Haudenosaunee Leadership: Values, Knowledge, and Education

• In Event: 16.057 - Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: 16.057-14 - Culturally Responsive Leadership: Leadership That Seeks Social Justice

Abstract

The Haudenosaunee are Indigenous peoples in New York State and parts of Canada, known as: Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora. Haudenosaunee students experience conflict between their traditional cultural beliefs and their American education (Grande, 2004). Using interview data from traditional Haudenosaunee leaders, this study addresses the following questions: What are the traditional Indigenous values within Haudenosaunee communities? In traditional Haudenosaunee communities, how are leaders selected and for what reasons? How do Indigenous knowledge systems inform the leadership in the Haudenosaunee communities? Results suggest that Haudenosaunee leaders are directly influenced by the values spoken in traditional teachings and must manifest those values to become leaders within the community. Implications for faculty, administration and school leaders are discussed.

Authors

• Hugh Burnam, Syracuse University

• Regina Jones, Syracuse University

• George Theoharis, Syracuse University