Developing Leadership and Resiliency Skills and Understanding in Dakota and Ojibwe At-Risk Adolescent Populations

• In Event: 65.053 - Current Research in Indigenous Education in the Geographic North

Abstract

The Minnesota Indigenous Youth Freedom Project (MIYFP)has been a statewide youth initiative designed to deliver a culturally relevant leadership model supporting the vision of healthy communities where Indigenous youth are empowered to engage in meaningful leadership opportunities. During the project’s third year, 75 youth ages 13-17 from Dakota and Ojibwe communities developed both leadership and resiliency skills. The program engaged learners in Indigenous leadership, and models of resiliency, historical trauma, Indigenous cultures, languages, and community-based application of leadership skills. A longitudinal developmental project evaluation design was developed to provide measurement of the identified learning goals during instructional phases. A reporting system that included both formal and informal continual measures was employed to provide assessment of student learning.

Authors

• Brian D McInnes, University of Minnesota - Duluth

• Julia Maria Williams, University of Minnesota - Duluth