Creating an Indigenous Community Leadership Studies Curriculum

• In Event: 31.067 - Indigenizing the Doctoral Process to Reclaim Higher Education for Our Communities

Abstract

Leadership in Indigenous communities has been under assault since th2e colonization of “Turtle Island”. Historically, Indigenous communitieshad complex systems for governance that harnessed vital leadership traits in the development of societal systems that allowed Indigenous people to survive and prosper before colonization. The Chippewa-Cree Tribe in Rocky Boy, Montana, will need to identify and harness the ancestors’ leadership traits in order to make transformational change within the tribe and for their benefit of tribal members and the community. A Chippewa-Cree created leadership curriculum for its people and community will allow the tribe to develop long-term goals with systems that can support and sustain the change that is articulated within the tribe’s vision. To begin, I start with a short personal narrative that explains my path and connection to my community.The curriculum will be the product of the tribe’s dreams and goals for its people and community. From there, I go on to describe how the curriculum will be formed through the development of a clear vision. This will lead to the articulation of the system of delivery. Thenin order to ensure the path is visible, there will be an exploration through a thorough development of leadership philosophy and mission for the curriculum. Lastly, the development of communal norms for the curriculum will be envisioned. Through this process, the Chippewa-Cree Leadership Curriculum, will come to fruition.

Author

• Zane Rosette