Inspiring Young Ojibwe Women to Harness their Superpowers
ENCOURAGING SERVANT LEADERSHIP
The Oshkiniigikwe Leadership Conference for young woman at Grand Casino Hinckley on Saturday, March 19, was a success. Oshkiniigikwe means “young lady” and the event was planned and designed entirely by young women with the goal of inspiring and supporting fellow Oshkiniigikwe as they discover and develop superpowers that will help them on their journey of servant leadership.
Nearly 160 young women attended the one-day conference that was packed with events and breakout sessions for a full day of superpower training. Breakout sessions inspired participants to write their own music, create their own video games, and sew a ribbon skirt. There were also virtual and augmented reality experiences available. In total, 14 speakers and workshop leaders provided content to educate and inspire the girls in attendance.
"Miigwech to all of the young ladies who attended the conference. It was great to mentor young ladies who volunteered to be a part of the planning committee," said Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin. "As an Anishinaabe woman, it is my responsibility to share my knowledge, experiences, and trainings with others; and what a fun way to accomplish this ongoing mentorship. Our future will be in good hands with our young people."
The keynote presentation was provided by Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, who captivated the audience with a powerful message and opened the floor to questions from the young ladies. She even called the young ladies to the front of the room so she could take a selfie with them.
Other event speakers included:
• Roxanne DeLille, a member of the Band River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Dean of Indigenous and Academic Affairs at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, who gave a talk about resilience as a young Anishinaabe woman and creating your own strength for success.
• Cecilia Fire Thunder, a nurse, community health planner, and tribal leader of the Oglala Sioux, spoke to the girls about their future as servant leaders to their communities, tribes, and themselves.
• The event emcee was Sarah Oquist, a Band member, attorney, and experienced business leader focused on leadership development coaching.
The event concluded with a Round Dance at the Meshakwad Community Center from 6 to 10 p.m. that was open to the public.
Chief Executive Benjamin is a member of the Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota, which is a partnership between the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. The idea for the conference came about when Lt. Gov. Flanagan initiated a goal for members of the initiative’s council to go back to their communities and develop a leadership event that would inspire young women within their own communities. Chief Executive Benjamin dove into the project, recruiting strong Anishinaabekwe to become involved.
“I am proud of these young women for embracing the leadership abilities within them, and the opportunities that are before them,” said Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin. “In our culture, women have always served their communities. As I look at these young servant leaders, I think the future of the Band, and of all our Anishinaabe communities, looks very bright.”
More photos of the event and many beautiful photos from the Roundy at Meshakwad can be found in the photo gallery section at Inaajimowin.com.
