What Is the Sovereign Futures Series?
The Sovereign Futures Series is a recurring convening hosted by the Office of Sovereign Partnerships & Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Kansas. The series brings together Indigenous leaders, educators, researchers, students, and community partners to engage questions of sovereignty, governance, and self-determination.
AI and Data Sovereignty Across The Southern Plains Symposium
March 3–4, 2026Burge Union, University of Kansas
AI and Data Sovereignty Across The Southern Plains Symposium is an in-person convening. In-person registration is free, with limited capacity, and the keynote presentation and panel sessions livestreamed via webinar. See links below to register!
Frequently Asked Questions
The KU Sovereign Futures Series is an ongoing initiative hosted by the Office of Sovereign Partnerships & Indigenous Initiatives that creates space for dialogue around Indigenous sovereignty, governance, and self-determination.
The series includes symposia, workshops, and public conversations that respond to Indigenous community priorities and evolving contexts.
The 2026 symposium focuses on how artificial intelligence, data systems, and digital infrastructure intersect with Indigenous sovereignty across the Southern Plains.
Sessions explore opportunities, risks, governance frameworks, and community-driven approaches to data stewardship, education, cultural preservation, and policy.
The symposium is intended for Indigenous leaders and community members, Tribal Nation staff, educators, students, researchers, technologists, and policy practitioners.
The program is designed to support both strategic decision-making and shared learning across sectors.
No prior expertise is required.
No.
The symposium includes sessions that establish shared vocabulary and foundational concepts, alongside deeper discussions for those working directly in governance, technology, or research.
The Sovereign Futures Symposium is not a traditional academic conference.
While research and scholarship are part of the conversation, the symposium emphasizes community-centered dialogue, applied governance questions, and relationship-building across Tribal, academic, and practitioner spaces.
The Sovereign Futures Symposium is hosted at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS.
Dates, location details, and program information will be shared as each year’s symposium approaches.
Sovereign Futures Series
Thank You to Our Event Sponsors!
If you are interested in sponsoring future events email native@ku.edu.