SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Creativity, community, and a commitment to safety took center stage as AMERIND, the country’s first and only 100% Tribally owned insurance carrier, announced the national winners of its 2026 Safety Poster Contest.
For 35 years, the AMERIND Safety Poster Contest has encouraged Native youth to use their creativity to share an important message. Everyone has a role in keeping their families and communities safe. Since the contest began in 1991, generations of young artists from kindergarten through eighth grade have transformed important safety lessons into colorful, meaningful works of art.
The contest begins at the local level, where Tribal housing authorities are encouraged to host competitions in three grade categories. Local winners advance to their respective Regional Housing Associations, where they select regional winners. Those posters then advance to the national competition, where Indian Country is invited to vote online for its favorites.
After advancing through the local and regional competitions and receiving votes during the national contest, three young artists earned the title of 2026 AMERIND Safety Poster Contest National Winner:
Grades K–3
Porter Dean
Poarch Creek Indians Housing Department
Grades 4–6
Lyric Gordon
Poarch Creek Indians Housing Department
Grades 7–8
Ella McGhee
Poarch Creek Indians Housing Department
Each national winner will receive a $1,000 prize in recognition of their creativity and commitment to promoting safety.
AMERIND announced the winners during its Annual Member Business Meeting on September 17 at the AMERIND Tribal Risk & Insurance Convening in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
While three posters earned the national title this year, the contest’s impact extends far beyond the winning entries. Every student who participates helps start conversations about safety at home, at school, and throughout their community, continuing a tradition that has reached Native youth for more than three decades.
As AMERIND celebrates 35 years of the Safety Poster Contest, the organization looks forward to continuing to give Native youth a platform to share their creativity, their voices, and their vision for safer communities throughout Indian Country.
For more information, visit AMERIND.com. For more information, please contact our Business Development team at BusinessDevelopment@amerind.com.
About AMERIND
AMERIND creates affordable, sustainable insurance products and services for Indian Country. Founded in 1986 by Tribes for Tribes, AMERIND is the first and only 100 percent Tribally owned insurance company and has earned an A (Excellent) rating from AM Best.
Dedicated to protecting Tribal sovereignty and strengthening Tribal communities, AMERIND provides insurance, risk management, and financial service solutions tailored to the unique needs of Tribal governments, enterprises, and citizens. Guided by its mission to keep Tribal dollars in Indian Country, AMERIND delivers exceptional service, trusted resources, and sustainable solutions to the Tribal partners it serves.