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Document Type
Oral Presentation
Department
Leadership and Organizational Studies
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Elizabeth Goryunova
Keywords
Native Americans, Wabanaki, relationships, community, authentic leadership
Abstract
Native American leaders of the Wabanaki community can provide great insight on how to build positive close-knit relationships within a community. This study explores authentic leadership within the Wabanaki Nation and how it contributes to the cultivation of positive relationships within the community. While research exists regarding other tribal nations such as the Cherokee and the servant leadership model, few studies have explored authentic leadership in the Wabanaki community. Authentic leadership occurs naturally in the Wabanaki Nation through their cultural upbringing and the leaders' authenticity projects back into the community. Ten leaders and advocates of the Wabanaki community participated. Each participant was interviewed with ten open-ended questions about how they function in certain leadership situations. The specific questions focused on (A) core values, (B) group pressure (C) conflict, and (D) open mindedness. The results: The researcher found the emergence of four major themes: 1) importance of community-based values, 2) cultural values impacting individual career trajectories, 3) consultation with community members who have diverse viewpoints, and 4) responsibility to elders and future generations. This study indicates that more research may be needed to further explore how authentic leadership is practiced by Native Americans from the Wabanaki Confederation and how it helps to deepen relationships within their community.
Authentic Leadership as Practiced by Wabanaki Leaders
Native American leaders of the Wabanaki community can provide great insight on how to build positive close-knit relationships within a community. This study explores authentic leadership within the Wabanaki Nation and how it contributes to the cultivation of positive relationships within the community. While research exists regarding other tribal nations such as the Cherokee and the servant leadership model, few studies have explored authentic leadership in the Wabanaki community. Authentic leadership occurs naturally in the Wabanaki Nation through their cultural upbringing and the leaders' authenticity projects back into the community. Ten leaders and advocates of the Wabanaki community participated. Each participant was interviewed with ten open-ended questions about how they function in certain leadership situations. The specific questions focused on (A) core values, (B) group pressure (C) conflict, and (D) open mindedness. The results: The researcher found the emergence of four major themes: 1) importance of community-based values, 2) cultural values impacting individual career trajectories, 3) consultation with community members who have diverse viewpoints, and 4) responsibility to elders and future generations. This study indicates that more research may be needed to further explore how authentic leadership is practiced by Native Americans from the Wabanaki Confederation and how it helps to deepen relationships within their community.
