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Program Information
Photo by Rita Taylor
Dates
Registration deadline: October 21, 2025
Program dates: November 30 – December 5, 2025
Overview
Research shows that successful Indigenous nations and organizations set strategic directions and long-term goals. A solid strategic plan is required to adapt to global changes, reduce dependence on governments, and improve the standard of living for Indigenous citizens. Related-world Strategic Planning teaches a proven strategic planning model based on systems thinking and covers essential processes and tasks.
Participants will learn how to implement a strategic planning process rooted in Indigenous knowledge to support their community, organization, board, or council. Additionally, the program provides guidance on maintaining the plan through ongoing evaluation, revision, and performance measurement.
Description
Participants will learn the techniques and steps for creating, implementing and evaluating a strategic plan.
With guidance from the Elder, participants will share traditional and spiritual wisdom while connecting with the land and cultural teachings.
Program highlights
- Identify the vision, mission, and values for a community/organization/council.
- Determine the key factors of success.
- Conduct a current state assessment and environmental analysis.
- Set priorities to focus resources and efforts.
- Understand the link between the vision and business/operations plans.
- Implement a strategic plan and evaluate its performance.
Eligibility
This program will be beneficial for Indigenous leaders, administrators, and service providers interested in learning how to create and implement a strategic plan including
- senior management and personnel working with or within Indigenous organizations.
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit councils, and tribal councils.
- boards of Indigenous economic and social development agencies, governing boards, commissions, and legal entities for Indigenous businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
Priority is give to Indigenous learners and those working for Indigenous communities and organizations.
Applicant must be 18+ at the start of the program.
Inclusivity Statement
We welcome applicants of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply.
Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance and Management Excellence
Indigenous leadership programs are strategically focused on building your capacity to successfully assist your community and organization. Individuals who successfully complete a program from each of the seven wise practice elements will earn a Certificate of Indigenous Leadership, Governance, and Management Excellence.
Itinerary
Participants are required to dedicate approximately 40 hours during the week to this program.
Sample Itinerary - subject to change
Each day will open with a smudge and teachings and close with a daily wrap-up.
Sunday
- Welcome and program overview
Monday
- Defining strategy and the planning storyboard
- Understanding planning levels, roles, and scope
- Business case overview and group setup
- Youth centre business case: group setup, approach, and roles
- Masking introduction
- Understanding the planning process and the imperative
Tuesday
- Masking: physical exercise
- Vision, mission & teachings
- Youth centre business case: drafting the vision, mission, teachings
- Masking: culture & creativity
- Structure, goals, and objectives
Wednesday
- Masking: physical experience
- Youth centre business case: drafting the goals and objectives
- Youth centre business case: plan development
Thursday
- Youth centre business case
- Continued plan development
- Plenary check-In
- Final formatting and presentation prep
- Group Presentations
Friday
- Review the plan
- Actioning your strategic plan
Faculty
Harley Crowshoe
Harley Crowshoe’s ancestry is Blackfoot and originates from the Piikani Nation Reserve in southern Alberta.
Harley has extensive Aboriginal Policing experience with First Nations people in Alberta and British Columbia. Throughout his RCMP career he held supervisory positions as a Detachment Commander in “K” and “E” Divisions, as well as investigating serious crimes. After more than 20 years of service with the RCMP he retired at the rank of Staff Sgt.
Harley had the opportunity to participate in a major project that developed and built Canada’s second diamond mine in the Northwest Territories. While employed by Diavik Diamond Mines he developed policies and programs for Site Security.
Harley joined the Aboriginal Policing Directorate as the Regional Manager, responsible for Alberta and North West Territories. This provided him the opportunity to continue working closely with the First Nations communities in Alberta and NWT.
Harley has worked for AHS for many years, first serving the AHS Wisdom Council as chair; then the AHS South Zone as the Indigenous Health Senior Advisor; the AHS South Sector as Indigenous Health Provincial Director; and now continues to support AHS health projects as an Indigenous Health Advisor.
He is currently working parttime with Piikani Health Service as a Accreditation Coordinator.
Harley is a board member sitting on the Windy Slopes Health Foundation and Fresh Start Recovery Centre and recently he has been appointed on the National Advisory Committee on Missing Children and Unmarked Graves.
Harley is a recipient of the Order of Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, and a 25 year service award from Public Service Canada. Harley was presented a soapstone sculpture and sacred eagle feather in recognition of contributions to the First Nations people of Canada and was inducted as an Honorary Chief of the Piikani (Blackfoot) Nation - including traditional transfer of a sacred eagle headdress
Elder
Don McIntyre
Don McIntyre is Ojibway of the Wolf Clan from Timiskaming First Nation. Don is an Assistant Professor at the University of Lethbridge in the Dhillon Business School. An award-winning painter and carver in the traditional style of his territories, he juxtaposes contemporary visions and themes into his work. Don has exhibited his work around the world, with gallery shows in Canada, Germany, Asia, Australia, and the United States. His work is in private and corporate collections around the world. He is a sought-after speaker, presenting on Indigenous Art and Traditions, Law, Socio-Legal Pluralism, Social Innovation, Law and Society, Business, Governance, Colonization, Indigenization, Transsystemics, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Leadership, Management, Negotiations, and Treaty.
Faculty
Elizabeth Logue
Elizabeth is Algonquin-Irish (Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg First Nation). She is a community builder, theatre artist and arts producer, self-professed policy wonk and mother of two. She holds a Bachelor degree (with High Honours) from Carleton and studied Education/Drama at McGill. She just recently took on the job of Ottawa River Keeper, as champion and collective voice for the Ottawa River watershed, providing leadership and inspiration to protect, promote and improve its ecological health. Previous to this she was Director of Partnerships and Coordination in Lands and Economic Development supporting the work of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board and Director of Inuit Relations at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
For the past over 14 years she has been a faculty member at the Banff Centre. A federal public servant for close to 20 years, highlights of her career include work on the Aboriginal Veterans Scholarship Fund, on Comprehensive Community Planning and Sustainable Development, the transfer of the Igloo Tag for the certification of Inuit Art, the direct funding for housing in Nunavik, Inuvialuit and Nunatsiavut and the establishment of the Inuit-Crown partnership Committee and work on the Advisory Committee for the permanent Arctic Gallery at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Elizabeth believes in civic engagement and creative-communal problem solving and sits on many community-based boards and committees.
Elizabeth also has trained in theatre and has been a member of the Ottawa based Shakespeare company called A company of Fools as well as the one show wonder Aboriginal Theatre Company Code Red. She is also an Arts festival producer and performer.
She lives in Wakefield, Quebec along the Te-nagàdino-zìbi with her husband Alasdair and two children Calum 12 and Mairi 10.
Faculty
Murray Dion
Murray Dion is an executive, entrepreneur, strategic consultant, lecturer, and visual thinker with a passion for action and results. Murray began his career in radio and television and migrated to the information systems industry in engineering, projects management, business development, and strategic consulting. For over twenty years, he has been fully engaged with Indigenous communities across Canada in areas such as Indigenous entrepreneurship as the co-owner of a groundbreaking Indigenous firm, economic development, policing, digital health, organizational development, and leadership development. Murray has been a faculty member at The Banff Centre since 1999. He was also a faculty member in The Logistics Institute’s Executive Leadership Program for five years.
Faculty
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 participants on campus and focus on your projects while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
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 meal plan is equivalent to $73 credit per day, equivalent to three meals at our Buffet service.
Group Seminars/Workshops
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Join in group seminars/workshops.
Banff Centre Amenities
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- Participant Resources: Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided.
- Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre: Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym and fitness equipment.
- Box Office Discounts: Enjoy special artist rates or complimentary access for ticketed performances.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application Fee
$35 application is included in the program fee.
Funding
Limited funding is available to help some participants with program fees.
- Funding is available for Indigenous participants or those working for Indigenous communities and organizations.
- Requests are reviewed based on submission of the Financial Assistance form available in the Student Portal.
- Funding amounts vary and do not cover 100% of the program fee. Participants should expect to pay a minimum of 25% of the program fee.
- Participants may be eligible for a maximum of two programs per year.
Information about funding opportunities for Leadership programs can be found here.
Steps to follow
- Select "Yes" to "I would like to apply for financial assistance" during registration.
- Log into your Student Portal to complete your funding application form within 48 hours of submitting your initial registration.
- Timely submission of the funding form is required in order to be considered.
Cancellations
All participants must pay a confirmation fee of $262.50 within fourteen days of registration. We reserve the right to cancel registrants if payment and confirmation is not received within fourteen days.
Participants who are awarded financial aid who cancel their registration within the cancellation policy deadlines may be ineligible to receive Banff Centre funding for a period of 12 months.
Registrations are non-transferable and cannot be applied to different programs or used on behalf of other registrants
More information on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Tax Information
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.
Step 1:
Complete the Online FormIf 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.
Disclaimer
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. 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.