In March over 150 community members participated in the Leadership Forums hosted by Frontiers Foundation. The OKIMA Leadership Forums provided the community with access to individual members and organizations they would not normally work with and was a beginning to learning how to work together in partnership to address community needs. The participants were eager to work together to explore new ways of working together from a common thread: from a cultural framework. This community approach to working together was successful and in the future should have government representatives actively participating in the workshops, learning and working together in mutual partnership building.

The Morning Star River Drummers, Singers and Dancers shared a special honouring song and spoke about the healing power of the Jingle Dress.

Participant statements:

"This was an excellent workshop series because it was an exercise in the true spirit of community development. It reinforced and validated the principles and values of Anishnawbe governance systems."

"This series was motivating and inspiring to realize that, yes, it is possible in an urban environment for our institutions to be structured and managed in a way that does not compromise the Anishnawbe way of being."

"The series provided a sense of direction and an understanding of respect in the context of leadership through kindness."

"Would like to see more workshops especially designed for youth living and growing in an urban environment."

"Leadership is understood through business concepts and it was enlightening to know and learn that there are base leadership skills that can be used in today's world."

This initiative should continue because it provides a forum for the community to come together to further learn about our culture. It also provide a means for developing future strategies for our institutions that reflect and are in harmony with our own value system.

The HRSDC, through the OKIMA Leadership Forums has provided a crucial starting place for the aboriginal community to work together to enhance strategic planning and community development for the future.

Through funding the OKIMA Leadership Forums, the HRSDC has proven to be on the cutting edge of community development paving the way for innovative approaches to working together in the urban environment.

Photo: Right to Left; Okima Leadership facilitators Jim Dumont and Shelley Charles with Frontiers Foundation Executive Director Marco A. Guzman at Amik Community Room.