PURPOSE:
Indigenous leadership, grounded in deep listening, consensus-building, and intergenerational wisdom, offers a relational alternative to Western hierarchical models. The author’s experience leading an International NGO revealed fundamental clashes between Indigenous approaches—centered on community accountability—and colonial structures prioritizing control and urgency. These tensions mirror challenges in healthcare, where institutional systems often marginalize holistic, patient-centered care.Midwifery’s philosophy aligns naturally with Indigenous leadership through shared values: collective decision-making, continuity of care, and honoring traditional knowledge. By integrating these principles, we can challenge colonial paradigms in healthcare, creating equitable systems that prioritize community wellness over individualism. Indigenous leadership isn’t just methodology—it’s a worldview with transformative potential for maternal care and beyond.

DISCUSSION:
Indigenous leadership and midwifery share foundational values of relational, community-centered care. Both emphasize deep listening, consensus-building, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, contrasting with Western hierarchical models. The Haudenosaunee's collective decision-making mirrors midwifery's collaborative approach, while the Seven Generations framework aligns with continuity of care principles. Indigenous holistic perspectives - integrating physical, emotional and cultural wellness - reflect midwifery's comprehensive care model. These shared values offer transformative potential for maternal healthcare, challenging institutionalized systems that prioritize efficiency over human-centered care. By embracing Indigenous leadership principles, midwifery can strengthen its capacity for culturally safe, equitable practice.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Khan ZA. Leadership theories and styles: a literature review. J Resour Dev Manag. 2016;16. Bolman LG, Deal TE. Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership. 4th ed. Jossey-Bass; 2008. Brearley L. Deep listening and leadership: an indigenous model of leadership and community development in Australia. Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Accessed June 19, 2025. https://www.banffcentre.ca/sites/default/files/Lougheed%20Leadership/Research/Indigenous/4_Chapter_3.pdf

KEY MESSAGE:
Indigenous leadership offers a valuable framework for midwifery, reinforcing community-based, respectful, and sustainable care models. Integrating these principles could strengthen culturally safe practices and challenge oppressive structures in maternal healthcare. Poster session 3 (Group B)