Indigenous
Women’s
Leadership
Presented by
Jacque Gray, Choctaw & Cherokee Descendant,
Ph.D., LPC
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Society of Indian Psychologists Convention
1
Objectives
Describe History of AI/AN Women in
Leadership
Know who AI/AN Women Leaders Are
Recognize how AI/AN Women Lead
Describe the process of AI/AN
Women’s Leadership
2
AI/AN Women Leaders
3
Historically
Nanyehi (Beloved
Woman;
English Name:
Nancy Ward; 1738-
1822 or 24)
Only woman on
Cherokee Council
Warrior Woman
Had power to spare
captives
Learned to weave,
bought dairy cows &
produced dairy
products
Nanyehi (Nancy Ward)
•
She was a Beloved Woman a title that made her the only woman on the Cherokee
Council. As a Beloved Woman she had the power to spare captives. She exercised this
power with a European colonial woman who later saved her life from injuries in battle,
taught her to weave, and brought two dairy cows and introduced dairy products to the
Cherokee. Nanyehi shared the things she learned with the Cherokee people and
changed much of the Cherokee clothing and diet.
•
Nanyehi advocated for a peaceful co‐existence with the European colonists.
•
She was a warrior woman who lead her people in battle against the Creek.
•
In late life she advocated for retention of tribal lands.
4
Historically
Sacagawea (Sakakawea, Hidatsa) b.1788
Sacagawea as most of us have heard her called, or Sakakawea as the Hidatsa call her was
born in 1788 and is Shoshone from Idaho.
She traveled with her husband, Trusant Charboneau, from present day North Dakota and
the Mandan and Hidatsa winter camp to the Pacific Ocean.
Although she was not credited with leadership, first she was a woman and second she was
American Indian, but without her the expedition would have died.
•
saving many of the expedition and their supplies when the canoes turned over
•
Providing them with indigenous medicines when their own medicines ran out or were
ineffective
•
Translating for them with the Shoshone when they passed through Montana and Idaho
•
Securing horses for them
•
All while she was pregnant or carrying her first child who was born on the trip.
Sacagawea was historically listed as dying in 1812,however; the Shoshone tribe in Wyoming
claim she is buried at Ft. Washakie beside her son Jean Babtiste Charboneau and died in
1884.
I have seen her grave and heard the stories told by the elders of the “Crazy old woman who
told stories of fish bigger than houses.”
5
20th Century History
6
Annie Dodge Wauneka (Navajo)
Nurse during
influenza
pandemic
Had flu when
young & immune
Educated about
TB
First female
member of
Navajo Council
Received
Presidential Medal
of Freedom
She became a nurse caring for patients during an influenza pandemic. She had the flu when
she was young and gained enough antibodies to be immune. Later she traveled door‐to‐
door on the Navajo Nation explaining tuberculosis. She was the first woman member of the
Navajo Nation Council. And she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. The
first Native person to receive it.
7
Elizabeth Peratrovich (Tlingit)
Championed
equal rights for
Alaska Natives
1st in US Anti-
Discrimination
Act of 1945 in
AK
Feb. 16th is
Elizabeth
Peratrovich Day
in AK
She championed equal rights for Alaska Natives. She is credited for persuading lawmakers
to pass the Anti‐Discrimination Act of 1945, the first anti‐discrimination law in the United
States. Every year on Feb. 16, Alaska celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.
8
Minnie Spotted Wolf (1923‐1988)
Blackfoot
Minnie Spotted Wolf, a Blackfoot woman who grew up on her father’s ranch in Montana
working and breaking horses.
In 1943 she became the first American Indian woman to join the Marines. When
interviewed she described boot camp as “hard, but not too hard.”
She was a heavy equipment operator during the war and after her discharge in 1947, she
got her degree in elementary education.
Minnie taught for 29 years. According to her daughter, “she could outride guys into her
early 50s”
9
Lucy Covington (Colville)
Rancher
Turned politician
Lead fight against
termination in 60s
Publisher of a
tribal newspaper:
Our Heritage
She was a rancher‐turned‐politician who led the fight against the failed policy of
termination in the 1960s. Termination was an idea to save money by ending the federal
government’s relationship with tribes. (She would sell a cow to pay her way to
Washington.) One of the tools that she used in this fight: a tribal newspaper. She started
Our Heritage, a newspaper with the mission of informing tribal members about the issues.
She would lead a quiet campaign to quell what she called the “present fever and fervor for
termination.”
10
Helen Peterson
(Cheyenne/Lakota)
Promoted human
rights among farm
workers
Represented US in
1949 Conf. in Peru
Friend of Eleanor
Roosevelt
Lobbiest
Exec. Dir. NCAI
during termination
She was the long‐serving executive director of the National Congress of American
Indians during much of the termination era. But that was her second career. Before
that, she was an expert in Latin America, promoting human rights for farm workers
and other Latin Americans. In 1949 she represented the United States at an
international conference in Peru. She was a friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, who
encouraged her to move to Washington, D.C. “The Indians are their own best
spokesmen, their own best diplomats; but they can exercise these roles effectively
only in proportion to their opportunities to exchange information and to use their
combined strength and concerted voice,” she wrote in an article calling for more
participation by Native people in elections. Her son, Max Peterson, put Helen
Peterson’s career in perspective when she died. “During those times, there were no
women in power, really,” he said in the Denver Post. “Her accomplishments don’t
sound like much now because a lot of women are doing the same things, but back
then, doing those things were a big deal. She went to Washington as a lobbyist.
That was an exclusively male area, and she managed to do a great job on behalf of
Indian legislation and Indian rights.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Peterson
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Social Activist/
Politican from OK
Founder Americans
for Indian
Opportunity
VP candidate for
Citizens Party 1980
Inductee to National
Native American
Hall of Fame (1st
class)
LaDonna Harris (b.1931) Comanche
LaDonna Harris
• is a Comanche Native American social activist and politician from Oklahoma.[1]
• She is the founder and president of Americans for Indian Opportunity.[2]
• Harris was a vice presidential candidate for the Citizens Party in the 1980 United
States presidential election alongside Barry Commoner.
• She was the first Native American woman to run for vice president.[3]
• In 2018, she became one of the inductees in the first induction ceremony held by
the National Native American Hall of Fame.[4]
• She adopted Johnny Depp into her family in 2012 after the movie the Lone
Ranger in the traditional way.
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20th Century Continued
Wilma Mankiller (1945‐2010) Cherokee
Activist in 1960’s
First female Principle Chief of
Cherokee (1985‐1995)
Presidential Medal of
Freedom 1998
13
Elouise P. Cobell (Yellow Bird
Woman; 1945-2011) Blackfeet
Banker, Rancher, Tribal Elder, and Activist
Lead plaintiff in Cobell vs Salazar
2016 Postumus Presidential Medal of Freedom
Elouise Cobell (Yellow Bird Woman) of the Blackfeet tribe was a tribal elder, banker, activist,
rancher, and lead plaintiff in the class action lawsuit Cobell vs. Salazar challenging the
mismanagement of funds of over 500,000 tribal members. The suit was settled with the
U.S. Government for $3.4 billion. In 2016 she received a postumus Presidential Medal of
Freedom from President Barack Obama.
14
Winona Laduke (b. 1959) White
Earth Band of Ojibwe, MN
Activist as HS Principal
VP Candidate 1996 & 2000 for Green Party
Began Indigenous Women’s Network 1985
Became an activist in 1985
when she was a high school
principle
Vice‐Presidential Candidate
for the Green Party in 1996
and 2000 with Ralph Nader
Began the Indigenous
Women’s Network In 1985
Founded White Earth Land
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Recover Project in 1989
Executive Director of Honor
the Earth
Involved with Dakota Access
Pipeline resistance in 2016
15
21st Century Leaders
Deb Haaland (b.) Laguna Pueblo, NM
Congresswoman from New Mexico
Deb Haaland of Laguna Pueblo was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the
State of New Mexico in 2018.
She is one of the first two Native American women elected to Congress.
16
21st Century Leaders
Sharice Davids (b.) Ho Chunk
Congresswoman from Kansas
1st openly LGBTQ Native to serve in Congress
Sharice Davids is a HoChunk woman elected to congress from Kansas.
She is the first Native woman elected to Congress from Kansas and the first Native in a
decade.
She is the first openly LGBTQ Native to serve in Congress.
17
AI/AN Psychology Leaders
18
Carolyn Atteneave
1920‐1992 Delaware Tribe
American Indian Theorist – Networking Theory
Carolyn Atteneave was a Deleware Psychologist
•
She founded networking theory
•
She founded the Network of Indian Psychologists later renamed the Society of Indian
Psychologists
•
She worked to establish Native American Specific Mental Health Treatment
19
Diane J. Willis
Kiowa (b. 1935)
Leader
Advocate
Children’s
Mental Health
•
Diane Willis, worked for 25 years at the Child Study Center in Oklahoma City.
•
She’s been an advocate for child mental health and child protection.
•
Dr. Willis has been a mentor of many Native psychologists and graduate students.
•
She has been President of several divisions of the American Psychological Association
•
She was an advocate with the state legislature for funding of child mental health
programs.
20
Carolyn Barcus
Blackfeet, Bear
Woman
over 30 years of
the SIP
Conference in
Utah.
Mentoring
Carolyn Barcus is known as the elder and home of the Society of Indian Psychologists.
She has hosted the conference for over 30 years at Utah State University and Bear Lake
Carolyn is also known as a mentor for native students and psychologists
She has been an advocate within APA and honored for the diversity work at USU
Psychology Department
21
Billie Jo Kipp
Blackfoot
President of 2
Tribal Colleges
Billie Jo Kipp is a Native Psychologist who has served as President at two tribal colleges.
Blackfeet Community College and California Tribal College
22
Other Psychology Leaders
SIP Presidents
APA Division 45 Presidents
Other Leaders and Advocates
These are a few of the other Native Women Psychologists in leadership.
•
Native women presidents of APA’s Division 45 Society for the psychological study of
culture, race, and ethnicity. Beth Boyd, Teresa LaFromboise, Jacque Gray
Some of the SIP Presidents include Candace Fleming, Dolores Subia Bigfoot, Iva GreyWolf,
Gayle Morse, Teresa LaFromboise, Carolyn Barcus.
Other Leaders and Advocates: Melinda Garcia, Rose Weahkee, others include Margaret
Smith, Denise Newman, Alberta Arviso
There is a larger and stronger generation coming along as early career psychologists and
graduate students.
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Part II
Leadership of
Native Women
24
Patriot vs. Looter
Be a Warrior!
One who gives all for her community.
The warrior willingly gives all that is
hers; the looter takes without
permission what someone else has
earned.
Smith, 2013
25
Tipocconic’s Doctrines
Get our house in order
Challenge Everything
Lead by example
Set roles/responsibilities/
expectations
Function as a team
Role of Executive
Leadership
People are important:
business is common sense
Decision making
Develop the business case
Analyze the financials
Build credibility and trust
Maintain effective
communication
Appearance is important
Set priorities
Recognize and reward
performance, move away
from entitlements
It’s results that count
Inherent risks
Negotiations
Don’t fall in love with an
asset
Training
Smith, 2013
26
Traditional Native Leadership
Change is from Within
Use the Powers of the East
–Direction of new energy
Use the Powers of the South
–Energy for the Day
Use the Powers of the West
–Direction for Letting Go
Use the Powers of the North
–Direction of Wisdom
Coyhis, 2016
Scroll One: Change is from Within
Secret 1: Repeated thinking will make a habit.
“Today, I will practice changing myself, for I know I can’t change anyone else. Each
morning as I prepare to lead the community I will remember that my real power is
in knowing I can change myself.”
Secret 2: I must be the change I wish to see in the community.
If I want to see respect in the community, then I must first become respectful. I
cannot give away something I do not have.
If I get irritated at someone or something, I will realize it’s not because of what’s
going on, but how I’m looking at what’s going on. To find the point of view I need, I
will practice looking inside for the innate knowledge. There are two viewpoints for
everything, the viewpoint of the Mouse and the viewpoint of the Eagle. Today I will
see that other people also have valid views.
Each morning I will plan the development of my character. I will look inside myself
for the knowledge of what I can become. I will develop my being and voice my
intent. I will pray saying, “My Creator, you have chosen me to lead my people. Today
I need your help. Left on my own, I will struggle, but with the guidance of the
spiritual world, I will grow and develop myself into a leader for the future. With the
Creator’s help, I can develop into a spiritual leader. O Great Spirit, teach me to
change myself. Give me the tools to look within because that is where the answers
are.
27
You have written inside me all the leadership principles I need know. Today, if I become
stubborn or angry, teach me to pause before I speak, for my words have power, like
throwing a spear. My words can hurt people or my words can heal people. Today I
ask you to direct my thinking. If I become confused, let me look within, to the place
where you wait for me to come to you for advice.”
The only way I can lead my community back to wellness is if I am well myself. I
cannot give away what I don’t have. Today I make myself available to change. I want
to be an effective leader. I choose to ask for your help.
Only as I change myself can I develop as an effective leader of Indigenous people. My
future is in your hands. I humbly ask for your help!
Scroll Two: Use the Powers of the East: The Direction of New Energy
I will use the powers of the East each morning. I will rise early to access the power
for this is the best time. These are the powers that start the birds singing. These are
the powers that wake up the flowers. This is the direction from which flows new
energy. This direction holds the power of creativity. I will close my eyes and focus on
my blessings. Today, I can see. Today, I can hear. Today, I can smell. I can walk.
Today I intend to be happy. Today I will have peace of mind. Today I will sing. Today
is my day for lessons. Today I will live as if it is my last day. Today I will live in the
present. I will not cloud my mind with future thoughts. I will rid my mind of any
thoughts of the past. Today is the only time that changes can be made. I cannot
change the future; I cannot alter the past.
I look forward with great expectations. This morning I take the hand of the Creator
and walk through the day with confidence, for I know the Creator is with me. This
morning I ask the Creator to guide my thinking and remove from me any
dishonesty, self‐pity, and self‐seeking motives.
Today I am proud to be Indigenous. I walk in leadership like the ancestors did. They
got up early each morning to greet the day and receive the powers from the sun.
They set their intent and sent out morning thoughts for all the people. They prayed
for their community. They considered it an honor to serve the people. This will
become my habit. I will practice this today and every day until I do it naturally. I love
my people.
Scroll Three: Use the Powers of the South‐ The Direction of the Sun
The South holds the powers for use during the day. During the time of the third
moon, saying this four times a day will add to the power that the ancient ones knew.
Remember, repetition is the mother of change. Say this to yourself.
“As I proceed through the day, I will encounter setbacks, conflicts, problems, and
challenges. As a leader I need to understand these conflicts are my friends. They are
my keys to growth. During the day, all of nature is going through conflict. If a seed is
27
planted in the ground, the shell of the seed is trying to crack open and the white
young roots are fighting their way through the soil. The stem is struggling to get to
the surface of the earth. Eventually, with the power of persistence, the stem breaks
through the soil. So it is through a system of conflict that this seed becomes a
blooming flower. The natural law says that for anything to grow it must first struggle
to do so. Inside of every conflict is the solution. Conflict precedes clarity. My new
way is to make the conflict my friend. Today I will embrace the conflict because it is
my friend. I know the solution is inside the conflict. As a good leader I will attract the
conflict, for that is what leaders do. We solve and resolve conflict. I will also make
every setback my friend, for I know every setback is only temporary. I will develop
tenacity. If I encounter a setback. I will go around it, through it, over it, or under it. I
need this attitude in order to lead the people.
The powers of the South will help me do this. The Creator is always with me. I can call
on his power and wisdom. Today I will be a spiritual thinker. Today I will practice and
develop the thinking skills of my ancestors. They chose to be spiritual leaders,
therefore, I will use the same powers to develop myself. I will use the powers of the
South. Today I am a positive thinker. I will create myself a good mind. When I am
presented with conflict, I will look inside before I speak. I will realize conflict is my
guidance system. I need this input to lead my people to wellness.”
Scroll Four:
Use the Powers of the West – The Direction of Letting Go
The Direction of the West is where the sun sets. This is the direction of letting go,
the direction of forgiveness and the direction of examining how the day went. Each
evening I have the choice of being free. In order to be a servant leader, I must be
free of resentments. Resentment is poison to my very soul. Carrying resentment
against another person is like taking poison and hoping the other person will die.
Resentment blocks the powers of the Creator.
I realize I must forgive, even the unforgiveable. And I especially need to forgive
myself.
I cannot be a servant leader if I am full of resentment. Therefore, each evening I will
examine myself. Did I hold any resentments today? Was I selfish today? Was I
dishonest or deceitful? Did I act or react from fear? Was I thinking about the people
first? Was I kind and considerate to all? Do I owe anyone an apology?
I will consider these questions and answer them so I don’t have any blockage to the
power. After I think about the day, if I do owe someone an apology, I will contact
them immediately and let them know I was wrong. When I do this evening review, I
will face the West because this is the direction of letting go. Just as the sun sets, the
world around me starts to shut down. The birds tuck their heads under their wings,
the wind quiets down and the eagle returns to its nest. This is the time to clear my
mind of what happened today. Now it is past.
27
Also, I will review what I did right today. I will remember the times of confusion and
how I secretly asked the Creator for guidance. In this way, I will prepare my mind for a
peaceful rest. I will allow the powers of the West to draw what is negative from my
mind and return it to peace. I pray that the Creator will forgive my wrongs and that
while I sleep He will feed my mind the corrections I need to make. Then I will start
the next day as a better leader.
I will look at the bigger picture. I will realize many of my people have been wounded
by alcohol and abuse. If I’m attacked, I won’t take it personally. I know attacks are
not so much about me, but more about someone’s unresolved issues—something
that happened when they were a child, or a hurt that never healed. When people
need love most is when they deserve it the least. I will practice being loving.
I will use these spiritual tools until they become natural parts of my being. Each
night, I will be free from things I missed during the day. If I carry my own hurts day
after day, I will lose my effectiveness. I will keep my mind clear just as my ancestors
did. Each night I will let go and be free. Each night I will fall asleep in the arms of
the Creator.
Scroll Five:
Use the Powers of the North – The Direction of Wisdom
Today I call on the powers of the North. This is the direction of the Elders and the
source of wisdom. Just because I am called a leader doesn’t mean I always know the
way. No person can grow without the help of other people and the help of the elders.
When I feel weak or lost, I will face the North and pray for wisdom. When I feel
afraid, I will pray to the North and ask for wisdom. When I feel alone, I will face the
North and ask for guidance. The spirits send their powers from the North.
It is said that the person who has wisdom, has everything. By praying to the North
each day, I will grow in wisdom so as to help the people. Today I make it my goal to
be a wise leader just like my ancestors. The ancestors who were effective leaders
always became so with prayer. Today, I will learn to depend on the Creator as my
advisor. By doing this, my decision and insight will be good and fair. I will practice
getting the wisdom from the North.
The Elders say pray to the four directions. They say there are powers that will come
and help us. From the four directions I will receive the spiritual tools of the old ways.
To the North I will say, “I come before you a humble person, realizing I know nothing. I
come before you in a pitiful way. My head, without my heart, is my enemy. I need your
strength and wisdom. I need your power to direct my thinking. Make me strong so I
can face my people without shame. Let me stand before you, open to receive the
wisdom.”
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Traditional Native Leadership
Interconnectedness
–We are all related
The Power of Spirituality
–Sober, culture focused, traditional values
Decisions are for the People First
–Good of people>clan>family>self
Conflict Precedes Clarity
–Other perspectives for clearer view
Use the Values Given by Mother Earth
Coyhis, 2016
Scroll Six:
Interconnectedness – We Are All Related
Today, I will remember we are interconnected. I will remember that even though I
have the title of leader, I am of the same worth as everyone else. Everything on
the Mother Earth is connected. The Earth is my mother. All the two‐leggeds are
my relations. The sun is my father. Every community member is my relative. Every
Indigenous child is my child. Every Indigenous woman is my sister. Every
Indigenous many is my brother. I will remember this, too, so I treat each one as a
relative. They are important. If they are unemployed, I will listen. If they have
problems with alcohol, I will listen. If I’m approached by a single parent, I will listen.
If the one talking to me is a teenager, I will listen, for this is my child. Today, I will
not ignore anyone. Whenever they speak to me, I will give them my full attention.
I will think of how we are connected. This is the way of my ancestors. I will
remember that the pain of one is the pain of all, and the honor of one is the honor
of all. When I sit in a meeting and hear about problems, I will think of my connected
ness to the whole community.
The white man has taught us to think in boxes, lies of separation and division. I will
take the organization chart as it is today, turn it upside down and put the people on
top and the leadership at the bottom. I will not pay attention to the boxes and the
lines of separation in the organization chart. I will realize that in the spiritual way,
everything is interconnected. I will remember that every choice or decision I make
has an effect on everyone. Now I will think in circles and remember the invisible
28
webs that connect everything. I will remember everything is alive. I will look at our
schools, mental health agencies, tribal administrations, churches, youth groups,
Elders and other agencies as being interconnected instead of using power and
control, I will lead by service. I will think interconnectedness. Nature is
interconnected. Communities are interconnected. Today I will see
interconnectedness in all things. As an Indigenous leader, I will recognize our
interconnectedness: that is where our power lives.
Scroll Seven: The Power of Spirituality
First, if I am to be spiritual, I must be sober. My body must be free of mind‐
changers. Every culture is given a gift and every gift has an enemy. The gift given to
Indigenous people is spirituality and the enemy of spirituality is alcohol. Even one
drink has an effect on the gift. People of other cultures seem to be able to drink and
it has no effect on them. They can drink because they have different gifts and
different enemies. The Indigenous people are not allowed to drink. Our gift, which
will help the world, is our spirituality. Therefore, we must sacrifice the drink.
My effectiveness as a leader in my community is related to my spiritual
development. Therefore, I need to understand the power of prayer. Every meeting
will begin with prayer. The most important thing I can do during the course of the
day is to begin it with prayer. We are spiritual people. We have access to spiritual
laws and spiritual values. These are the only weapons that will save Indigenous
communities. We need to restore the traditional ways and do ceremonies, so I will
learn the ceremonies myself. We need to dance, so I will learn the dances myself. I
will respect my own spirituality and will not judge the spirituality of others. All
paths lead to the Creator. When the young people see me doing these things they
will recognized the good ways and take them up. I will lead by example.
Scroll Eight: Decisions are for the People First
Decisions are made for the good of the people first, for the good of the clan second,
for the good of the family third, and for the good of self fourth. A servant leader
puts the people ahead of him or herself. The people or nation are the first priority.
The ancient leaders’ consideration was for the people first. They did not lead by
bossing people around, controlling, or using power over them. They led by service.
The were there to serve the people. When a decision was to be made, they gathered
the people and discussed the situation. They did not make decisions that would best
serve their clan or family. Decisions were made for the good of the whole tribe. The
communities were interdependent. The leaders did not make decisions to benefit
themselves. They made decisions for the good of the community.
As a leader of Indigenous people, I too will make decisions for the good of the tribe. I
will select the best qualified members for tribal jobs. I will select the best leaders,
who will also make decisions for the good of the community. I will listen to all the
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people and make decisions that will benefit everyone. If I get confused. I will pray to
the Great Spirit for guidance.
“Oh Great Spirit, help me to see the best way to decide so that the whole community
will benefit. Let me not be influenced by selfish or self‐seeking motives. Help me to
make good choices and decisions for the people first.”
Scroll Nine:
Conflict Precedes Clarity
When the Creator made the universe, he left it to be run by a set of principles, laws
and values. The Mother Earth is governed by those same principles, laws, and values.
If we live in harmony with those laws, there are certain results that will occur. If we
live out of harmony, the natural laws will let us experience the consequences.
Today I will learn that conflict is the friend of the servant leader. Conflict is what will
guide me as the leader. When people complain, I will realize they are really telling
me something is out of harmony. The natural laws are about harmony. Inside the
seed of conflict is the harmony that I see to solve the problem. I will not avoid
conflict; I will embrace it for the solution is within it.
The natural laws say that when anything grows or changes, it must go through
conflict to do so. During times of conflict I will be the one who is calm.
The circle defines harmony. Surrounding the Circle is a field of conflict. As long as
the Circle stays a Circle there is harmony. If any part of the circle goes out of
harmony, it triggers conflict. Conflict will trigger our emotions as some form of stress,
anxiety, or tension. This will be my secret to recognize conflict as a friend. When
conflict occurs, I will use the powers of the four directions to help me find the
answer.
Scroll Ten:
Use the Values Given by Mother Earth: Respect, Honesty, Integrity,
Commitment, Understanding, Trust, Love, Communication
The source of the values is Mother Earth. Love is at the center of the circle and the
lines show the values that are aligned with love. These are the values that
Indigenous leadership should use. This symbol shows how values connect us to the
Earth. By living the values, we will establish harmony on the Earth and harmony in
our communities. That is why it’s important to be a value‐based leader. Living the
values that are given by the Earth will also allow us to become effective in our
relationships. The core values of the Earth are respect, honesty, integrity,
commitment, understanding, trust, love, and communication.
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Values Given by Mother Earth
Respect
– relations, points of view, differences
Honesty
– Attracts respect; fear>dishonesty
Integrity
– Balance, good character, reputation
Commitment‐ word is good; balance
Understanding – circle perspective
Trust –presence, keep my word
Love
– Power of all values is love; others, myself,
decision & law
I will develop a code to guide my life and help me through conflicts. I will build all
my relationships upon this code. When I conduct meetings I will state this code at
the beginning. I will be known for living by this code. I will develop myself so
strongly that I won’t have to tell anyone I am doing this, for the people will know by
my actions. I will pray each morning for the Great Spirit to give me knowledge of
this way of life so I can live by the values of Mother Earth.
Respect
I am respectful to all my relations. I realize everyone has a point of view. It’s by
differences that we are strong. I will honor those differences. I realize every circle
has an East, a West, a North and a South. Each point on the circle has an opposite;
that is what makes the circle strong. I will respect myself, both my strengths and
my weaknesses, for through my weaknesses I learn the lessons of wisdom and the
knowledge of the Great Spirit. My weakness will cause conflict, and my faults are
my friends, not my enemies. I will accept my weaknesses for they are also God’s
gift. The natural way to learn is through trial and error. This is how I will improve.
I will respect Mother Earth, for She is the source of life. I will watch her, for Her
knowledge is greater than any book I can read. I only need to spend time with her
and watch and listen. She is the greatest teacher. When I am troubled, I will go and
sit in the woods, by the water, in the desert, in the mountains. These are the
places I will go to learn. In order to be respected, I must first be respectful.
Honesty
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A leader who is honest will always attract respect from others. It’s only when I feel
fear that I will be dishonest. All fear fits in two categories: either I’m going to lose
something I have or I won’t get something I want. I need to remember the Creator
owns everything. The things I have are only give to me to take care of. Today I will be
honest. In this way, I will be able to look with straight eyes and I will hold my head up
with honor. I will not have hidden agendas and I will play no more games.
Integrity
I will strive for balance as a servant leader so I will be known as a person of good
character in all that I do. My reputation serves the People. I’ll cultivate consistency
and truthfulness in my dealings with individuals, the community, and with
organization’s name. Although leadership responsibilities can be demanding, I will
place reliability and keeping promises high on my list of priorities. To have integrity
means to be whole. I will be known as an Indigenous man or woman of honor in my
personal life as well as in leadership.
Commitment
My word is good. If I say it, you can count on it. I will watch my commitments so I
stay in balance. I am of no use to the people if I am out of balance. I will be a leader
whose word is good. I will pay attention to the little things, for it is by making my
word good in little things that I will develop my new habits. People like to work with
leaders who pay attention to the little things. I will say what I will do and I will do
what I say I will do. This was the reputation of my ancestors and this will be the
reputation I will have. My words will also be good for me. I will eliminate shoulda,
coulda, woulda, from my vocabulary. I will not be a wisher. I will not spend my
mental energy wishing. If I catch myself doing so, I will halt this conversation, and ask
myself, “How good is your word? Are you saying things to yourself that are wasting
energy?” Today, I will make my word good to myself. If I say it to myself then I will act
on it.
Understanding
The Old Ones say, think like a Circle. Every Circle has an East‐West‐North‐South.
People who are standing in the East will not see the same thing as people who are
standing in the West. People who are standing in the North will not see the same
thing as people who are standing in the South. People see things and feel things
differently. To appreciate this, I need to have understanding. This doesn’t mean I nod
my head; it means that I really understand. I need to place myself in their part of the
circle to see it as they do. If an elder explains something to me, I need to see it from
an Elder’s point of view. If a youth explains something to me, I need to see it from
the youth’s point of view. If a mom explains something to me, I need to see it from
her point of view. If I do this, I will gain understanding. When I understand, I will
gain respect and trust. I will be an understanding leader. This value will help me be
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an effective leader.
Trust
Of all the values I can develop within myself, trust will give me the greatest
advantage. I will be someone the people can trust. How do I do this? When I am
with people, I will be attentive to them. When they are speaking, I will not let my
mind be somewhere else. I will realize they are my relatives. I will not gossip about
them or repeat something they told me in confidence. When I give my word, I will
keep it. Sometimes I will need to tell them something they don’t want to hear, but I
will speak truthfully. I will make my commitments good. If I say I will be there, I will
not only be there, but I will be there on time. Each morning I will pray to the Creator
to help me develop myself in the areas of trust. Leadership is based on trust.
Love
The power behind all values is love. Respect, commitment, honesty and trust are
just other names for love. If I have love within myself, I will see love when I look at
others. If I have hate inside myself, I will see hate when I look at others. It is said, love
thy neighbor as thyself, and that’s the problem, most of us do. I not only need to
love others, but I need to love myself. Love is a decision. Love is a law. Love is. Love
isn’t something I can give away or get. It’s a power that I need to use. The love force
is already there. Like gravity, it’s already there, I just need to use it. I need to
become a loving leader.
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Indigenous Women’s Leadership
Indigenous vs Euro‐American
Leadership
–Must be holistic because communities
are
• Small
• Value interconnectedness
• Work on a wide variety of issues
–Must accommodate both tribal values
and Euro‐American systems
Indigenous vs Euro‐American Leadership
Indigenous leaders need to know both their own community (values and
history) and Euro‐American community because they must function in both
societies.
Indigenous leaders need to be holistic because Indigenous communities are
small
value interconnectedness
work on a wide variety of issues
Indigenous leaders belong to communal societies that must accommodate
both tribal values and Euro‐American systems with both Indigenous and
non‐Indigenous coexist.
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Indigenous Women’s Leadership
Consultative
Participatory
Focused on the People
Develop Consensus
Seven Generations
Servant Leaders
Indigenous women leaders
Consultative ‐Indigenous women like to gain multiple perspectives in their
decision making. They are open to those opposed to their position to gain a
better understanding of their perspective and include it in the decision
making.
Participatory –Indigenous women’s leadership is participatory in that they
bring together teams and multiple stakeholders in their leadership.
Focused on the People – The people come first. Decisions are made for the
good of the people. Think of the best for the people for the next seven
generations.
Develop Consensus It is important to listen to all perspectives and then to
build consensus for the final decision
Seven Generations – View all decision as to their impact for the next seven
generations.
Servant Leaders – Women leaders tend to be servants. While hearing other
opinions they may be cooking meals, helping in any way that is needed,
doing what needs to be done because that is what a leader does.
The Thirteen Grandmothers
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The more humble you are,
the greater leader you are.
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Council of the 13 Grandmothers
The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers from
around the world organized to uphold
indigenous practices and ceremonies and
affirm the right to use plant medicines free
of legal restriction.
Spiritual leaders
Activists
Leaders
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Wado!
With Thanks
to all of my
Elders & Teachers
and the Wisdom
They have passed on to
All of us
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For More Information
Contact:
Jacque Gray, PhD
Website: http://ruralhealth.und.edu
E‐mail: jacqueline.gray@und.edu
Phone:
(701)777‐0582
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