Bronson Koenig
Keynote Speaker
Bronson Koenig inspires Indigenous people everywhere. Koenig is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and starred at the University of Wisconsin before embarking on a career in pro basketball.
Koenig was a three-year starter and two-time All-Big Ten selection for the Badgers. He left UW as the all-time leader in career three-pointers made.
Following his college career, Koenig signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on July 6, 2017. He worked professionally in the G League and overseas before retiring in 2020.
Peter Macdonald, Sr.
Speaker
Mr. Peter MacDonald is a revered figure, a proud Navajo Code Talker, and a distinguished former President of the Navajo Nation. As one of the last living Code Talkers, he served bravely in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, contributing to the unbreakable code vital to Allied success. His leadership extended to serving as the Chairman and later the first President of the Navajo Nation, where he championed tribal sovereignty and economic development. Mr. MacDonald’s life embodies courage, service, and profound dedication to our people.
Pax Harvey
Speaker
Pax Harvey is a highly sought-after Navajo consultant and motivational speaker, renowned for his insightful perspectives on leadership, cultural awareness, and personal empowerment. Drawing upon his Diné heritage and extensive experience in community development, Pax inspires audiences to embrace their unique strengths, overcome challenges, and foster positive change. He is dedicated to bridging cultural understanding and empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their full potential.
Ernest Harry Begay
UNHS Traditional Counslor
Ernest Harry Begay is a Traditional Counselor who resides in Rock Point, Arizona. He has been doing ceremonies constantly for 50 years. He has worked as a Traditional Practitioner for 10 years for the Navajo Department of Behavioral Health Services. He worked 6 years as a Traditional Healer/Counselor for the Indian Health Services (Four Corners Regional Health Center – Red Mesa, Arizona). He is a Traditional Services Program Manager for the Utah Navajo Health System. He provides traditional counseling and education services to people throughout the Navajo reservation and beyond.
He uses the Indigenous Navajo Modality, which consists of Self Awareness, Self-Respect, Self Help, and Self Care. He uses the Navajo Oral Traditions of the Black, Blue, Yellow, and White Worlds to heal. He helps people with substance abuse, mental challenges, behavioral disorders, domestic violence, and the variety of sicknesses that clinical institutions deal with through allopathic medicine. He uses storytelling, ceremonies, and sweat lodge to help people. He is also a traditional educator and presenter on Parenting, Indigenous education, Indigenous governance, leadership history, etc.
Dr. Andy Bayless, PharmD
UNHS Assistant Director of Pharmacy | Clinical Pharmacist
Dr. Bayless earned a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Utah in 2012 and has been practicing as a diabetes management specialist since then. He is dual-certified as a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management. Dr. Bayless lives with his wife and three children in Blanding. They love exploring beautiful San Juan County and traveling worldwide to learn from other cultures.
Nathaniel Brown
Master of Ceremonies & Speaker
Nathaniel Brown is a prominent figure within the Navajo Nation, known for his dedicated service as a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate. Representing the communities of Dennehotso, Kayenta, and Chííłchinbii’tó during the 24th Navajo Nation Council, Brown was a vocal advocate for his constituents and passionately championed infrastructure development, working to bring electricity and broadband to underserved communities for online education, remote healthcare, and increased security. He also emphasized cultural preservation and revitalization, highlighting the importance of Navajo language revitalization, traditional ceremonies, and the practice of k’é. A strong proponent of social justice, Brown notably co-sponsored legislation to establish “Diné Pride Week,” making the Navajo Nation the first federally recognized tribe to acknowledge LGBTQ+ Pride, and advocated for the Navajo Nation Equality Act to protect LGBTQ2+ citizens from discrimination. Furthermore, he addressed issues like public safety, illegal alcohol and drug sales, supported the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement, and promoted tourism and economic development. Beyond his legislative work, Nathaniel Brown is recognized for his commitment to sharing Diné culture and encouraging a healthy lifestyle, frequently participating in community events and promoting newly established hiking trails, and has also served as an Executive Staff Assistant in the Office of the President and Vice President of the Navajo Nation.