May 27-29, 2026

Lawrence, KS

Submissions: sclc.kansas@gmail.com by May 1, 2026

The Siouan and Caddoan Languages Conference (SCLC) promotes the study and teaching of languages in the Siouan and Caddoan language families. SCLC will be hosted in a hybrid format at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas from Wednesday, May 27 to Friday, May 29, 2026. 

Lawrence, Kansas was ceded by the Kaw (Kanza) Nation (Kaáⁿze) in the Treaty of 1825, but eastern Kansas has also historically been traversed by other tribes such as the Osage (𐓏𐓘𐓻𐓘𐓻𐓟) and Pawnee (pâri pakûru’). Many more tribes were forcibly moved through the region, including Shawnee (Saawanook), Miami (Myaamia), Wyandotte (Waⁿdát), Delaware (Lënape), and Peoria (Peewaalia). The nearby confluence of the Kaw and Missouri Rivers nearby brought intertribal activity and movement, associating the area with many more tribal nations, including the Otoe-Missouria (Jiwere) and the Ioway (Báxoje). Central and western Kansas were also home to many more Nations, including the Kiowa (Gáuigú), Cheyenne (Tsistsista), Arapaho (Hinono'ei), Apache (Ná'ishą), Northern Cheyenne (Tsistsista), Northern Arapaho (Hinono'ei), Comanche (Nʉmʉnʉʉ), and Wichita (Kitikiti'sh). In present time, Kansas is home to four federally recognized tribes: the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (mshkoteni botwewatmi), the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (Báxoje), the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas (Kiikaapoi), and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska (Ne ma ha ha ki). Furthermore, with Haskell Indian Nations University also in Lawrence, there is an eclectic intertribal presence representing tribal Nations from across the country, creating a diverse representation of Indian Country within the community.  

The conference is organized by members of the Department of Linguistics, the Indigenous Studies Program, and the Office of Sovereign Partnerships and Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Kansas. Questions may be directed to sclc.kansas@gmail.com.

SCLC has a special emphasis on community-driven research. We welcome proposals for individual, group, or roundtable presentations. These may include: 

• Indigenous education 

• Teaching and learning language 

• Language and cultural identity 

• Film and media 

• Folklore 

• History 

• Music and art 

• Traditional beliefs and knowledge 

• Linguistic description and analysis 

• Indigenous data sovereignty 

• Performances in indigenous language 

Our conference theme is “Language Revitalization: Practitioner Perspectives.” We especially welcome tribal citizens and members working in and with language programs to consider participating. 

Types of presentations include: 

• Individual or team presentation – can be a live talk, a pre-made video, or other work of art 

• Group / panel discussion (typically 3-5 presenters) 

• Roundtable discussion (with audience participation) 

• Workshop 

If you think of a type of presentation that is not on this list, please ask! Please let us know which type of presentation you would like to be considered for. No proposal is too small: even an email telling us what you’d like to share is perfect. 

The (soft) deadline for proposals is May 1st, 2026. Please send submissions to sclc.kansas@gmail.com.