Abstracts Category : Other

Protecting the sacred cycle: Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni and leadership

by Qwul'sih'yah'maht Robina Thomas

Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni (Indigenous Women) have, since time immemorial, playedcritical leadership roles in Indigenous communities. However, with the imposition ofracist/sexist colonial policies, indigenous womens roles were systematically displaced.As a result of these policies, which formalized colonial governance systems, the vitalinformal leadership roles the Xwulmuxw Slhunlheni play rarely get recognized. Thisdissertation strives to honour (or stand up) the women in our communities who continueto embrace their important roles as givers of life and carriers of culture. Throughstorytelling as a methodology, new ways of Indigenous womens leadership are revealed.I interviewed thirteen women from various Hulquminum communities on VancouverIsland and the Mainland, asking them to share their thoughts on leadership. Whatemerged from the interviews was the importance of living our cultural and traditionalteachings. This central theme emphasized the importance of keeping the past, present andfuture connected. Every one of the women discussed the importance of our teachings andthe necessity to bring those forward for the future generations. What emerged was amodel that I have coined Sacred Cycle, a model that focuses on living our values. Moreimportantly, the Sacred Cycle can be used as a valuable tool to resolve governanceproblems and as a tool of decolonization.Advisors/Committee Members: Corntassel, Jeff (supervisor).