Finding your Oshkiniigikwe Superpower

By VIVIAN LaMOORE, INAAJIMOWIN EDITOR

Oshkiniigikwe means "Young Lady." If you are a young Anishinaabe woman, you are invited to attend the Oshkiniigijwe Leadership Conference. This is no ordinary youth conference. This conference has been designed from the ground up by young women for young women with the goal of inspiring young women and supporting them as they develop superpowers that will help them on their journey to servant leadership. Mark your calendar for March 19, 2022 and head on over to Grand Casino Hinckley. This event is open to youth ages 12 to 24. Those who are ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult.

The one-day conference is packed with events and breakout sessions for a full day of superpower training with inspirational motivational speakers such as Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Cecilia Fire Thunder, Roxanne DeLille, and comedian Tonia Jo Hall. With breakout sessions that will include how to write your own music, create your own video game, and sewing a ribbon skirt. There is even a roundy for the finale of the day. You wont want to miss this exciting day of fun.

This even sounds like so much fun, probably because it has been developed from the ground up by many talented young ladies under the guidance of many talented adult women mentors including Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Beth Gruber, Baabiitaw Boyd, Cheyanne Peet to just to name a few.

"As women of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, we have an amazing superpower. Our Elders say we have this gift and it is our responsibility to help that gift grow," said Chief Executive Benjamin.

Chief Executive Benjamin is a member of the The Young Women’s Initiative of Minnesota which is a partnership between the Governor’s Office and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. This multi-year initiative elevates the leadership and solutions of young women, specifically young women of color, Indigenous young women, young women from Greater Minnesota, LGBTQ+ youth, and young women with disabilities.

The Executive Council for the Young Women’s Initiative is committed to leading by example, holding themselves and their institutions accountable, disrupting the status quo, dismantling barriers, and advocating for gender and racial equity. By listening to and investing in young women they will drive social change and economic opportunities for young women in Minnesota.

The council has nearly 40 members under the the leadership of Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, Gloria Perez, President and CEO, Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, and Dr. Verna Cornelia Price, CEO, The Power of People Consulting Group. Lt. Gov. Flanagan initiated a goal for members of the council to go back to their communities and develop a leadership event that would inspire young women within each of their own communities. Chief Executive Benjamin dove into the project recruiting strong Anishinaabekwe to become involved and the ideas started rolling.

"We have a lot of young ladies who have been to conferences but never had an opportunity to know how they work and what it takes to set up an event or conference," Chief Executive Benjamin said. "Everything from setting a budget and sticking to it, to the theme, getting speakers, marketing, getting participants, all of that. So we thought we would find young women who were interested in this idea and match them up with mentors who could help guide them through the process. Now that it is coming to fruition, the young ladies are getting pretty excited."

Women mentors from the Mille Lacs Band WEWIN Chapter, Corporate Ventures and Minisinaakwaang Ge-niigaanizijig were instrumental in the process.

"The youth worked with mentors who offered support and guidance," said Baabiitaw Boyd. "The whole process allowing the youth to develop all of the details as they moved forward through the steps of event planning allowed the youth to gain immeasurable experience that they can take with them throughout their lives. Gaining this knowledge has helped them to feel empowered and builds their confidence. They will be able to make changes in society and contribute to the community with these skills and knowledge. This will benefit them individually and the community will see the benefits with the new emerging servant leaderships."

Cheyanne Peet, Program Coordinator for Minisinaakwaang Ge-niigaanizijig, said the program has not only motivated the youth of the community but it has strengthened her pride in the youth. "The focus is to help them understand, help them to be leaders, and figure out what their superpower is. I am so proud of the commitment these young ladies have proven and the excitement they are producing. They really are shining with their superpowers!"

Beth Gruber, Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, agreed and was quick to add that the inspiration comes from the mentors who are leading by example. "Chief Executive Benjamin has really made an effort to be on every Monday night Zoom call — even if she is at a conference or something, she will find a quite place to Zoom with the youth. That really means a lot to the young ladies. Not just because she is the Chief Executive, but also because she is an adult woman giving them her time and offering teaching moments along the way."

The inspiration and empowerment of this group is practically palpable as each one appears to be building the others up with support and encouragement. "I am very proud of the adult mentors who have committed their knowledge with the young women and the young women themselves who are embracing this project," Chief Executive Benjamin said. "They will all be able to put this in their personal tool box for later in their lives. Who knows — they could end up being in the White House someday!"

Chief Executive Benjamin said she is proud to have had the opportunity to work with a group of polite, engaging and committed young ladies. And proud of the mentors who are equally committed and engaging.

"We want to remind our young women that they have so much potential and we want to encourage them to grow that potential for themselves and for the community," Baabiitaw said.

Participating youth are: Shaylynn DeCoteau, Aleah Hill, Mercedes Misquadace, Jazlene White, Roylynn Benjamin, Nindaanis Benjamin, Joscelyn Skinaway, Tammy Gahbow, and Angelique White.

Participating mentors are: Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin, Baabiitaw Boyd, Valerie Harrington, Andrea Bolin, Beth Gruber, Cheyanne Peet, LeAnn Benjamin, Brandi Smith, Chandell Boyd, and Kim Sam.

Those interested in attending the event should register by clicking the link https://Events.Bizzabo.com/377572. "We will help you uncover your gifts as an Anishinaabe women and how servant leadership starts with you. What is your superpower?"