Through OLN we welcome our Native relatives into programming and learning communities that emphasize traditional ways of knowing as a guide for navigating the world and shaping our leadership identities. At Tiwahe Foundation, we believe these lifeways and skills can be developed. Our facilitated experiences grow and refine skills while exploring the integration of Native values.
Oyate Voices
Indigenous Leadership is the learned application of a dynamic worldview that values reciprocal, mutualistic relationships and traditional ways of knowing as critical tools, wisdom, and knowledge for personal, professional, and community decision-making.
Indigenous Leadership means uplifting the strengths and gifts of each person’s spirit to be confident in their abilities to self-actualize and be in community together walking in a good way with all our relatives in creation on the pathways of life.
Eligibility: Must be MN resident and alumni of AIFEP and/or OLN (past iterations of the network/cohorts).
What You’ll Experience:
OLN 2025 Summer-Fall Cohort Dates | In-person:
Submit your application today! Applications open March 20 – May 24. We’ve made it quick and easy, but we hope you’ll take the time to provide thoughtful responses. Your insights help shape the experience for you and the cohort!
Save the Dates! All cohort members should plan to arrive on Friday (July 11, August 8, September 5, October 10, and November 7) at the provided lodging. Experiences will take place in Minnesota, primarily in the Twin Cities Metro. Cohort members will receive mileage reimbursement and lodging accommodations.
Influencers & Collaborators
Our community-influenced programming has been shaped by:
Input from lived experience, and years of community conversations, program piloting, evaluation, surveys, Marnita’s Table Training, Ayo’s Somatics group learning, as well as Tiwahe’s OLN collaborators:
Along with Tiwahe Foundations Wisdom Council and the Board of Directors. Additionally, our Intergenerational Advisory Council (IAC), comprising Native elders, adults, and youth from diverse Tribal backgrounds across Minnesota, share their insights, perspectives, and recommendations on how to strengthen the value of OLN to our community members across the state.With great respect, we lift up a special miigwech | pidamáyaye | thank you, to all past staff and community who have collaborated on OLN.
As a member of our advisory council, they contribute to shaping our Indigenous Leadership programming via OLN by:
Indigenous Evaluation
Through the presence of an in-room Indigenous evaluator—Nicole Martin Rogers of Advance Consulting—along with digital surveys, measurable indicators like show-of-hands responses, our custom Indigenous evaluation rubric, and insights from our Intergenerational Advisory Council, we continuously seek feedback, observe, and refine our OLN content and its delivery.
Connecting Indigenous peoples to our cultures, values, and languages fosters transformative wellness that ripples throughout family and community circles. The Oyate Leadership Network facilitates experiential learning communities that reveal how actively caretaking cultural teachings moves cultural knowledge from “what we know” to how we live, ensuring that Indigenous values guide our actions, decisions, and leadership styles. OLN provides a facilitated space, including real life and virtual platforms, for Indigenous leaders to learn and practice their leadership skills and hone their understanding of cultural teachings related to values and leadership. These connections empower each member to contribute to our communities’ health and vitality. Cultural knowledge is built and shared over time through community care. We honor our interconnection and power to restore traditional pathways of knowledge for future generations.
By cultivating a dynamic network of Indigenous leaders who embody our traditional values, OLN seeds a future where our communities are vibrant and equitable, and are recognized as essential voices in the global dialogue on wellbeing, connectedness, and leadership.
Growing our Impact
We’re committed to evolving our pathways for ongoing growth and opportunity, such as an exciting new project – a digital learning management system with the help of the Minnesota Humanities Center.
More to come…
OLN 2024 Summer-Fall Cohort Members
OLN Pilot Round Participants
Ready to make an impact? Your Voice Matters! We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in learning more, joining a future learning session, or helping uplift Indigenous leadership in Minnesota. Connect with us at: [email protected].
Copyright © 2021 Tiwahe Foundation
332 Minnesota St., Suite W1520, Saint Paul, MN 55101
612-722-0999
Sign up to our newsletter for program updates, AIFEP stories, community events, and resources for our people.