Aboriginal Leadership

Challenges of Aboriginal
Leadership
 The Talking Stick: Why a
Circle?

● Fostering relationships, and The talking stick has been used for centuries by many
American Indian tribes in council circles. The leading
breaking away from the elder would hold the talking stick and begin the
“Western” traditional classroom discussion. Once finished, he would hold out the
talking stick, and whoever wished to speak after him
● Spotlighting Aboriginal culture would take it. It was passed around the circle until all
who wished to speak had done so. The stick was then
passed back to the leading elder for safe keeping. It
● Everyone has equal status - we carries respect for free speech and assures the
are here to facilitate! speaker he has the freedom and power to say what is
in his heart without fear of reprisal or humiliation.
 Defining “Aboriginal people comprise First
Nations, Métis, and Inuit of

Aboriginal Canada. It is recognized that while

there are differences in language
and history between different
groups of Aboriginals, there are
some common values that
represent their view of the world”.

(Julien, Wright & Zinni, p. 114)

 1. Aboriginal “Ways of Being”:
educational leaders, students and
traditional aboriginal knowledge

2. Stories from the circle: Leadership

lessons learned from aboriginal
leaders

Agenda 3. Medicine wheel and Leadership

4. Defining Aboriginal Leadership

5. Aboriginal Leadership at the

Postsecondary Level

6. Case Study

7. Summary and conclusion

 ● Focus on school leaders, principals and
teachers, and their leadership style
when engaging with Aboriginal roots
● Uses Whytecliff Agile Learning Centre to
Aboriginal showcase success for Aboriginal
students

“Ways of Being” ● Aboriginal Teacher-Coordinator was a

“leader” to the students… Not in a
“Western” leader position
Educational Leaders, Students ● “Aboriginal knowledge is personal, oral,
and Traditional Aboriginal experiential, holistic, and conveyed in
Knowledge narrative or metaphorical language” p. 3
● These attributes can also be linked to
leadership
 “This combination of ‘being different’, ‘thinking
differently’, and ‘doing things different’ is key to
providing a school culture that is more receptive to
Aboriginal students and their ways of learning.”
(Cassidy, W. & Marsden, D., 2009, p.3)

What style of leader would agree with this quote?

 ● Aboriginal leadership entails:
○ Holistic/spiritual
○ Connection/harmony with group
Stories from the ○ Flexible/shared
○ Unstructured (non-hierarchical)

circle ○ Participative/egalitarian
● Connection with spirit (smudging)
● Imagery or storytelling (symbols from
Leadership lessons learned dreams/visions)
from aboriginal leaders ● Elders cultivate future leaders
● Women play important role in
leadership/caretakers
● Medicine wheel
“Colonial mindsets are seen as influencing and
precluding people from living their values and
being authentic to who they are. You have to
sacrifice, you have to compromise”
(Julien, M., Wright, B. & Zinni, D. M., 2010. P.
123)
How do concepts of Aboriginal leadership relate to
the leadership styles we have looked at thus far?
How would a change in leadership practices
impact the success of aboriginal people?
Medicine Wheel
(Traditional Circle of life)
Medicine Wheel
(Applied to Organizational Leadership)

http://www.dalarinternational.com/medicine-wheel-tool/
Defining Aboriginal Leadership
● A sincere and passionate approach
● Spirituality is connected to work
● Spirituality guides leadership actions
● Use of imagery, stories and symbols to teach and share a message
● Appreciate and recognize employees as whole people
● Collaborative approach, non-hierarchical, ego-less leadership
● Egalitarian relationships
● Strives to meet the needs of an entire community
● Thoughtful of long-term effects of their decisions
● Connection to nature, real world, experiences
 Discussion Questions
1. What are some of the challenges that leaders and/or employees might
face in organizations that adopt an Aboriginal leadership approach?

2. How do concepts of Aboriginal leadership relate to other leadership

styles we have explored thus far?
 Discussion Questions
3. “Do other cultures have different approaches to leadership that could
offer valuable
theoretical and practical insights?” (Julien, Wright and Zinni, 2010, p.
114)
Arguments For Aboriginal Leadership
● Employees as whole people
● Decisions considerate of long-term goals and needs
● Spirituality impacts employee performance
● Values and respects diversity
● Multicultural workplaces, many cultures share similar values
● Gen X and Gen Y share similar values
● Attract and retain Aboriginal employees in mainstream jobs
● Considerate of emotional, spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing
● Sustainable practices
● Community engagement
 Discussion Question

What are some of the disadvantages to Aboriginal leadership?

Aboriginal Leadership Summary (American Indian
Policy Centre)
1. “Spirituality was a core element of American Indian life and all leadership possessed spiritual significance.
2. Leaders demonstrated generosity, kindness and honored all living things.
3. Elders cultivated the leadership of future generations.
4. American Indian leaders were humble servants to the community. Individuals did not seek leadership. Leaders
emerged from their contributions to the community and the people recognized and selected those considered
most able to lead.
5. No one person was always a leader and many were leaders at different times.
6. The community could cease to recognize leaders by simply choosing to not follow him or her.
7. American Indian leaders led by example rather than by authority or command.
8. American Indian leaders took their time when making a decision. When they gave their word on a decision it
was a final, binding pledge.
9. When tribal leaders met to deliberate on a matter they sought understanding and consensus through mutual
inquiry. There was no debate.
10. American Indian methods of resolving social conflict were based on the concept of restitution that focused on
restoring respectful personal and social relations.”
A Post-Secondary View: Fostering Aboriginal Leadership: Increasing
Enrollment and Completion Rates in Canadian Post-Secondary
Institutions by Tracey King
Summary of article Connection to our readings

● Aboriginal students high school completion ● Aboriginal leadership needs to be fostered

rates low in children
● Stop addressing Aboriginal education and ● Holistic approach to learning, key to
leadership from a Western perspective - leadership
has led to social scars ● Aboriginal students need role models in
● Aboriginal people began pressuring gov education - similar to what we have
● Our Aboriginal Leaders need to be discussed with women in leadership
advocates for our students ● Advocates that Aboriginal people speak
● Postsecondary Institutions need to show from an “authentic” position
their commitment to Aboriginals
● Aboriginal staff and faculty can be the
leaders in bringing in programs and “Aboriginal learning is an area that
facilitating Aboriginal learning needs to be explored for Aboriginal
leadership to develop.”
Aboriginal and Western Education
Aboriginal Education Western Education

- Has been in place for thousands of - Has been in place for approx. 150
years years
- Knowledge passed through song - Knowledge is compartmentalized
and ceremony - Knowledge is decontextualized
- Knowledge reinforced through (removed from real-world
demonstration (real-world application)
application) - Emphasis on final product
- Lessons embedded in stories
- Emphasis on preparation, process,
patience, purpose
 Discussion Question

Can Aboriginal and Western values coexist in one education

system?
Case Study Activity

Aboriginal Policies and Practices

in Ontario’s K-12 Education

The Blanket Exercise

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives. (2017). Blanket
Exercise Resource Centre.
 References

Cassidy, W., & Marsden, D. (2009). Aboriginal "Ways

of Being": Educational Leaders, Students and Traditional
Aboriginal Knowledge. Values and Ethics in Educational
Administration,7(3), 1-8.

Dalar International Consultancy, (2016) . Medicine Wheel

Tool. Retrieved January 29, 2018 from:

Wrap up!
http://www.dalarinternational.com/medicine-wheel-tool

Julien, M., Wright, B. and Zinni, D. (2010). Stories from the

circle: Leadership lessons learned from aboriginal leaders.
Thank you! The Leadership Quarterly, 21(1), 114-126.

King, T. (2008). Fostering Aboriginal Leadership: Increasing

Enrollment and Completion Rates in Canadian Post-
Secondary Institutions. College Quarterly, 11(1), 1-16.

Locust C., (2008). The Talking Stick. Retrieved February 1,

2018 from: http://www.acaciart.com/stories/archive6.html