The Coquille Indian Tribe is preparing to host its first national Native American conference in April.

The 2007 Heart of the American Indian Women's Conference, will feature nationally renowned native speakers and performers, and showcase the South Coast. The event will include two days of discussion, workshops and activities from April 25 through April 27.

Keynote speaker Wilma Mankiller, a nationally renowned Indian activist and a recipient of the American Indian Presidential Medal of Freedom, will speak on opportunities for Indian women to achieve leadership roles in their tribe, which also will be the theme for the annual conference.

“We're hoping for a big turnout because she is such an amazing woman,” said Denise Hunter, conference organizer for the tribe.

Mankiller was the first Native woman to assume a principal chief role in the 20,000-member Cherokee Nation. She has extensive experience in leadership, governance and community development.

Delivering the keynote at the conference is a great honor, Mankiller said, especially since she met so many remarkable native women from Oregon.

Michele Burnette, a board member of the Coquille Economic Development Corp. will open the conference with a discussion on the Coquille Tribe's successful restoration project. In addition to lectures and presentations by Bob Lane of the Siletz Indian Tribe; Laura Wong Whitebear, the president of the Northwest Native American Basketweavers Association; demonstrations on native art forms; a canoe journey; and a performance by Native American singer Pura Fe.

Registration for the conference started Jan. 1, and will continue through Feb. 23. For more information, those interested can go to http://www.coquilletribe.org, or call 756-0904.