In June 2020, Coady Institute launched the Circle of Abundance – Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Leadership bringing together the institute’s work with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women leaders. The Circle of Abundance provides educational opportunities, learning events, and nurtures partnerships across the country. Our approach is informed by more than a decade of working with Indigenous graduates, mentors, and Elders and emphasizes the abundance of gifts, talents, and contributions that are alive in all Indigenous communities.
We use a Two-Eyed Seeing (or Walking in Two Worlds) approach, meaning that teaching and learning practices are grounded in Indigenous worldviews, values, and teachings while sometimes using western tools and methods that align with those practices. Working alongside a Circle of Abundance Advisory Group, our team continues to look at ways to decolonize our programming both within the Circle of Abundance and across Coady while supporting Kiknu, StFX Indigenous Student Affairs.
Our flagship Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program is grounded in relational practices and mentorship opportunities that will build upon their trusted leadership capacities for community-led, community-driven work. IWCL’s approaches to community building and social change are rooted in individual and collective responsibility, reciprocity to the community, and relationship to one another and the land.
The Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program includes the guidance and support of experienced mentors who work with program participants.
Our Building on Abundance in Indigenous Communities online course introduces Indigenous principles and practices for community work that build upon strengths and assets so that participants can help meet the needs of present-day Indigenous families, communities, and Nations.
We also have partnered with the Saugeen First Nation, AB; Further Education Society of Alberta, the Urban Aboriginal Voices Society, Red Deer, AB; Native Communities Cooperative Development; and Wapna’kikewi’skwaq, Women of First Light, for various online and in person workshops, training sessions, and educational sessions.
7 Principles of Community Building in Indigenous Communities
These principles have emerged from examining a cross-section of approximately 40+ Indigenous graduate stories over the last twelve years and by reviewing and integrating the ABCD principles of the ABCD Institute and Tamarack Institute. These are just some common principles that emerged to help explain how Indigenous peoples successfully built and engaged their communities in the past and the present.
#1 Every Indigenous person and community has gifts within:
Individuals are assets. Each individual already has unique gifts and talents to bring to the table: skill sets, visions, perceptions, passions, etc. Answers to community challenges can begin with building on what we already have. One arrow can break easily, but it is difficult to break a bundle of arrows together; their strength comes from collectively being bound together.
#2 Starts with what we already have:
#3 Starts with spirit:
#4 Relationships/connections are central:
#5 Asking, listening, and sharing our stories is key:
#6 Indigenous leaders involve others:
#7 Decision-making, future generations & shared vision:
Adapted from Building on Abundance in Indigenous Communities Course Manual Spring 2021. – K. Paul & B. Peters
Vision
Indigenous women* thriving in abundance
*any human being embracing the roles and responsibilities of women, ex. Seed carrier, caregiver, teaching culture
Mission
Indigenous women awakening, reclaiming, revitalizing and re-matriating who we are as leaders.
Values
- We welcome any human being embracing the roles and responsibilities of women and acknowledge their unique contributions.
- We all carry gifts that are needed in our communities,
- We lead guided by the wisdom of our Ancestors, which includes spirit,
- We strive to use a good mind and good heart in all relationships,
- We are mindful of our responsibilities to future generations and the land,
- We honour and seek to integrate Indigenous knowledge, languages, and ceremonies where appropriate,
- We are community-based and community-driven focused and strive for community-based program delivery,
- We build capacity for like-minded community lifelong learners,
- We ground ourselves in Indigenous worldviews, teachings, and laws,
- We use a holistic approach,
- We honour shared Indigenous values,
- We foster connection, friendship, and support
Programs include:
Butterflies in Spirit: Meet MMIWG Advocate Lorelei Williams
Graduate Lorelei Williams is raising awareness and advocating for victims and families of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) through Butterflies in Spirit – a dance group comprised of family members of MMIWG, formed to empower Indigenous women and raise awareness about her aunt Belinda Williams who went missing in 1978, and cousin Tanya Holyk who was murdered in 1996.
Jeannine Deveau Education Equity Endowment Fund set to Amplify Celebrity Donation to StFX’s Coady Institute
Every new $1 becomes $2 dollars as fund agrees to match donations | Earlier this week, Coady Institute kicked off a campaign in support of the Institite’s Indigenous programming. Ryan Reynolds’ and Blake Lively’s $200,000 gift launched the campaign. The Jeannine Deveau Education Equity Endowment Fund is now willing to commit $500,000 to Circle of Abundance – Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Leadership by matching dollar-to-dollar Blake and Ryan’s donation and up to another $300,000 to match any new donations.
Mentor Enthusiastic about Past and Future of Coady’s Indigenous Program
As with many things, it began with a phone call. For Marie Delorme that phone call came from a colleague 11 years ago and included an invitation to have dinner with Mary Coyle to discuss a concept that led to the founding of Coady’s Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program, which now has more than 144 First Nation, Métis, and Inuit women graduates.
Circle of Abundance: Joint Statement from Indigenous Women Leaders
With good spirits, we are grateful to work with Coady Institute, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, and other partners. We have a shared vision for raising the profile of Indigenous women’s leadership and voices in Canada and globally. Read more…
Hollywood A-Listers kick off campaign in support of Indigenous Women’s Leadership
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively donate $200,000 to StFX’s Coady Institute | St. Francis Xavier University’s Coady Institute is excited to announce the launch of the Circle of Abundance – Amplifying Indigenous Women’s Leadership with a goal of raising $1m to support Coady’s Institute’s International Centre for Women’s Leadership and the Centre’s Indigenous programming. The creation of the fund comes as Canada’s National Indigenous History Month concludes.
Grant Provides Indigenous Women Scholarships to Study at Coady
A longtime partner has awarded Coady Institute a $30,000 grant in support of Indigenous women. The Donner Canadian Foundation funding will help Coady enhance its award-winning Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program for the coming decade. The grant will also ensure participation of Métis women in a newer program of online workshops and courses with specific curriculum and resources that will benefit communities.
Indigenous Women’s Gathering at Coady Institute (StFX) Earns National Recognition
The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education has recognized St. Francis Xavier University and Coady International Institute for the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) Alumni Gathering. The event was awarded gold in the Prix d’Excellence category of Best Indigenous Relations Initiative.
Amplifying Voices of First Nation Youth through Asset-Based Development
Jasmine Collis designed and implemented a community project aimed to empower local youth in partnership with Lakewood Academy in Glenwood, NL while attending Coady’s Indigenous Women in Community Leadership (IWCL) program.
Supporting Indigenous Businesswomen: Coady Grad Contributes to IBC Report
The Indian Business Corporation (IBC) has released a study centered on the Indigenous Women’s Loan Fund (IWLF) and the benefits of investing in Indigenous businesswomen.
Indigenous Women Leaders Celebrate Graduation
Eighteen Indigenous women leaders from across Canada have graduated from the award-winning Indigenous Women in Community Leadership Enhanced Mentorship Program. Offered since 2011, the program supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women who are committed to creating social change in their organizations, communities, and Nations.
News and Events
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – 2023
September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The federal holiday is just one of the 94 calls to action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2015. We use our collective voice to call on all parties to continue to implement these calls to action as we navigate this journey of reconciliation together.
We also recognize our own duties to learn and unlearn, to decolonize our work, and to contribute in meaningful ways toward reconciliation.
Circle of Abundance Ezine August
Circle of Abundance - E-zine, August 2022 Welcome to the Circle of Abundance Ezine – Third Issue ‘Entrepreneurs’. We all know that Indigenous commerce and trade date back with each other to our...
Indigenous Women in Community Leadership: Class of 2022
Meet the 15 Indigenous women leaders from the 2022 Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program, and learn more about their work.
“The Circle of Abundance is something I support because I believe that there’s no stronger advocate for a community than those living within that community. I believe in women. I believe in their power to build local economies. I believe in their power to build resilient communities. It’s incredibly exciting to be working with Indigenous leaders at Coady, learning from their lived experiences, and of course their collective wisdom.”
– Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively