Oyate Leadership Network (OLN)
Rooted in Indigenous lifeways, thriving in relationship with self, community, and land.
Indigenous Leadership
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.
Goals | Purpose
- Develop mental strengths and abilities through facilitated experiences and applying traditional ways of knowing.
- Foster active participation in independent and reciprocal relationships through skill-building and communication exercises.
- Instill a sense of belonging and good-naturedness through community-building and empathy-focused initiatives.
- Provide opportunities for sustaining healing and growth through ongoing support and resources.
Oyate Voices
“See me as transformed.”
“It feels like family, that’s what you’re creating with the Oyate Leadership Network.”
“Being here today shows me I’m not alone.”
“Each session has been an important part of my mental well-being and it’s awesome to connect with other Native Professionals.”
“I’m grateful, in my life, I can now say, I accept ALL OF ME, I feel loved by my native people, and I know who I truly am. . . !! Thank you so much Tiwahe Foundation. As I continue [to] grow in remembering who I am and understanding my culture’s heartbeat, I will carry with me the 7 Grandfathers Teachings and live the good life with unending zoongide’iwin.”
“This experience was fabulous. I’ve incorporated so much into my work and my life that I learned as a participant.”
Indigenous Leadership Defined at Tiwahe:
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.
Summer-Fall Cohort
What to Expect After You Apply for the Oyate Leadership Network
- Confirmation: You’ll see a “Thank You” message confirming your submission in your browser.
- Application Review: We’ll begin reviewing all applications after the May 24th deadline. Please allow time for us to carefully consider each submission.
- Follow-Up: Once the review process is complete, we’ll reach out to all applicants with next steps by EOD June 9th via email.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you as we work together to support Indigenous leadership!
#OyateLeadershipNetwork #IndigenousLeadership #IndigenousPhilanthropy
Inquiries: [email protected].
Applications: Are now closed and under review. If you applied, please expect communication by EOD June 9th via email.
Eligibility: Must be MN resident and alumni of AIFEP and/or OLN (past iterations of the network/cohorts).
Paid to Participate, Supported Throughout: As a gesture of respect for your time, commitment, and leadership, financial support is provided. If you have any questions about the level of support, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].
What You’ll Experience:
- Cultural Embodiment: Engage with traditional ways of knowing and stay grounded in Indigenous lifeways.
- Skill Development: Refine your skills through immersive learning experiences.
- Community Building: Be in relationship with yourself, others, and the land while connecting with fellow alumni and our LinkingLeaders partnership network consisting of, Native, African American, Latine, and Asian communities.
OLN 2025 Summer-Fall Cohort Dates | In-person:
- July 12–13
- August 9–10
- September 6–7
- October 11–12
- November 8–9
- Saturdays – 9:30-4:30
- Sundays – 8:30-12:30
Save the Dates! All cohort members should plan to arrive on Friday (July 11, August 8, September 5, October 10, and November 7) and stay through Sunday. We have reserved lodging for both Friday and Saturday nights near our site location, where our cohort experiences will take place. Check-in will be Friday afternoon, and check-out will be Sunday morning before our Sunday sessions.
We ask that all participants plan to stay overnight to be fully present—mentally, emotionally, and physically—for the duration of the weekend. This also allows cohort members to build on their connections outside of the sessions. We recognize that some local members may live nearby and prefer to return home overnight, and we’re open to discussing this if you are selected to participate.
All gatherings will be held in Minnesota, with a focus on the Twin Cities Metro area. Cohort members will receive mileage reimbursement and lodging accommodations.
Applications Now Closed
Reach out to get involved
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:
- LeMoine LaPointe, Sicangu Lakota
- Susan Ninham, Red Lake Ojibwe
- Linda Eagle Speaker, Blackfoot Confederacy
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.
IAC
As a member of our advisory council, they contribute to shaping our Indigenous Leadership programming via OLN by:
- Sharing insights, perspectives, & recommendations on community issues.
- Helping us meet the needs of our diverse communities.
- Providing opportunities for connection across generations, including elders, adults, & youth from high school to college.
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.
OLN Indigenous Change Theory
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.
OLN Knowledge Seeding – Conferences | Panels | Professional Trainings
- Dakota/Ojibwe Language Symposium
- Native Americans in Philanthropy Conference
- Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations Conference
- Minnesota Evaluation Association Panel – Indigenous Evaluation
More to come…
Join us in embodying our cultural lifeways!
OLN 2025 Summer-Fall Cohort - Applications are now closed
2025 OLN Applications are now closed and under review. If you applied, please expect communication by June 9th.
OLN 2024 Summer-Fall Cohort Members
- Alesha Goodwin
- Jessica Ahlers
- Kari Tribble
- Naida Medicine Crow
- Nicholas DeShaw
- Nomi Badboy
- Rachael RL Norris
- Serene Eidem
- Summer Sky Cohen
- Travis Bush
OLN Pilot Round Participants
- Amalia Galvan
- Angela Vig
- Derek Nicholas
- Kari Tribble
- Keith Clark
- Lesley Crowghost
- Meeg-wun Desjarlait
- Nomi Badboy
- Tara Perron
- Warren Mountain
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].
