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Program Information
Wise Practice Element 1: Identity and Culture
Overview
Indigenous peoples are nation building, and this is a time of great planetary and social change. Women must stand tall, stand strong, and re-member the ‘why’ of their lives. This program will bring leaders travelling on diverse pathways together to share and revitalize their inner knowing, renew hopes and dreams, and call forth new visions for the future.
It is about deep listening, deep learning, and letting go, while expanding feminine wisdom and Ancestral knowledges within a sacred circle.
There will be time to reacquaint yourself with your inner essence, rediscover respite, reset your inner beliefs, and celebrate your successes. You will learn to mine your life for the diamonds, and shift challenging experiences into shining gifts of courage, vision, and inner peace. Visit with us to reawaken your authentic leadership gifts, and re-discover what you need to thrive, while living holistically into responsibilities, inherent wellbeing, and abundance.
Supported by the guidance of Elders, share traditional and spiritual wisdom, while grounding in land-based learning, culture, and ceremony. This program fulfills the requirements for the Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence.
What does the program offer?
- Calling your spirit to revitalize feminine leadership
- Centering Indigenous wisdom in practice
- Deep listening, truth-telling, revealing inner story narratives
- Land-based learning and wise practices
- Transformational change: reviving ancestral knowledges
- Relational leadership: collaboration and partnerships
- Change leadership and wholistic perspectives
Who should register?
- Indigenous women leaders, administrators, and service providers
- Indigenous artists, change makers, and visionaries
- Indigenous women seeking a unique kind of leadership training
This program prioritizes Indigenous learners, and those working for Indigenous communities and organizations. Programs are filled on a first come, first served basis. Please register early to secure 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 Alice Kaquitts
Alice Kaquitts is a proud member of the Stoney Nakoda Wesley First Nation. Alice is a respected elder and community leader in the Stoney Nakoda nation and is the daughter of Alice Kaquitts Sr. and Thomas Simeon, and great-granddaughter of renowned Chief Hector Crawler.
Alice grew up in a traditional way of life where Nakoda language, culture and protocols were taught and followed. Alice’s formal education includes a diploma from Mount Royal College and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Calgary. Alice has been working within the Stoney Nakoda Nation in senior level positions for over 20 years.
Alice is a healthy, proud grandmother to 5 beautiful grandchildren and mother to two adult sons, and enjoys passing on her traditional knowledge and teachings to the future generations.
Elder
Marilyn Poitras
Marilyn Poitras is Michif Irish from the prairies and has been a lawyer, a law professor, a writer, a film producer, a negotiator, a facilitator, a public speaker, a National Inquiry Commissioner and social systems redesigner. She is a student of Indigenous legal traditions and has worked on ancestral domain or Indigenous land as a source of law for much of her career. She teaches and learns with Elders across the country to earn an understanding of traditional law. Her expertise reaches into constitutional and aboriginal law as well as negotiation. She has researched and lectured on mental health, on design thinking and on story.
Marilyn received her law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and her masters in law from Harvard Law School. She has worked with many traditional teachers, including Cree, Dene, Saulteaux, Michif and Inuit. She works within community to create discuss and design opportunities for Indigenous participation in the Canadian politic, in rural and urban issues and on inclusion of Indigenous voice, philosophy and laws in as many places as possible.
Faculty
Technical Requirements
What's Included
Accommodation
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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. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full Flex meal plan is equivalent to $61.95 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Banff Centre Amenities
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Enjoy free parking, wifi, and access to the Walter Philips 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.
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.
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.
Participant Resources
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Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Box Office Discounts
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Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
Group Seminars/Workshops
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Join in group seminars/workshops.
Learning Journals
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Learning Journals for course materials.
Fees & Financial Assistance
(Includes Registration Fee of $35.00)
Up to a maximum of 25 participants per program
Financial assistance is available for Indigenous peoples or non-Indigenous peoples working for Indigenous organizations. Each request is reviewed individually based on submission of the Financial Assistance form available in the Student Portal.
More information about funding opportunities for our Leadership programs can be found here.
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.
