Program Overview

Indigenous-based facilitation is rooted in traditional teachings that center balance, equality, and community responsibility. For generations, Indigenous peoples organized their social structures, leadership, and learning around the circle – a symbol of connection, shared power, and harmony with the natural world. Colonization disrupted these systems, causing profound loss of culture, language, safety, and community wellness. Today, rebuilding healthy, violence-free communities requires returning to those cultural foundations.

This approach supports men, youth, and community members in preventing domestic and sexual violence through culturally grounded education and dialogue. It recognizes the leadership of Native women, honor advocates, and ensures that men’s involvement happens in balance and accountability to those most impacted.

Rather than lectures or traditional “expert-driven” teaching, Indigenous-based facilitation emphasizes guided dialogue. Facilitators create safe spaces where people can talk about trauma, healing, and community transformation. They listen, redirect when needed, and help participants learn from one another. The goal is shared understanding- not debate-so communities can address violence together.

Key concepts include:

• Traditional knowledge as practice-based evidence: Indigenous ways of living have long supported safety, wellness, and respect. Teachings, ceremonies, and cultural values provide guidance for rebuilding strong communities today.

• Shared Leadership: Leadership is based on character, contribution, and service-not hierarchy. Elders, adults, youth, and children each hold wisdom and play a role in community balance.

• Circle-based Learning: Talking circles and culturally grounded protocols promote equality, respect, and honest dialogue. No one person sits above another.

• Facilitation over presentation: Facilitators guide conversation, encourage participation, and maintain a supportive space. They are not the “experts”, but helpers who move the group through the learning process.

• Skills for effective facilitation: Creating comfortable arrangements, encouraging every voice, managing conflict, staying neutral, reading body language, maintaining respect, and allowing participants to learn from one another.

Indigenous-based facilitation models the world we are working to build – one rooted in respect, balance, and collective healing. By merging cultural teachings with modern community engagement, this approach helps restore traditional values and strengthen our efforts to end violence and support the wellbeing of Native nations.