Join us for a 2.5-day workshop in the Lakota Homelands, Spearfish, South Dakota, USA

October 1-3, 2024

This workshop will teach leaders in government, industry and philanthropy new conceptual frameworks and strategies for building relationships with Indigenous Peoples that lead to mutually beneficial outcomes and advance reconciliation.

The Indigenous Engagement Institute is a collaborative project by Gwen Bridge and James Rattling Leaf Sr. The workshop presents a unique opportunity for leaders to be part of our collective effort to improve Indigenous relations.

The Indigenous Engagement Institute is a collaborative project by Gwen Bridge and James Rattling Leaf Sr. The workshop presents a unique opportunity for leaders to be part of our collective effort to improve Indigenous relations.

About the workshop

This indigenous led culturally immersive experience will teach indigenous engagement from an indigenous perspective. Over 2.5 days in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, USA we will share our culture and experience in guiding productive and meaningful indigenous relationships. You will emerge with new insights into best practices, and understanding of indigenous worldview, law and societal structure. You will understand what will be required in order to achieve equity and justice between indigenous peoples and non indigenous peoples, learning the roots of conflict in the North American context. Equipped with this understanding you will, with your inspired colleagues, be poised to develop strategies for advancing reconciliation and equity.

Outcomes

  • Improved Knowledge and skills required to develop more effective relationships and partnerships with Indigenous peoples.
  • Deep understanding of Indigenous processes of developing agreements.
  • Understand, fundamentally, Indigenous worldviews, values, laws, protocols, societal structure, and what pragmatic steps in individual and organizational change are needed to support the integration of these components into engagement strategy and process, organizational culture and the relationships themselves.
  • Expand networks with those also at the forefront of proactive Indigenous engagement.

What makes this different from typical training?

We are not trainers. We are practitioners in this space, with on-the-ground, in-the-relationship knowledge. We have come together for this unique opportunity to bring our deep expertise from the USA and Canadian Indigenous experience in productive engagement to you. We will conduct our work grounded in a land and culture-based experience, providing experiential applied learning opportunities. We will share learnings built from over 50 combined years of praxis, knowledge contextually specific, and the skills that support systems change. You will come away connected with a network of engaged leaders on a journey of building relationships to improve collective ecological, economic, and socio-cultural outcomes. Lakota and Cree cultural knowledge will be shared. We will be on the territory of the Lakota people and will have cultural experiences and knowledge sharing by local Elders and experts.

Register early, limited spaces available.

Complete the registration form and walk with us on indigenous knowledge and learning journey.

This workshop is for leaders who:

  • Run organizations who require to understand how to advance indigenous relationships in order to maintain organizational relevancy.
  • Require new solutions for navigating economic and jurisdictional inequities.
  • Are tasked by their governments to advance indigenous rights protection in the context of the implementation of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and other governmental law, policy and initiative to include or consider indigenous knowledge.
  • Want to guide and support their teams in the development of practical strategies for improved Indigenous–non–Indigenous relations.
  • Seek solutions to responding to the challenges issued by Indigenous Peoples to develop opportunities for economic development, sustainability, equity and reconciliation.
  • Want to know how to collaborate, co-develop, co-operate, co-manage with indigenous peoples.

Want to learn more or have questions?

Chat with Gwen or James for 15 minutes.

Testimonials
“You illuminated a path forward for one of the most complex social and economic challenges of our time.”
Christopher Nicolson
President & CEO, Canada West Ski Areas Association
"I attended this really amazing workshop yesterday! WOW!!!!! Highly recommend Gwen Bridge to bring your hearts together and dig deep and challenge colonial normative ways of thinking and moving to a real model of mutual respect and Dual Authoritative Hierarchical Framework."
Jolene Andrew
Indigenous Liaison Officer, British Columbia

All Day Cultural Event - Lakota Cultural Ceremonial Experience

Welcoming Back the Thunders or similar

If the day synchronizes with Welcoming Back the Thunders – a ceremonial pilgrimage will be made with local guides and community. This will be a six-hour hike so please come prepared. If the day does not synchronize with Welcoming Back the Thunders an alternative equivalent cultural event will be offered with workshop participants welcomed by the local community to share in cultural traditions and ceremony.

This event will include a hike through a mountain trail, which has steep sections, may be snowy, wet or slippery, and take several hours. Food will be served, however no provisions can be made to accommodate dietary restrictions.

What’s Included

  • Accommodation
  • food, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
  • training
  • workshops, ceremony
  • guest speakers.
Location

 Spearfish Canyon
Lodge

10619 Roughlock Falls Road,
Lead, SD

spectacular summer night sky in South Dakota's famous geologic rock formation in Badlands national Park .
Dates

October 1, 2024

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Showcase with sharing.

October 2, 2024

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Showcase with sharing.

October 3, 2024

8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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Registration

Early Bird (until June 1, 2024):

$8,500 USD

Regular Registration:

$9,000 USD

Accommodation, Meals, Snacks and Drinks are included.

Capacity

Maximum of 25 attendees.

Participant cancellation up to August 4 will be at 50%. After August 4, there will be no cancellations or refunds. 50% credit may be applied to a future workshop if another is offered.

If the Event is unable to operate, whether due to Acts of God, force majeure, pandemic, epidemic, illness, public safety, fire or state of emergency, or because of any other occurrence out of our control, or otherwise, the Indigenous Engagement Institute may cancel, postpone or terminate the Event.

Gwen Bridge Consulting Ltd. waives any and all claims that may arise against the Indigenous Engagement Institute or Gwen Bridge Consulting Ltd. for damages or expenses and agrees to accept in complete settlement and discharge of all claims, a 100% fee refund.

This workshop is composed of an unfolding learning expansion, please plan to attend the entire session, if you’d still like to come but have to miss some time, connect with us to ensure we can accommodate your learning needs.

Review the most up-to-date information about Travel Canada restrictions related to COVID.

Register early, limited spaces available.

Complete the registration form and walk with us on indigenous knowledge and learning journey.

Updates

Receive email updates on other future events

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Or contact us directly if you have specific questions. 

Want to learn more or have questions?

Chat with Gwen or James for 15 minutes.

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