The Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program is a four-month (May 1 - August 25, 2017) education program offered by Coady Institute’s International Centre for Women’s Leadership. This program enables indigenous women to strengthen their leadership capacities in order to contribute to change in their communities within a culturally safe environment of sharing between women. Two on campus components bookend a community placement period over the summer months during which time the participants are supported by a mentor who can guide the application of new knowledge.

During this time, IWCL participants showcase and hone their leadership skills, address community priorities, engage and build upon community strengths. Once the program is complete, the graduates and mentors are linked through an IWCL network through which they can support each other in creating change beyond the temporal boundaries of the program.

“The skills, tactics and life experience I obtained as an IWCL participant are at the top of my library of resources that I reach for every day as a front-line worker in First Nations communities. The facilitators have the knowledge and experience to provide context into how the material could be applied within Indigenous communities.” 2013 Coady graduate

Learn more and apply to the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership program

Who should take the program?

This program is open to First Nation, Métis or Inuit women who are legally entitled to work in Canada. Successful candidates demonstrate that they have some leadership experience through community involvement, community organization or volunteer work, must be passionate about working in and developing their communities, and must be committed to this program for its duration. Participants are chosen through a rigorous selection process with a review committee of indigenous program faculty and experienced indigenous women leaders.