Jen Deerinwater Named Keynote Speaker at Creating Change Conference 2026

Crushing Colonialism is proud to announce that our Founding Executive Director, Jen Deerinwater, will deliver a keynote talk at the National Conference on LGBTQ Equality: Creating Change 2026, taking place January 21–25, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC.

Jen Deerinwater will deliver two talks at Creating Change 2026. Their keynote will center Indigenous sovereignty, Two Spirit and Indigiqueer liberation, and the ongoing fight for narrative justice within LGBTQ+ movements. The keynote will take place on January 22, speaking directly to the urgency of centering Indigenous voices in queer and trans movements at a time of rising global fascism, colonial violence, and ongoing erasure.

On January 21, Jen will also speak as part of the Indigenous Leadership Institute, a full-day program held from 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (Lincoln East). They will be present throughout the day and will deliver a talk focused on the rise of fascism and its impact on Indigenous queer and Two Spirit communities. The Institute creates a vital space for LGBTQ+ Indigenous, Indigiqueer, and Two Spirit people to share lived experience, cultural knowledge, and political analysis, while inviting non-Indigenous participants to practice listening, accountability, and respect.

In addition to these sessions, Crushing Colonialism will be present throughout the conference with a booth (#106) in the vendor and exhibitor hall, offering opportunities to connect with our team, learn about our Indigenous-led media work, cultural preservation efforts, and community resource redistribution, and explore collaboration.

The Indigenous Leadership Planning Committee recognizes that Indigenous includes many nations across Turtle Island and beyond, including North, Central, and South America. While presenters primarily reflect nations from so-called North America, their contributions represent gathered knowledge rooted in lived experience and should not be treated as universal across all Indigenous cultures.

Crushing Colonialism looks forward to gathering with movement relatives at Creating Change 2026, amplifying Indigenous leadership, honoring Two Spirit futures, and continuing the work of liberation beyond celebration.