Michelle Gladstone-Wade

I attribute my success to those who came before me and lessons taught to me by the women in my life. My mother and my Aunt who have always been there for me in the best and the worst of times. Family is so important and those connections find you when you need them most. During my time at Northwest Indian College we discovered that my department chair is my Aunt! Having the support of my family was absolutely foundational in pushing me to go further and do more and bring more home to our people. What's the point of all this work, academic success, professional success, breaking of glass ceilings, if I'm going to gatekeep and not reach back and uplift the generations coming up behind me? I began my education in a small rural town and blazed a path to Dartmouth College. My time at Dartmouth taught me that I don't have to be in the box they put me in - I am allowed to explore my own interests and be true to who I am. My first job after graduation was an AmeriCorps placement at Northwest Indian College. Being an AmeriCorps member was both personally and professionally life-changing, I was able to explore my own identity as a tribal person and learn what it means to serve a tribal community. I found that's where I belong and that as a a professional my job is to use my gifts and skills to support my community.

The most impactful piece of advice I received was from my father, who is formerly an elected leader in our tribal community. He shared with me that when you walk into these rooms where you are the token Indian, or you are the one woman at a table full of men, the best thing to do is to listen. Something I've experienced as a tribal woman in a male-dominated space - specifically in non-tribal spaces, there's always something to be said, there's always something that fills the space. If you simply sit back and listen, actively listen, you're able to figure out the playing field and how the players influence one another. Knowing and understanding the playing field has become a strength to help survive and begin to thrive in esoteric non-tribal workspaces. This advice has been endlessly useful and it has helped me in more ways than I'm able to articulate.

When a young woman asks me for advice about entering this field, I always start with what father taught me. Always listen before you speak. When you walk into these rooms where you are the token Indian, or you are the one female a table of men, the best thing to do is to listen first. A a tribal woman in a male-dominated space of economic development and elected leadership, specifically with our non-tribal counterparts, there's always something to be said and someone is always filling the space. If you sit back and listen, actively observe, you're able to figure out the dynamics and how the space operates. This has become strength to help survive and establish a presence in these esoteric workspaces. I also firmly believe, what's the point of all this work, academic success, professional success, breaking of glass ceilings, if I'm not going to share what I have learned with the generation coming up behind me? I love to work beside people and share my knowledge, experiences, and stories even if I don't call it formal mentorship.

The biggest challenge in my field is navigating the tension between tribal and non-tribal spaces and systems. The non-tribal bureaucratic systems do not always understand tribal sovereignty which can jeopardize growing partnerships. The greatest opportunity lies in developing responsive funding and contracting mechanisms, strengthening the tribal workforce through education programs, and forging meaningful agreements and partnerships that prioritize tribal goals.

The values most important to me center around giving back to my community and serving Indian Country - that's what I have been called to do as a professional. I believe strongly sharing knowledge and lessoned learned with the generation coming up behind me, because what's the point of academic success, professional success, and breaking of glass ceilings if I'm not going to share it? I value leveling power dynamics and being vulnerable enough to say 'I don't know lets find out together' because that bit of vulnerability really helps to establish relationship and trust. Family time is very important to me and being able to watch my children spend time with their grandparents brings immense joy. Our natural world around us is also crucial - we won't survive without our world, so teaching and learning about how to be more gentle in our environment is something important to me. I hope to share these lessons with my children so we can do our part to ensure our community is safe and healthy place for all of us, whether it's the cats, the plants, or the people.