Protecting the sacred cycle: Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni and leadership
Date
2017-03-30
Authors
Thomas, Qwul'sih'yah'maht Robina Anne
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Abstract
Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni (Indigenous Women) have, since time immemorial, played
critical leadership roles in Indigenous communities. However, with the imposition of
racist/sexist colonial policies, indigenous women’s roles were systematically displaced.
As a result of these policies, which formalized colonial governance systems, the vital
informal leadership roles the Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni play rarely get recognized. This
dissertation strives to honour (or stand up) the women in our communities who continue
to embrace their important roles as givers of life and carriers of culture. Through
storytelling as a methodology, new ways of Indigenous women’s leadership are revealed.
I interviewed thirteen women from various Hul’qumi’num communities on Vancouver
Island and the Mainland, asking them to share their thoughts on leadership. What
emerged from the interviews was the importance of living our cultural and traditional
teachings. This central theme emphasized the importance of keeping the past, present and
future connected. Every one of the women discussed the importance of our teachings and
the necessity to bring those forward for the future generations. What emerged was a
model that I have coined Sacred Cycle, a model that focuses on living our values. More
importantly, the Sacred Cycle can be used as a valuable tool to resolve governance
problems and as a tool of decolonization.
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Keywords
Indigenous women, Leadership