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Lasting impacts of an Aboriginal youth leadership retreat: A case study of Alberta's Future Leaders Program

Attention to cultural relevance may enhance the long-term impacts of Aboriginal leadership programs

The Alberta’s Future Leaders (AFL) Program – an Aboriginal youth development program in Canada – includes a week-long outdoor leadership retreat. An exploratory case study was conducted to examine lasting impacts of this retreat on Aboriginal youth participating in the program. The goal of an exploratory case study is to address the “what” of a situation and to develop theories and ideas for future research. Previous research on youth development has generally not included Aboriginal youth. This study addresses that gap in the literature and includes the understanding that ideas about leadership differ from culture to culture.

For this study, researchers examined program reports and conducted interviews with 5 Aboriginal youth who had participated in the leadership retreat and with 16 program workers and mentors who had accompanied the youth in the retreat. Interview questions focused on the leadership retreat and its potential impacts, if any.

Findings from both the former youth participants and program mentors indicated that the leadership retreat had some positive long-term and short-term impacts on the mentees (the Aboriginal youth). These positive outcomes included the development of personal networks, positive changes in behavior and self-esteem, and inspiration to attempt “bigger things” in life, such as attending school and developing a career focus. Findings also indicated that those who benefited the most were the ones who came into the program with some leadership skills and views of leadership more consistent with traditional Eurocentric, North American ideas of leadership rather than Aboriginal cultural views. Based on these findings, the researchers conclude that the impact of the program was limited due to a “lack of consideration of Aboriginal culture.” Leadership, in the Aboriginal culture, is based more on service to and consultation with the community rather than on commanding and controlling.

While the leadership retreat did have some long-term and short-term outcomes for the participating youth, such outcomes may have been enhanced if the program focused more on egalitarian versus autocratic approaches to leadership and was more reflective of Aboriginal values and beliefs, such as connecting with nature, respecting elders, and honoring spirituality. Focusing on a sense of place versus self-esteem and individual development may have also made the retreat more culturally-relevant for the Aboriginal youth.

Citation

Gartner-Manzon, S., Giles, A.R., (2018). Lasting impacts of an Aboriginal youth leadership retreat: A case study of Alberta's Future Leaders Program. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2018.1470937

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