Native American Women Who Lead Human Service Organizations

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a qualitative, exploratory study of Native American women who served as organizational leaders in human service, educational and health-related agencies. Data were collected through interviews with 13 women. Findings include effects of gender and culture on leadership; motivations to act in a leadership position; challenges to successful leadership; and personal and organizational support to the leadership role.

Exploring Intersections of Identity With Native American Women Leaders

“…Native american women occupy key leadership positions in the delivery of human services in both reservation and nonreservation communities, yet only recently has the social work literature begun to focus on the roles of indigenous women in Native american communities as leaders rather than as clients (Barrios & egan, 2002;M. J. Taylor & Stauss, 2007).…”

“…a small, emergent literature has begun to consider the role of Native american women in tribal human service and educational settings (e.g., Krumm, 1998;Portman & garrett, 2005; M. J. Taylor & Stauss, 2007). Krumm (1998) conducted a study of four Native american female tribal college presidents, whom she described as effective leaders with a largely participatory leadership style.…”

“…Taylor and Stauss (2007) also described their styles as "democratic and collaborative" and occasionally expressed discomfort with the notion of leadership itself, which they viewed as more "circular" (p. 131). The authors noted that the need to embrace publicly a more traditional gender role of "humble nurturer" was an asset when balanced with the occasionally "punitive" decisions demanded of leaders.…”

“…although social workers and social work students are likely to hear about challenges in relation to work with and among Native american peoples, they may be less likely to hear about promising practices that are emerging from reservation communities or about individuals-increasingly Native women-who lead organizations and agencies that are dedicated to improving the economic and social circumstances of reservation families. Native american women occupy key leadership positions in the delivery of human services in both reservation and nonreservation communities, yet only recently has the social work literature begun to focus on the roles of indigenous women in Native american communities as leaders rather than as clients (Barrios & egan, 2002;M. J. Taylor & Stauss, 2007).…”

“…Research of this nature would better illuminate similarities and differences in the experiences of women from various indigenous cultural traditions (e.g., Hill et al, 1995;Prindeville, 2002a) and among those who live and work in various reservation, rural, and urban communities (e.g., Barrios & egan, 2002; M. J. Taylor & Stauss, 2007). In acknowledgment of these issues of context, I present an abbreviated historical and demographic overview of the Southern Ute reservation in the next section.…”