All conference attendees, speakers, exhibitors and guests attending this conference must agree to all terms and conditions listed below as well as policies of NWAA, AAA, and WWU.  

Visit Western Washington University, The Northwest Anthropological Association (NWAA) and Alaska Anthropological Association (AAA) to view each organization’s policies. 

Code of Conduct 

Western Washington University (WWU) and the 2026 Joint Conference including the 79th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Anthropological Conference and 53rd Annual Meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association value diversity, equity, and inclusion and have the objective of elevating the role and awareness of these principles and integrating them throughout the conference. This conference is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment for all participants and speakers. All participants, including attendees, speakers, volunteers, exhibitors, staff, and service providers, are expected to abide by this Conference Code of Conduct. 

Expected Behaviors 

Treat all participants and attendees with respect and consideration, value a diversity of views and opinions, and critique ideas rather than individuals. 

Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech directed toward other participants and attendees. 

Be mindful of your surroundings and fellow participants and attendees. 

Respect the rules and policies of any virtual meeting platforms. 

Unacceptable Behaviors 

Harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form. 

Examples of harassment, intimidation, or discrimination include displaying nudity and sexual images in public spaces and threatening or stalking any attendee, speaker, or other meeting guest. 

Verbal abuse of any attendee, speaker, or other meeting guest. 

Examples of verbal abuse include verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, and national origin. 

If you experience or hear of any incidents of unacceptable behavior, please inform the registration desk during the conference or nwaconf@gmail.com and alaskaanthro@gmail.com after the conference so that we can take appropriate action. Western Washington University (WWU) and the 2026 Joint Conference including the 79th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Anthropological Conference and 53rd Annual Meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association reserve the right to take any action deemed necessary and appropriate, including immediate removal from the conference without warning or refund, in response to any incident of unacceptable behavior, and to prohibit attendance at any future meeting. 

Images of Human Remains

Petitions for including photos of human remains must be submitted to the NWAA and AAA boards. Warnings will be provided at the start of presentations for photos that include human remains. Please submit your petition to both:

NWAC: nwaconf@gmail.com

AAA: alaskaanthro@gmail.com

Photo Release 

I give permission to Western Washington University (WWU) and the 2026 Joint Conference including the 79th Annual Meeting of the Northwest Anthropological Conference and 53rd Annual Meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association to use photographic images and video footage of myself in its public information activities. 

Cancellation Policies

This policy applies to all registrations. Registrations and Banquet Dinner are non-refundable. Substitution requests must be e-mailed to conferences@wwu.edu no later than 2 weeks before the event begins. No reduction in fees will be given for late arrival or early departure. No-shows are not eligible for refunds.

Payment Policies

All registration fees must be paid in full at the time of registration.

Western Washington University Hold Harmless Policy 

I agree to hold harmless Western Washington University, its trustees, officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers and assigns from and against all claims arising out of or resulting from my attending this event managed by Western Washington University, except to the extent such claims are caused in whole or in part by the negligence or willful misconduct of WWU. “Claim,” as used in this agreement, means any financial loss, claim, suit, action, damage, or expense, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, or injury to or destruction of tangible property including loss of use resulting there from. In addition, I hereby voluntarily hold harmless Western Washington University, its trustees, officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers and assigns from any and all claims, both present and future, that may be made by me, my family, estate, heirs, or assigns.