Tribal Leaders Institute: What, who, why

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Tribal Leaders Institute What, who, why
howErich Longie, Ed.D.Spirit Lake Consulting,
Inc An Indian Owned Company Located on Spirit
Lake NationFort TottenNorth Dakota 58335
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Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1992

• The SBIR/STTR Programs are federal initiatives
  that provide over 2 billion in grants and
  contracts each year to small and start-up
  companies to develop new products and services
  based on advanced technologies.
• Over half of the SBIR/STTR awards made each year
  go to firms with no prior SBIR/STTR experience.

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Related SLC ProductsFunded by SBIR

• Spirit Lake Leadership Training Project
• Tribal Leaders with Character

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Tribal Leaders with Character (Phase I)An
innovative approach to the problem of character
education for tribal communities that combines
1) knowledge of Native American history, 2)
psychological research on effecting pro-social
behavior, and 3) technical knowledge of effective
computer-based training.

• Potential benefits to tribal communities are
  great. Technical objectives focus on proof of the
  effectiveness of both web-based and
  computer-integrated training.
• These include orientation or continuing
  education for members of the tribal council,
  school board, Board of Regents, Gaming
  Commission, and other elected or appointed
  offices, and, college courses for majors in
  business, tribal administration, and related
  fields.
• A successful Phase I established a baseline for
  creation of a product which can be adapted to a
  variety of uses.

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Tribal Leaders with Character (Phase I cont)

• In Phase I, SLC developed the first workshop in a
  series of workshops. The first workshop titled,
  Courageous Ethical Decision-Making, was
  developed and tested from December 2007 through
  early 2008.
• This six-hour workshop covered behavior most
  people will agree is unethical as well as
  necessary leadership characteristics to develop
  an ethical system.

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Tribal Leaders with Character (Phase
II)(Includes all ND Reservations)

• TARGET AUDIENCE
• Tribal Councils, Board-of-Directors,
  Advisory/Governing Committees,TERO Commissions.
• CEOs, Executive Directors, Superintendents
• Mid-Management Directors and Supervisors
• Tribal Workers
• Tribal Members

• WORK SHOP SERIES
• Why Ethics In Reservation Workplaces
• Native American Traditional Ethics and Values
• Ethical Behavior in the Workplace
• Next Step Code of Ethics?
• Online ethics course for tribal colleges

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The Unique Position of Spirit Lake Consulting,
Inc.

• As a consulting company based on the reservation,
  Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc. has a unique insight
  into the root of reservation problems.
• SLC has conducted extensive research on
  successful reservation organizations (Longie,
  2005) and on characteristics of tribal families
  that engender personal responsibility (Rousey
  Longie, 2000).
• SLC has extensive experience researching how
  incorporation of Native American values
  characterize successful tribal institutions.

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Tribal Leaders With Character (TLC)

• Phase I, ended January, 2008.
• Phase II, began September, 2008 as the Tribal
  Leaders Institute.
• In the interim SLC collected input from all North
  Dakota reservations on ethics concerns and
  maintained an ethics area of the Spirit Lake
  Forum
• www.spiritlakeconsulting.com/forum/
• since replaced by the Tribal Leaders Council
  forum
• www.spiritlakeconsulting.com/tribal/

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A Sneak Preview of Courageous and Ethical
Decision-Making
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PART I
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Introduction To Successful Leadership Through
Ethics On Indian Reservations
Historically, Native Americans were known for
ethical behavior They did not lie they did not
steal they took care of each others needs
(food, clothing, and shelter). Present day Native
Americans proudly point this out to other Indians
and non-Indians alike. George Catlin was an
artist who spent many months living among
different Native American tribes. He wrote this
about Native American Indians
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George Catlin Creed on the Indians Included These
Statements
I love the people who have always made me welcome
to the best they had. I love a people who keep
the commandments without ever having read them or
heard them preached from the pulpit. I love a
people who never swear, who never take the name
of God in vain. I love a people who love their
neighbors as they love themselves. I love the
people who have never raised a hand against me,
or stolen my property, where there was no law to
punish for either. I love all people who do the
best they can. And oh, how I love a people who
dont live for the love of money!
(Catlin, 1973)
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What Does Leader Mean?
Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary (1995)
defines a leader as a person who has commanding
authority or influence.
How Does a Leader Lead Effectively?
Our research shows some of our most effective
leaders of the past shared these common
characteristics Caring, Compassionate,
Courageous, Honest, Humble, Respectful, Served
the People Before Themselves All of these
characteristics can be considered important
ethics in our society. Traditional leaders of
the past were not afraid to stand by these
ethics. They also dared to face reality. They
defined underlying problems of the tribe so those
very real problems could be solved. They served
all individuals of the tribe, not just a select
few.
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Five Most Common Ethical Infractions

• Selecting relatives for various resources such as
  housing, contracts, scholarships, governing
  boards, land, charity, and education all the
  time.
• Tribal employees need to abide by certain
  policies such as
• Beating up the boss is not allowed.
• Reprimand DUIs (drunk driving is not allowed on
  the job).
• If an employee is fired for any ethical
  infraction, he/she should not be rehired in
  another tribal position for a limited amount of
  time. (The employee would be suspended from
  tribal work for a time.)
• Doing personal tasks while getting paid to work.
• (5) Going to work late, or leaving work early
  (all the time).

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Examples of Law and Order among Indian Tribes
Before the Influence of European Settlers
The Hunt - Among the Umoha (Omaha), if anyone
began the hunt early without permission, he might
be flogged for a first offense. A second
offense, and the mans property would be taken,
his tent destroyed, his family reduced to
begging. (Johansen, 2007) Many Native
American legal systems emphasized healing and
maintenance of the social order as opposed to
vengeance that seems prevalent in European type
legal proceedings. (Johansen,
2007) The Cherokees practiced a Harmony Ethic
that de-emphasized interpersonal, or
face-to-face, conflict. (Johansen,
2007)
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Great Leaders of the Past
Indian Leaders of Today often Compare Themselves
to Great Leaders of the Past. Lets Take a Look
at Some of our Great Leaders from the Past. Chief
Joseph Chief Crazy Horse Chief Cochise Chief
Black Hawk Captain Jack Chief Sitting Bull It is
safe to say that all these men were courageous,
honest, fighting men who were responsible for
their people, who served their people before
themselves. They were caring, kind, and
compassionate.
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Ethical Leaders Care About Their People
Chief Joseph became the voice and protector for
his people when they surrendered to the U.S.
military. He could have escaped to Canada, but
he chose to stay and care for his people.
(Nerburn, 2006) Throughout his life, Chief
Crazy Horse was expected to care for the
helpless, a responsibility he took seriously.
He consistently put the welfare of his people
ahead of his own. (Marshall, 2007,
p. 78) At the time of Captain Jack, Chief of the
Modocs Leaders were chosen by merit, and a
leader who failed to heed his people soon found
himself out of a job. (Krol, 2007, p. 54)
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Ethical Leaders are Compassionate
Sitting Bull took in Cheyenne refugees shortly
before the Battle of the Little Bighorn,
providing them with food, clothing, anything they
needed. (Murphy, 1993) Chief Joseph was
a paragon of compassion. His unwillingness to
speak poorly of or do harm to others, no matter
what their race or what they did to him and his
people, made him an icon in the eyes of America.
(Nerburn, 2006, p. 56) Chief Black Hawk
was devoted to his people. He felt grief so
deeply when two of his children died close in
succession, he mourned for two years. An enemy
once spoke of his compassion. Even though this
man had tried to kill Chief Black Hawk, the Chief
spared his life, not once, but twice.
(Ilminen, 2006)
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Ethical Leaders are Courageous
In the past, courage was measure on the
battlefield. For example, Crazy Horse would
often dismount, walk several steps from his
horse, and kneel to take deliberate aim at the
onrushing enemy. That ability to be calm and
collected in the unfettered violence of combat
was complemented by his daring
(Marshall, 2007, p.
77) Courage was also measured by daring Chief
Joseph often spoke to U.S. citizens. He would
travel to address governments, even going to
Washington D. C. to address an assembly of
dignitaries. When he traveled he would dress in
full regalia to draw attention to the plight of
his people. Given the prejudices of the time,
this had to take courage. (Nerburn,
2006)
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Ethical Leaders are Courageous
The courage to act, to put ones energy,
resources, and, if need be, ones life on the
line provides the ultimate test of
leadership. (Murphy, 1993, p. xxxvii)
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Ethical Leaders are Honest
In order for a leader to gain the trust of his
people, he must not lie. Traditional leaders
cared about honor and it was not honorable to
deceive. Leaders were chosen by merit. (Krol,
2007, p. 54) Sitting Bulls contemporaries, both
friends and enemies respected his honesty. In
1876, the Indian people could not afford to
follow a liar, thief, or a faker. (Murphy,
1993) Sitting Bull overcame the temptation to
deny the reality of his situation. He spoke
clearly and truthfully to his people, even if
they did not like what they heard. This built a
trust between Sitting Bull and his people. Chief
Sitting Bull adhered steadfastly to a personal
ethic of honesty. (Murphy, 1993,
p. 25)
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Ethical Leaders are Humble
The first step to power involves denying it for
yourself, subordinating the self-centered urge
for personal gain to the collective benefit.
The greater the need for power, the more a leader
must understand the need for strategic humility.
(Murphy, 1993, p. 51) Strategic humility refers
to immense self-control over selfishness and
arrogance. (Murphy, 1993) Some of our greatest
leaders of the past understood the need for
humility. For example, Crazy Horse, was a quiet
man, shy. His humble and quiet nature drew
people to him as much as his reputation as a
formidable warrior. He always dressed plainly,
never wearing elaborate feathers in his hair and
never bragging. (Marshall, 2007)
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Ethical Leaders are Humble
Sitting Bull knew that arrogance and denial could
hurt a people. He cultivated humility to defeat
self-centered ambition. He pointed out, to his
people, that there were good things about the
white man as well as bad. He counseled his
people that it was okay to emulate the good, but
the bad should be left alone. (Murphy,
1993) Chief Sitting Bull was a great leader, yet,
he lived a simple life, the life of his people,
never looking for special favors or wealth. The
welfare of his people always came first.
(Murphy, 1993)
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Ethical Leaders are Respectful
Chief Joseph had a calm manner even under
pressure, and he was unwilling to speak poorly of
others or do harm to others.
(Nerburn, 2006) Chief Black Hawk honored his
deadliest enemy by dedicating his autobiography
to Brigadier General Henry Atkinson
(Ilminen, 2006, p. 75) Chief Sitting Bull
respected the strengths of his counterparts. He
did not compete with them. Instead, he appealed
to them for help, always showing respect, so much
so, that he banded together several tribes and
defeated Custer at the Battle of the Little
Bighorn. (Murphy, 1993)
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Ethical Leaders are Servants

• Fact . . . the first step on the path to
  leadership is a private one, in which a leader
  solves the great paradox that lies at the heart
  of leadership success that self-fulfillment
  comes from service to others. (Murphy, 1993, p.
  5)
• Self-fulfillment will only occur through service
  to others. A leader who commits to work for the
  common good of his tribe fuses his destiny to
  that of his people. This frees a leader from
  petty ambitions for control or glory.
  (Murphy, 1993)
• Chief Joseph exhibited service to his people when
  he tried again and again to talk to the U. S.
  government about returning his people to their
  homeland. He could have escaped to Canada, but
  he chose to remain with his people. (Nerburn,
  2006)

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Ethical Leaders are Servants
Throughout his life, Crazy Horse provided for the
helpless he hunted for the elderly and the
widows, providing them with food. (Marshall,
2007) Cochise befriended the white settlers at
Butterfield station in southeastern Arizona even
providing them with firewood through the long
cold winters. (McNamee, 2006) Chief Black Hawk
was devoted to his family and to his people. For
years he led his people on a journey to search
for provisions to prevent starvation, even when
under enemy attack. (Ilminen, 2006) In Captain
Jacks time, a leader was chosen by merit, and a
leader who failed to heed his people soon found
himself out of a job. (Krol, 2007, p. 54)
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Ethical Leaders are Servants
Although more than a few leaders achieved
personal prominence, for most it was secondary to
their service to the people. (Marshall, 2007,
p. 77) the renewal of a society requires
commitment to the welfare of the whole nation,
not just to the well being of a select few
individuals. (Murphy, 1993, p. xxxi)
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Summary Characteristics of an Ethical Leader

• To be an Ethical Leader Today, We Must
• Be Caring and Compassionate
• Have Courage
• Face Reality
• Be Honest
• Be Humble
• Respect all Peoples
• Serve Others

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PART II
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Traditional Ethics

• Four Main Virtues Tend to Dominate Plains Indian
  Society in the Past
• Honesty (Integrity)
• Courage
• Perseverance (Fortitude)
• Generosity
• A person could not leads if he/she did not
  process these qualities. It is these qualities
  that made great leaders.

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Honesty (Integrity) is a very important virtue
for leaders

• Examples
• Do Not Lie To Your Employee and fellow workers.
• You Will Keep Your Word.
• Consequences of Not Being Honest
• People Will Not Believe You When You are
  Truthful.
• People Will Think You Cannot Be Trusted.
• People Will Not Respect You.

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Courage

• Examples
• Face Reality Even if Most People Deny Reality.
• You Will Not Bow Down to Peer Pressure.
• You Do Whats Right Even if it is Dangerous to
  You.
• Consequences of Not Being Courageous
• You Will Lose Respect.
• You Will Be Labeled a Coward.
• People Will Not Trust You to be an Effective
  Leader.
• People Will Take Advantage of Your Cowardice.

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Perseverance (Fortitude)

• Examples
• Strength of Mind to Do the Right Thing Even When
  Pressured to Change Your Viewpoint.
• Leaders Have Tough Jobs. They are Constantly
  Faced with Making Tough Decisions on a Daily
  Basis.
• It is Easy to Give in to Pressure This is Where
  Bad Decisions are Made.
• Lack of Perseverance can Compromise your courage,
  honesty, and generosity.

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Generosity

• Generosity can Take Many Forms.
• You Can Be Generous With Your Time. Learn To
  Listen, Always Return Phone Calls
• You Can Be Generous When Judging Workers.
• You Can Be Polite to People, but
• Consequence of not been Generous
• Viewed as too good to talk to me anymore
• People become angry at you and might try to get
  even.
• People will no longer support you when you need
  their support.

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Incorporating the Four Virtues of Honesty,
Courage, Perseverance, and Generosity
Our challenge to you .. Create your own code of
ethics - and live by it !
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THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO YOUR ACTIONS. How will
your actions affect our community? THINK BEFORE
YOU ACT!
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In closing, here is what we are requesting from
you

• Your effort as a tribal employee, board member or
  council member to persevere in completing these
  courses, be generous with your time and honest in
  your responses so that others may benefit from
  your knowledge and experience.

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THANK YOU !