Denise K. Lajimodiere, assistant professor in the School of Education, will present a paper, titled "Native Female Leadership: An Ethical Engagement," at the National Society for Applied Anthropology in Santa Fe, N.M., on March 19.

“My paper speaks to the findings of my qualitative interview study of Native females and their path to leadership,” Lajimodiere said. “It reveals the challenges, conflicts and obstacles faced by Native women working toward professional goals that demand a balance of traditional and contemporary leadership strengths and roles and focuses on the experience, perceptions, beliefs and meaning of five of today’s Native female leaders – five Brave-Hearted Women.”

The Native female leaders selected for the study were first-time female leaders in their particular fields. Themes that emerged included experiences in early poverty and racism, strong survival skills, resiliency, mothers as first mentors and strong tribal cultural and spiritual values.

“I address stereotypes of Native females – drudge, slave, princess – perpetrated by male anthropologists who only spoke to Native males,” she said. “Thus the ‘voice’ of Native females has been silent. Through this paper, I give voice to five outstanding Native female tribal leaders.”

Lajimodiere is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Pembina Chippewa, from Belcourt, N.D. She was the first female and the first American Indian professor in the School of Education.

Lajimodiere joined the faculty at NDSU in August 2006. The classes she teaches include Ethics and Communication, Instructional Models, Administration of Elementary School, Supervisory and Administrative Theories and Elementary Curriculum. She also is a researcher for the National Boarding School Healing Project.