ATTENTION! - The TLDI Leadership Conference scheduled for Feb. 2010 has been postponed until further notice!

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Welcome to Tribal Leadership Development Institute

The Institute was formed in July 2008 with Native and non-Native individuals who were brought together by the American Indian Social Research Institute to develop an educational institution that would be primarily involved in fostering individual capacity building for life long learning. The Institute's primary focus in upon competencies, financial & fiscal development, organizational development and the implementation of change targeted to both the individual and the community.

The formation of the Institute reflects core values like wisdom, generosity, fortitude and courage among others. In the development of emerging leaders, individuals who aspire to leadership roles should possess these core values. While these core values are essential to leadership and other achievements, they play an integral role in the cultural and social systems that are tied to governance. In our Native culture, leadership is circular in that all bodies directly and indirectly participate. According to one Bay Mills elder, "All of us stand around the fishing net as equals. Sometimes one person pulls harder than another. Sometimes a person pulls for another. Leadership is like that. Leadership moves around the circle." All participants in the circle should be treated with equal consideration because each of us in the circle is a leader...past, present and future. "Tribal leadership is the embodiment of a lifestyle, an expression of learned patterns of thoughts and behaviors, values and beliefs" - Dr. Martha McLeod.

The role of leadership provides an important function and many people step into leadership roles from all walks of life. Some people are just beginning leaders, some are intermediate leaders and some people have more experience in the leadership role.

Who Should Attend?

• Tribal government employees
• Tribal council members
• Department heads / Program directors
• Organizations that provide services to Indian Country
• Non-Tribal individuals who want a more in-depth understanding of tribal governance
• Educators, planners, and economic developers
• Fiscal agents and directors
• Any and all individuals who want to learn more about 21st century governance modalities
• Individuals employed in the non-profit sector
• Federal employees / directors
• Legislative and legal professionals