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Program Information
Indigenous Leadership at Banff Centre 2017, photo by Chris Amat.
Overview
Honoring the work of the Banff Centre Truth and Reconciliation Summit and the evolution of the Truth and Reconciliation through Right Relations Program, we will ignite through the past, present and future of the truth and reconciliation movement in Canada, while renewing and way making through the wisdom of our community stories.
- Awaken a deeper understanding of our true shared history, conceptualize the meaning of reconciliation, and the role we all can play when we:
- Engage in meaningful conversations about truth and reconciliation
- Take responsibility through learning about wise practices and Indigenous strengths
- Commit to action, to achieve reconciliation in our own lives, communities, and organization
This program does not count towards Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence.
What does the program offer?
Through Indigenous ways of knowing and sharing, this program offers a space for participatory learning, through ceremony, the land, Elders’ teachings, knowledge sharing, application of theory and tools, case clinics, storytelling, deep listening, individual reflection, group dialogue, and sense making.
The Truth and Reconciliation through Right Relations program will equip participants with knowledge to:
- Have an awareness of the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) process, principles and Calls to Action
- Advance the dialogue on building and sustaining right relations
- Communicate through deep listening
- Create change through collective leadership and partnership building
- Share Indigenous ways of knowing
- Empower individuals to implement their own reconciliation action plan in their lives, families and communities
- Increase greater respect, understanding, and meaningful connections between Canada’s citizens
Who should register?
This program is an ideal fit for those who work with and are interested in improving and creating new relationships with Indigenous people, businesses, communities, and organizations. This includes municipal, territorial, provincial, and federal government employees, not-for-profit executives and board members, corporate executives, post-secondary educators, and teachers.
Programs are filled on a first come, first served basis. Please register early to secure a confirmation of your spot.
Itinerary
To maximize learning for this program, students are required to dedicate approximately 40 hours during the week to this program.
- Complete pre-program assignments if applicable
- (approx. 2 hours)
- Participate in daily sessions, Sunday through Friday, according to the agenda.
- Complete homework outside of class time if applicable (approx. 2 hours)
Faculty
Elder Dila Houle
Born and raised on the Piikani Indian Reserve in Southern Alberta, Dila is the mother of six boys and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a young native woman, she left the reserve and moved to Washington State where she raised her sons as a single parent. Upon returning to the Piikani Nation in the 1970’s she has been a student of both western education and traditional native culture and spirituality. Dila is committed to the sharing and dissemination of the teachings derived from the native people's relationships to the land and themselves. Her knowledge and wisdom is shared in personal settings through discussion where she relates life experiences to modern issues that face Native People and their communities. Issues of addictions, family, and native spirituality are the cornerstones of her presentation that promotes an individual’s life’s learning and wellness. Furthermore, through discussion and humour, her presentations are an excellent and beneficial medium for the further human development of Native People and the promotion of cross-cultural awareness of Non-Native People.
Dila has worked in upper-management for a number of native organizations as a social services director, addictions counsellor, and elders facilitator for Corrections Canada. Her recent employment accomplishments include being an elder advisor for a number of native run human support services in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Her presentations incorporate traditional native ceremonialism and beliefs as a vehicle to understand issues that impact and affect modern Native society.
Elder
Erin Dixon
Walking with vision and all of life in mind, Erin shares her Otipemisiwak-Métis heritage and passion for life – from Indigenous science through to living systems transformation.
Erin is faculty for Banff Centre, currently supporting Indigenous Leadership and Management Development and Reconciliation and Right Relations programs. For the last six years Erin has held the role of an Indigenous Awareness Trainer for the Ontario Provincial Police co-facilitating five-day transformational learning programs and outreach. She leads the co-creation of multi-sectorial/organizational, community-youth driven life promotion initiatives with northern remote Nations.
A landscape of Erin’s recent collaborations include co-facilitating with mentor Michael Jones in hosting generative spaces and dialogue sessions for leaders on Wasan Island – Breuninger Foundation, Tamarack Institute, The Good Work Institute at Bard College, and the Garrison Institute. She has also co-facilitated with change leaders at Mind Camp and for six years has co-led Mariposa Folk Festival’s award winning greening programs, collaborating with Ryerson University. Erin has worked locally and globally, with every type of organizing structure – cultivating patterns of openness, connection, and reciprocity for collective impact.
Erin carries a BA in Law and Environmental Studies, a MA in Global Leadership from Royal Roads University, with Post Graduate studies in Eco-psychology – land based nature reconnection programs. Her capstone documentary, The Star Blanket Project, invited a shared inquiry into the call for Awakening the Spirit of Place in Transcending Paradigms and she was the first team to ever receive RRU Founders Award for leadership and personal development. Erin was selected to attend Getting to Maybe: A Social Innovation Residency and is currently walking in a traditional year long, Feather Carriers, Life Promotion program.
Erin is at home and naturally walks between and bridges different worlds, braiding pathways towards what is possible, and the essence of what is being called to life.
Faculty
Dr. Cynthia Wesley- Esquimaux
Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux served as Vice Provost for Indigenous Initiatives at Lakehead University for three years. Effective September 2016 she was appointed the 1st Indigenous Chair for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada for Lakehead University and continues to develop pathways forward to reconciliation across Canada.
Cynthia was inducted as a “Honourary Witness” by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2014, and is Chair of the Governing Circle for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.
She is a member and resident of the Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario and has dedicated her life to building bridges of understanding. She sees endless merit in bringing people from diverse cultures, ages, and backgrounds together to engage in practical dialogue and applied research initiatives.
Faculty
Technical Requirements
What's Included
Single Room
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Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Full Flex Meal Plan
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Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay.
The Full Flex meal plan includes $58 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Fitness and Recreation
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The Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre is located in the lower floor of the Sally Borden Building, and provides all guests with access to our swimming pool, hot tub, steam room, climbing gym, fitness centre, spin studio, and gymnasium. Massage and physiotherapy appointments may also be booked ahead of time.
Banff Centre Amenities
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Enjoy free parking, wifi, and access to the Walter Phillips Gallery while you are a guest at Banff Centre. Our Participant Resources team is also available to assist you with medical support or event information. See our Events Calendar to learn more about what’s going on at Banff Centre while you’re onsite.
Group Seminars/Workshops
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Join in group seminars/workshops.
Learning Journals
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Learning Journals for course materials.
Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives
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The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives - Current Services
The Library is delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty with the following services:
- Open hours: 9:30 am to 1 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Access to collections, including program relevant books, scores, artists’ books, recordings, periodicals, and object library.
- Library accounts for borrowing materials.
- Digital Library, on campus and remote access.
- Library research assistance, by appointment.
- Archives research, by appointment only.
Please email library@banffcentre.ca or archives@banffcentre.ca for more information or assistance.
Fees & Financial Assistance
* Financial assistance is available. Each request is reviewed individually based on submission of the Financial Assistance form available in the Student Portal.
To be considered for financial assistance, please ensure that you select "Yes" to 'I would like to apply for financial assistance' during registration, and log into your Student Portal to complete your funding application form within 48 hours of submitting your initial registration. We strongly recommend timely submission of the funding form, to be considered. Note that we reserve the right to cancel registrants who select 'No' to financial assistance if payment and confirmation of attendance is not received within 7 days of registration.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and all financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
If you have requested financial assistance,please ensure that you log in to your Student Portal within 48 hours of registration, to submit your funding request form.
If you do not require financial assistance, please ensure that you log in to your Student Portal and complete confirmation of attendance and full payment as soon as possible, but no later than 7 days from completing step 1.
Note that non-completion within the timelines stated may result in your place being offered to the waitlist.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Banff Centre reserves the right to cancel a program up to seven days prior to program start date if there is insufficient enrolment, and in this case all fees will be refunded. Please note that Banff Centre is not liable for any personal/travel expenses incurred. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
