cards, and other handout materials, which can be left unattended for the remainder of the day for anyone who missed the live event.
- Exhibitors – Check out exhibitors and vendors all day in the MPR on the 6th floor of the Viking Student Union and visit us at the Northwest Anthropological Association table for the third NWAC Seed Swap.
Friday, March 27
- 8:00 am – 3:30 pm Information Desk and Registration – 6th floor of the Viking Student Union, on the Western Washington University campus. Check or cash payments available for onsite registration.
- 9:00 am Sessions, symposia, and meetings begin at the Viking Student Union
- 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Social Event for People Interested in Improving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Anthropology – See the agenda on the conference App for further details.
- Exhibitors – Check out exhibitors and vendors all day in the MPR on the 6th floor of the Viking Student Union and visit us at the Northwest Anthropological Association table for the third NWAC Seed Swap.
- 6:30 pm Banquet Reception and Lhaq’temish Opening – Four Points Hotel, Bellingham
- 7:30 pm Banquet Food Service Begins – Four Points Hotel, Bellingham
Invited Speaker: Dr. Sven Haakanson, Jr.
Join us as we welcome Dr. Sven Haakanson Jr., an internationally recognized anthropologist, curator, educator, and culture bearer of Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) heritage from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Dr. Haakanson’s work focuses on preserving and revitalizing Indigenous knowledge through scholarship, community collaboration, and the reconstruction of ancestral technologies.
A MacArthur Fellow and Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington, Dr. Haakanson has spent his career strengthening cultural identity, leading groundbreaking museum initiatives, and engaging communities in hands-on cultural revitalization—from building traditional skin boats to carving ceremonial masks. His work bridges academic research and Indigenous knowledge systems, offering powerful insights into the living culture of the Alutiiq people.
Saturday, March 28
- 8:00 am – 3:30 pm Information Desk MPR Foyer, 6th floor of the Viking Student Union, on the Western Washington University campus. Check or cash payments for registration will not be accepted on this day.
- 9:00 am Sessions, symposia, and meetings begin at the Viking Student Union
- Exhibitors – Last day to out exhibitors and vendors all day in the MPR on the 6th floor of the Viking Student Union.
- 12:00 pm Exhibitor Hall Closes and Joint Conference Concludes