June 15-17, 2026

Keynote Speaker 

Dr. Shane Doyle is a member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) Nation and hails from the town of Crow Agency, located along the banks of the historic Little Bighorn River near the Crow Fair encampment, also known as the Tipi Capital of the World. His 30-year career as an educator and artist is marked by a deep commitment to Native American history, education, and cultural preservation.

Dr. Doyle’s scholarship and artistic contributions are wide-ranging and diverse, spanning numerous communities and cultural groups throughout Montana and across the Northern Plains. He is a renowned designer of educational curricula that centers on Native American culture and history, as well as a writer and film producer who works both in front of and behind the camera to help tell stories that highlight Indigenous resilience, knowledge, and beauty.

In addition to his academic and creative work, Dr. Doyle shares his voice and hand drum to inspire audiences through traditional songs. His dedication as a cultural ambassador has been widely recognized, including his leadership in commemorating Yellowstone National Park’s 150th anniversary with the installation of the first-ever All-Nations Tipi Village.

Dr. Doyle currently serves as the North American Indigenous Right Relations Director for The Nature Conservancy and is based in Bozeman, Montana.

Hermance Speaker 

Walter C. Fleming is Professor Emeritus at Montana State University, Bozeman.  He taught at Montana State for 47 years, serving as Department Head of the Department of Native American Studies (NAS) for over 25 years.  He retired in 2025 with the rank of Full Professor and was accorded Emeritus status by the Montana State Board of Regents.

Fleming was born on the Crow Reservation, Montana and raised at Lame Deer, Montana, on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. He is an enrolled member of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas.  He received a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Montana College (now Montana State University, Billings), a master’s from Montana State University, and a doctorate in American Studies from the University of Kansas.

He is the author of three books, eleven book chapters and numerous articles.  His areas of study are Northern Plains tribal cultures and American Indian history.  He taught a wide range of courses in NAS, including American Indian Literature, Federal Indian Policy and Law, and An Introduction to Native American Studies. 

Fleming was honored as Educator of the Year on two occasions and was a Montana “Governor’s Humanities Award” recipient.  Upon his retirement, he was honored by the MSU Alumni Foundation for his contributions to the planning, fund-raising, and construction of American Indian Hall on the MSU campus.