Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop

Elder’s Meditation of the Day "The honor of the people lies in the moccasin tracks of the woman. Walk the good road.... Be dutiful, respectful, gentle, and modest my daughter... Be strong with the warm, strong heart of the earth. No people goes down until their women are weak and dishonored, or dead upon the ground. Be strong and sing the strength of the Great Powers within you, all around you."

Elder’s Meditation of the Day “The Elders say the Native American women will lead the healing among the tribes. We need to especially pray for our women, and ask the Creator to bless them and give them strength. Inside them are the powers of love and strength given by the Moon and the Earth. When everyone else gives up, it is the woman who sings the songs of strength. She is the backbone of the people. So, to our women we say, sing your songs of strength; pray for your special powers; keep our people strong; be respectful, gentle, and modest.”

CAAWS CAAWS envisions an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders.

Workshop Objectives Objectives for Session Bring together a group of female leaders Discuss leadership issues that we face Create a shared understanding of how we can work together and move forward 2 minutes : this slide + next slide

Agenda Welcome and Introductions Community Mapping Select and discuss a topic (includes 15 min. break) Wrap-up 2 minutes : this slide + previous slide

Introductions In 2 sentences or in 2 breaths, tell us: Your name and where you are from One other thing about yourself such as: How are you linked to sport & physical activity? If you had a free hour, what would you do? What’s something that makes you laugh? What’s one thing that you would like to do or try? 10 Minutes

Community Mapping Objectives Break into pairs and discuss these points: Consider your role in your community Identify and discuss your community assets and resources Create a shared understanding of your community that will be referenced in each aspect of the session Community Mapping - 30 minutes (this slide + next slide)

Your Role in Your Community What is your role in your community? Do you have women leaders? What role do community members see women playing? Is it vital to them?

Community Mapping Explore how your community: Looks – resources, structure, people Feels – welcoming? vibrant? empty? Sounds – busy times, quiet times, celebrations Community Mapping - 30 minutes (this slide + previous slide) includes group work, presentations and debrief

Select a Topic As a group we will choose one of the following three topics and discuss for one hour: Networking Leadership Styles Influencing Change 10 minutes to select one topic from 3 options

Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop 1 minute Effective Networking Discussion

Discussion Highlights What and why - definition and purpose Practical scenarios Tips and suggestions for effective networking in your community Creating your networking plan 1 minute

What is Networking? Thinking about your community, answer these questions: What is networking? How can a network help you? Where can you network? 10 minutes (this slide + next slide)

Networking Formal Definition Cultivating & nurturing a relationship Mutual exchange of information, support, advice and resources are given & received “Pay it forward” and “giving back” 10 minutes (this slide + previous slide)

Networking in Your Community What are the benefits of networking in your community? What are the challenges to networking in your community? 5 minutes

Benefits of Networking Sharing ideas and resources – helping, giving advice, supporting Connecting with people in your community Learning from others Diversity: access to more ideas and perspectives 5 minutes

Scenarios Approach a Chief and Council for funding Access a facility or a resource Recruit volunteers Alone at a conference or event – outside of your community (20 minutes total – 10 minutes for small group discussion, 10 minutes to report/discuss in plenary) .

Tips for Successful Networking Treat everyone with equal respect Introduce others Bring a friend Give your undivided attention Ask questions, show interest 10 minutes (this slide + next slide)

Networking Internally and Externally Who do you network with inside your community? Who do you network with outside your community? What do you do differently when networking outside your community compared with internally?

Your Networking Plan Step 1 – Consider your community Consider your current network… what skills do people have? what additional skills/information do you need? who has these “missing” skills/information? where will you go to meet these people? does your community have the capacity and resources necessary to network properly? how does your community engage with its members when it comes to networking? 5 minutes – 3 slides with all 3 steps

Your Networking Plan Step 2 – Connect with your community Attend community events, social activities and meetings – make a point of connecting with people 5 minutes – 3 slides with all 3 steps

Your Networking Plan Step 3 – Stay connected Be in regular contact with people in your network 5 minutes – 3 slides with all 3 steps

Links to your Community Map Who do you need to know? Who controls the resources you want? (money, facilities, knowledge, etc.) Who will support you when you approach Chief and Council? Who can provide you with human resources? Volunteers? 15 minutes total – links to map and prepare a networking strategy

Connections in the Room Let’s take time to exchange contact information and share what we have to offer with people here in the room – this is a good way to expand your network

Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop Leadership Styles Discussion 1 minute

Discussion Highlights Definitions – What makes a leader? Are you a leader? Characteristics of leaders – different styles and approaches Building your strengths as a leader

Draw an Animal A. Think of an animal that best represents your leadership style. Take a few minutes to sketch that animal on p. 9 of your booklet When you’re done, we’re going to discuss which animal you chose and why.

Are You a Leader? B. Do you consider yourself a leader? Why or why not? C. Is there a word other than leader that you would rather use? Why?

Characteristics of a Leader D. What are the beliefs, traditions and practices that exist in your culture and community that help you be a leader? E. What are the beliefs, traditions and practices that exist in your culture and community hinder you from being a leader?

Male and Female Styles F. Do men and women have different leadership styles? Are there traditional roles and ideas about gender that influence leadership?

Ways to Lead G. What are some of the different ways to be a leader? How do we use power and information? Formal vs informal leadership Ways that fit with our culture and traditions

Leaders You Know H. Who do you think is a leader? Here are some examples of prominent Aboriginal women leaders you have probably heard of…

Olympian – Water Polo Team Co-Captain, 2000 Waneek Horn-Miller Olympian – Water Polo Team Co-Captain, 2000

Olympian – 3000m Bronze Medalist, 1992 Angela Chalmers Olympian – 3000m Bronze Medalist, 1992

Shirley Firth-Larssen 4-time Olympian – cross-country ski

Madam Justice Rose Toodick Boyko First Aboriginal person appointed to superior court Appointed to UN Appeal Tribunal in 2009

Gemini Award Winner – Best Actress Tina Keeper Member of Parliament 2006-2008 Gemini Award Winner – Best Actress

Activist – fought Indian Act gender discrimination Mary Two-Axe Earley Activist – fought Indian Act gender discrimination

Sandra Lovelace Nicholas Senator since 2005 Activist – fought Indian Act gender discrimination

Leaders You Know I. Think of a good leader, someone you would like to emulate. What is it about that person that you admire? What can you learn from the leader that will help you as a leader?

Building Your Leadership Strength J. Think about your own life – What characteristic do you see in yourself that makes you a leader or proud of who you are as a person?

Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop Working Together to Create Change 1 minute

Discussion Highlights Change in your community – what does it look like? Feel like? 2. Advocates – what are they? And who are they? 3. Making positive change in our community – What needs to change, Who is involved, How do we do it?

Feeling Change What does change in your community look like? Feel like? What does “not change” look like? What are the implications of staying the same? Good examples of positive change

Examples of Change Alkali Lake 1972 – a 7 year old told her alcohol addicted parents that she didn’t want to live with them anymore – they quit drinking and one person at a time, transformed the community – in 7 years, 98% were dry Mary Two-Axe Earley – Worked to change the Indian Act so that Aboriginal Women who married non-Aboriginals could maintain their status. This change helped thousands of women and their children.

Examples of Change Jingle Dress – A grandfather acted on a dream that told him how to make a dress that would heal his gravely ill granddaughter

Community Advocates D. What is an advocate? E. Who do you know who is advocate? F. What makes them effective?

Changing Your Mind 6 sheets of paper with 3 groups of letters on each – together, move the papers around to make 3 words We’ll do 5 rounds You have 30 seconds to make your 6 sheets into 3 words

Where to Start? Hold on to what you believe, Even if it's a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, Even if it's a long way from here. - from a Pueblo Indian Prayer In order for change to happen, you must change your mind… Shift from “What is it like now?” to “What is possible?”

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Steps to Change Step 1 - Identify 1 change that you would like to see in your community Step 2 - Record your idea as a title on a flip chart and present it to the group Step 3 – Identify how you can make this change – use post-it notes

Steps to Change 1. What needs to change? Recognize that there is a need to change the current environment. 2. Who is involved? Identify who will help you and who can make this change. 3. How can you move forward? Identify the specific actions that need to happen to bring about lasting change.

Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop Wrap-Up and Closing 1 minute

Committing to Action What actions/changes are needed? What will you do to help move forward?

Building our Network Would there be value in getting together in the future to support each other? Humankind has not woven the web of life We are but one thread within it Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves All things are bound together All things connect - Chief Seattle, 1854

Letter to Yourself Write something you would like to do or try to create positive change Address the envelope to yourself and leave it on the table Your letter will be mailed back to you in a few months

Evaluations Please fill out the evaluation form and leave it face down on the table. Thank you for your feedback!

Aboriginal Women: Building On Our Strengths A Leadership Workshop