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The 59th Annual Dakota Conference, April 22-23, 2027, will be held jointly with the South Dakota State History Conference, sponsored annually by the South Dakota State Historical Society.

The 2027 joint conference theme, �Dakota Tales,� invites presenters to explore the people, events, experiences, and stories that have made our region distinctive. What characters, events, and stories are distinctly regional to the greater Dakota area? Which people, historical moments, places, and tales have contributed to a regional Dakota understanding of who and what we are?

From well-known figures and defining moments to forgotten characters, local legends, family histories, community traditions, and stories rarely told, the Dakotas are rich with tales that reveal something about the region and those who have called it home.

We invite historians, scholars, writers, students, educators, museum professionals, local historians, and community members to share their favorite Dakota tales. Topics may span history, art, literature, culture, politics, American Indian history, immigration and settlement, agriculture, the environment, community life, or any subject that helps illuminate the distinctive character of the Dakotas and Northern Plains.

Presenters are encouraged to submit their proposals using the .

Alternatively, presenters may send a one-page paper, session or panel proposal with title, brief description, short biographical sketch and full contact information to dakotaconference@augie.edu.

Proposals (not completed papers) are due on or before Friday, Feb. 19, 2027. Limit of one presentation per individual.

Presenter Registration

• The presenter registration fee is $25.
• The registration fee is waived for undergraduate and graduate students of any university and for Augustana faculty and staff, courtesy of the Center for Western Studies Board of Directors.
• All presenters must register by April 10, 2027, to participate.

Presenters may submit their papers for cash award consideration in academic, non-academic, student and women's history categories. Submission forms will be available at the conference. Completed papers are due May 15, 2027.