A Path Forward | Mikan E'niigaanimok

This book is to celebrate centuries of thriving Indigenous peoples across the globe; to recognize the gifts that Indigenous history and wisdom have bestowed on non-Indigenous peoples, and to understand how those gifts continue to add to growth and development for all of us. Our frame is the concept of continuous improvement in business. There are many frames we could have started with, but this one is important because of the current struggle in global business to move away from short-term, bottom-line thinking and achieve greater sustainability, through a longer-term, inclusive lens. This is a genuine effort to show how the cultural values of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples align to expand the capacity and achieve objectives around sustainability and growth of today’s business organizations. Neither of the authors claims to represent every aspect of their identities and cultures. Dwight presents himself as an adoptee of the Anishinaabe Culture, and any opinions or perspectives he offers represent his personal experience of growth within that culture within the context of a non-Indigenous landscape. He brings to the table his unique experience as an Indigenous man whose success within corporate Canada is built upon constantly interweaving the lessons from both experiences. Linda, likewise, views the content of this book through the lens of a white female born into poverty, and academic scholar raised all over the world as a military brat. She did not grow up with a connection to roots or to the land. She finds solace in finding ways to make sense out of nonsensical experiences—finding reason in chaos. She brings her experience as a non-Indigenous woman whose success within academia is built on negotiating her role in a sometimes-toxic environment. With these very different backgrounds, Dwight and Linda both see themselves as students, always learning and always sharing. Despite their many differences, they have discovered similar understandings and often find themselves in complete agreement about how to build on strength, reconcile differences and create value for all. Work on this book required relentless attention to respect for difference, without judgment or bias. Because much of our bias is automatic—a learned response to difference—we must learn new ways. Bias is based on what Linda calls “unexamined assumptions”. The authors hope the reader will be able to recognize some of their own unexamined assumptions and begin to experience better continuous improvement outcomes.