Acimowina: Indigenous Women Leaders Telling Stories

ABSTRACT\nThis dissertation explored the role of mentoring in Indigenous women’s leadership in education. This abstract introduces the problem of practise, the purpose of the study, research methods used, findings and conclusion.\nProblem of Practice: While Indigenous women have increasingly accessed educational opportunities and leadership positions, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles. The consequence of this slow growth is the lack of role models to mentor Indigenous women along their leadership journey. The problem of practice I sought to explore was how mentoring had contributed to Indigenous women’s growth as leaders. \nPurpose of Study: The purpose of this study was to establish the role of mentorship in the grow of Indigenous women leaders. I conducted this inquiry through engaging in conversations with Indigenous women who have held leadership roles in education administration. The larger inquiry question that guided this study was: How have culture, community, opportunities or challenges, and mentorship supported Indigenous women in their leadership roles? Additional guiding sub questions included:\n§ How had culture and community informed their roles as Indigenous woman leaders?\n§ How had opportunities or challenges impacted their leadership journey?\n§ How had mentorship influenced their leadership journey?\n§ What insights did these Indigenous leaders hope to leave to other Indigenous women in order that other might realize their leadership potential?\nMethods: This study used qualitative approaches to gather rich descriptions of Indigenous women’s stories about their leadership experiences and the role that mentorship had played in their journeys. The study was conducted using methods found within storytelling methodology including conversations within a Kiyokewin (visiting) practise guided by semi-structured interview questions. This method was chosen for its alignment with Indigenous research paradigm and practice. This approach embraced the importance of relationality (Wahkohtowin) as a key practice in Indigenous research and in Kiyokewin. The study involved five participants (who have been educators) and who had lived in Treaty 4, 6, and 7 areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of participants. \nFindings: Indigenous women leaders are an understudied group; it is anticipated that the findings will move knowledge forward by discussing the importance of mentoring to leader growth and retention. \nConclusion: Indigenous women were influenced by family matriarchs—mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunties—as mentors and supporters in their leadership journeys. \nPractice Implications of Inquiry: The study findings contributed to knowledge on Indigenous women in leadership and the role of mentoring to support leadership.

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