Episode 007: Starting Slowly, Listening Deeply, and Honoring our Ancestors with Navajo Facilitator Vickie Oldman
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Summary
Inspired and guided by her Navajo ancestors, Vickie Oldman infuses indigenous wisdom into everything she does. As Vickie honors her relatives, tells facilitation stories and shares her native language, she invites us into a world where we, too, are encouraged to slow down, listen to intuition, and contemplate the power of language. “This is what I do. This is the medicine I bring. And I’m bringing it,” she says. In this episode, we have the privilege to receive this medicine.
Today’s Guest
Vickie is a founding and managing partner with Seven Sisters Community Development Group, LLC , a national community development consulting firm. Vickie specializes in culturally relevant approaches to organizational development. She has over 23 years of expertise in strategic planning, board development, leadership training, team building, asset building and executive coaching to Native and rural communities. She is recognized nationally as a skilled facilitator, trainer, and speaker. Vickie is a certified coach, trainer and facilitator for Emergent Learning, Leadership that Works, Institute of Cultural Affairs’ ToP Strategic Planning and Workshop Methods, True Colors, Nonprofit Management, Building Native Communities: Financial Skills for Families, and the Grove Team Performance Model.
Vickie has been a lead trainer, technical assistance provider and executive coach in various capacity building initiatives funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Fund, including YouthBuild USA, NeighborWorks America, Corporation for Enterprise Development, Native American Indian Housing Council and working with foundations.
Vickie currently sits on the Boards of Rural Community Assistance Corporation Board, New Mexico Resiliency Alliance and is an advisory member for Partnerships with Native American Leadership Program. She has been recognized for her achievements like “2015 Distinguished NMHU Alumna”, “2004 Women of Vision Award and with numerous awards from the National Association of Social Workers, including the “2006 President’s Award” and “2003 Social Worker of the Year” Award.
Vickie has a Master in Social Work with a concentration in Community Planning and Administration from New Mexico Highlands University. She also holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Arizona State University. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo tribe, and her clans are Black Streak of the Forest People, Mud People, One Who Walks Around People, and Folding Arm People.
Resources
Real Native Roots: Untold Stories, Vickie’s podcast
Thank you for joining us!