Good Governance is Inclusive Leadership
In a modern world with growing populations and development, the widening spread between wealth and poverty, and declining environmental quality, issues and decisions making become more complex. In these times, responsible management must involve inclusive leadership. Inclusive leadership is the only way to implement solutions that respect the rights of all citizens of the world. As part of the Knowledge Circles initiative, we have developed several tools to curriculum for inclusive governance.
Traditional Knowledge & Teachings Toolkit: Seeing Leadership Through Many Eyes
This resource outlines inclusive leadership according to selected Indigenous and cross-cultural teachings, perspectives, and worldviews.
Inclusive Governance Toolkit Curriculum: A Manual for Grassroots Efforts and Inclusive Leadership
This curriculum manual is one of three guides that together form a toolkit. The toolkit supports the adoption of inclusive, good-governance in organizations and grassroots efforts. The complete toolkit provides knowledge, concepts, and materials to support all stages and elements of organizational development, management, and operations. This curriculum manual is primary, as it concentrates on learning about the principles of inclusivity and good governance; it provides modules that enable you to practice these ideologies and provides suggestions and methods for you to integrate them within your efforts.
Policies & Procedures Sample Toolkit
This document aims to assist in providing guidance to members of social sector organizations who seek to implement the tenants of inclusive leadership within their governing structures. It contains a series of policies and practices with an emphasis on diversity and inclusiveness that can be adopted by a wide range of organizations.
Nature plays an integral role in our future; it helps us navigate climate change, increase mental health and is a source of knowledge and inspiration for achieving balance and sustainable solutions.
Local and Indigenous Knowledge has an essential role to play as we implement nature-based solutions and pave the way forward. It is because of this that The Land Between initiated Knowledge Circles- events aimed at sharing local knowledge, finding cooperative solutions, and building capacity through new relationships.
Knowledge circles can be used to bring together disparate groups, or as forums for municipalities, also for community and conservation groups, school groups and classes, and even to assist start up efforts find solutions.
Talking Circles in the News!
Essentials to Circle Meetings- Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing:
Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed-Seeing is an approach founded by Elder Albert Marshall, for which he was awarded the Order of Canada. Talking Circles must work to embrace Two Eyed Seeing if they are to be a true and meaningful solution to any conservation initiative, governance structure, or social effort in the world today. The following resources are initial guides to the concepts, approaches and practices that are foundational to two-eyed seeing, and which also includes ensuring there is a safe respectful space (sometimes referred to as Ethical Space) afforded in these venues in order to truly reach desired goals of empathy, integration, relationship and meaningful progress:
- https://youtu.be/L8Uft1MlGzc?si=5kEhQf4UuHHCqFEK
- https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/17129/1/ILJ-6.1-Ermine.pdf
- http://www.integrativescience.ca/uploads/files/Two-Eyed%20Seeing-AMarshall-Thinkers%20Lodge2017(1).pdf
- Note: there is a wealth of knowledge and resources shared by Elder Albert Marshall: A simple search will reveal these.
What are Knowledge Circles?
Knowledge Circles are traditional democratic and inclusive forums to gain insight, find solutions and also build capacity for our communities. They reintroduce the Talking Circle, an Indigenous Traditional form of governance.
In the circle, an object of respect or reverence such as an eagle feather is passed from one participant to another as a testament of truth, knowledge, and faith. In this way, Knowledge Circles enable meaningful sharing of experiences and also expertise.
More than ever, it is imperative and wise to include the diversity of all perspectives order to find innovative and fair solutions to navigate the challenges our ecosystems and wildlife face.
Knowledge Circles were hosted thanks to cooperation and support of our partners:
Other helpful links:
Additionally, you can check out our investigation into governance structures for regional non-profit endeavours - Around the Circle in 365 Days.