Eileen Alma, Director, Centre for Women’s Leadership, Coady Institute, St. Francis Xavier University
Karri-Lynn Paul, Program Lead, Indigenous Programs, Coady Institute, St. Francis Xavier University
In November 2019, Coady fulfilled a commitment to Indigenous women leaders to hold a graduate-led Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) Gathering. Since 2011, the IWCL program has already benefited more than 150 emerging Indigenous women leaders from First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. It is the only program in the country for Indigenous women that provides the opportunity to undertake community analysis and to stimulate community-driven development initiatives during their learning period, as well as receive one-on-one Indigenous leadership mentoring.
The Gathering re-affirmed the importance of Coady’s programming in support of Indigenous women and focused on the key successes graduates have had as community leaders, highlighting the concept of asset-based community development. This session will share some of the learning about what went into the planning of the Gathering, important lessons learned and outcomes. In particular, the session will elaborate on how the Gathering has helped to shape the Institute’s expected graduate connections moving forward in ways that further reconciliation and partnership, focusing on the concept of abundance for all.