AIO Ambassadors Program brochure

The Ambassadors Program: T Indigenous In n Values-Based Leadership

LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP

President’s Message Indigenous peoples should define for ourselves, within the context of our own cultures, what kind of leaders we need for the 21st century. Webster’s dictionary defines a “leader” as one in charge or command of others. Americans for Indian Opportunity and our Program Advisors believe that leadership is a shared responsibility and effective Indian leaders often act more like diplomats than commanders. For that reason, we call participants in our Indigenous leadership program, “Ambassadors.”

In traditional Comanche culture, we believe that each individual has their own special inner strength or “medicine.”

The tribe needs different kinds of leaders for different types of societal

responsibilities. The Ambassadors will identify for themselves the different types of leadership qualities and skills which are needed by our societies and will focus on how best to use those qualities and skills to serve our people, enhance our work, and inspire humanity.

Native peoples understand that relationships define our roles and shape our responsibilities to our communities.

Tribal peoples realize that these relationships and responsibilities are reciprocal in nature.

An understanding of our own identity and our place among our own peoples creates pathways for us to strengthen ourselves, give back to our communities

and broaden our horizons, giving us our role in the greater scheme of things and allowing us to be Indigenous wherever we are. This shared experience, as Ambassadors, will enrich our sense of connectedness to each other and to our tribes, and will help us to find our place in the Universe.

President, Americans for Indian Opportunity

Traditional Wisdom, Today's Strength, Tomorrow's Vision

RESPONSIBILITY RESPONSIBILITY

AIO’s Vision Americans for Indian Opportunity advances, from an Indigenous worldview, the cultural, political and economic rights of Indigenous peoples in the United States and around the world. Founded by LaDonna Harris (Comanche) and a cohort of her fellow Native American activists in 1970, AIO draws upon traditional Indigenous philosophies to foster valuebased leadership, inspire stakeholderdriven solutions, and convene visionary leaders to probe contemporary issues and address the challenges of the new century. Governed by a Board of international Indigenous leaders,

AIO also seeks to create innovative international Indigenous interactions that contribute Indigenous worldviews to the global discussion. AIO is a national nonprofit organization, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Americans for Indian Opportunity envisions a world that recognizes and celebrates the contributions and continuation of Indigenous values.

”The Ambassadors Program gives us an opportunity to live a more profound existence as Indigenous peoples and inspires us to combine our traditional knowledge with a contemporary reality in accepting the responsibilities of serving our communities.”

N. Bird Runningwater (Cheyenne/Mescalero Apache), Director of Native American Development, Sundance Institute, 1996 Class

CULTURAL VALUES CULTURAL VALUES

Ambassadors Program In 1993, Americans for Indian Opportunity launched the Ambassadors Program to foster leadership growth among the Native American community.

A prestigious group of Advisors and the AIO Board designed the Ambassadors Program to help early to mid-career Native American professionals strengthen, within an Indigenous cultural context, their ability to improve the wellbeing and growth of their communities.

The Ambassadors Program is the first leadership initiative in the United States encouraging participants to weave their respective traditional tribal values into a contemporary reality. The Ambassadors Program provides a creative combination of mentorship, personal reflection,

“I support AIO and the Ambassadors Program because of the new leaders it produces and the honor these leaders bring to their tribal nations.�

The Honorable Phillip Martin, former Chief, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,The Ambassadors Program

dialogue with national and international decision-makers, community involvement, communications training, and a discovery process into tribal values.

While participating for two years, the Ambassadors remain in their communities and come together for four gatherings in communities across the United States and at least one Indigenous community outside the United States, focusing on the individual, the community, the tribe, Native American issues and international Indigenous concerns.

More than two hundred emerging Indigenous leaders, visionaries, scholars

and artists have successfully participated in the Ambassadors Program and are now a part of an international network.

They are well connected to Indian and non-Indian national leaders and they have a global perspective resulting from experiential learning activities.

Through group dialogue and selfreflection exercises, the Ambassadors are self-confident and strong in their identities. By reaffirming and learning to use tribal values in leadership roles, the Ambassadors leave the Program more committed to making positive contributions to the world and to serving their communities.

The Ambassadors

The Instructors

Up to sixteen participants are selected every two years from a national pool of applicants. The Ambassadors represent a cross section of the Indigenous population. Both urban and reservationbased individuals are selected. Program selectors attempt to build a class of diverse individuals through a selection matrix that accounts for gender, regional, tribal, social, educational and professional consideration. An array of professions is usually represented in each class, including health, public administration, the arts, culture, business, environment, education and tribal governance. Each Ambassador brings to the Program a rich background and the unique values of their tribes and communities.

Because of its national reputation and stature, Americans for Indian Opportunity can recruit skilled leaders to engage the Ambassadors in dialogue and interactive sessions. From tribal elected officials and directors of national organizations to Members of the United States Congress and the President’s Cabinet, the Ambassadors are exposed to many different leadership styles and levels of influence. Furthermore, the Ambassadors meet and talk with Indigenous leaders from throughout the world and representatives of the international community. These established leaders share their knowledge and skills with the Ambassadors and serve as mentors and Advisors to the Program.

“AIO helped me build a personal and professional network of national and international leaders that makes me more effective in my community.�

Winona Tanner (Confederated Salish & Kootenai), Chief Judge, Tribal Court Confederated Salish & Kootenai, 1994 Class.

RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIPS

CONNECTEDNESS CONNECTEDNESS

The Curriculum The Program is organized around four basic core cultural values, the 4 R’s: • Relationships: Kinship - In the most profound sense, we are all related.

Humans are not only related to each other but to all things. We are “the very stuff of stars,” meaning we have a kinship with rocks, plants and the Earth.

• Responsibility: Community - We have a duty to care for our relatives. Each human is accountable for the wellbeing of their kin. If we call the earth our mother, then we have an obligation to take care of our mother.

We must respect the impact of our lives on the natural and social environments.

• Reciprocity: Interconnectedness - Our relationships and responsibilities shape our roles in life and are reciprocal as is the nature of the Universe. Articulation and an understanding that all things are connected and cyclical are fundamental in knowing how we fit into the Universe.

• Redistribution: Generosity - Our reciprocal relationships and responsibilities guides us to share our resources. The collective and communal traditions of our ancestors teach us that wealth must be shared for the greater good of the whole. In contemporary society that includes the sharing of information, knowledge and resources.

The Ambassadors Program combines a unique mix of experiential learning activities and curriculum components that creates a proven formula resulting in: • Personal inquiry into one’s own “medicine” or inner strength • Reconfirmation of Indigenous values • International Indigenous perspectives • Networks of contacts and resources • Mentor relationships with international/ national/community leaders and Native elders • Structured dialogue about social justice issues • Interactive meetings with international leaders • Indigenous leaders presentations • Public speaking competence • Topical readings and work assignments • Community organizing skills

The Advisors

The Gift

AIO assembled a core group of highly respected leaders to draw on their collective insights in developing criteria for selecting participants, setting curriculum guidelines, designing appropriate experiential activities, and developing culturally appropriate evaluation parameters. The Advisors are prestigious established leaders who represent a cross section of America.

In addition, many of the Ambassador alumni serve as advisors and presenters and are actively involved in the continual enhancement of the Program.

Americans for Indian Opportunity and our many supporters consider the Ambassadors Program to be a precious gift that continues to grow and give with each class. The Program is tuition free and all travel expenses are paid for by AIO. Ambassadors are expected to honor this gift by committing the necessary time and energy to fully participate and learn from the Program and their fellow Ambassadors. Ambassadors are also encouraged to assist AIO in fundraising activities.

Americans for Indian Opportunity is grateful to our many supporters who share resources to benefit the Ambassadors Program. AIO appreciates the many individuals who donate

their services, volunteer, and make financial contributions. We are especially thankful for AIO’s major funders for their generous support:

REDISTRIBUTION REDISTRIBUTION

Deadline

The Application and Selection Process The Ambassadors Program is open to emerging leaders between the ages of 25 – 35, who are American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian, and beginning in 2013, the Program will include four to six representatives from Indigenous communities outside of the United States. Interested candidates must fill out and submit an official application which includes two nominations and a written proposal outlining a plan for a community-based project that will be designed and implemented during the Program.

Applications are reviewed by a panel of international Indigenous leaders.

The selectors evaluate applications in search of individuals who have a strong sense of community and a dedication to serve. Applicants must commit their time and energy to the Program, carry out a community project, present two written progress reports, and fully participate in all group meetings.

The Deadline for application submission is January 8th. For an application or more information please contact: AIO, Ambassadors Program 1001 Marquette Ave NW Albuquerque, NM 87102 Phone: 505/842-8677 Fax: 505/842-8658 email: aio@aio.org www.aio.org

"The AIO Ambassadors Program is a dynamic gift to Native America. When I meet Ambassadors, they are aglow with this exciting experience that touches their hearts and minds and inspires them to strive for leadership and service."

Ada Deer (Menominee), Former Assistant Secretary, Department of Interior

COMMUNITY

AIO, Ambassadors Program, 1001 Marquette Ave NW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 www.aio.org