b'INDIGENOUS POLITICSWhile at Mushkegowuk Council, Archibald focused on changing the election process to enable people from the communities to vote for the Grand Chief, and in her second term as Chief, she focused on the economic well-being of the community. We did a number of actions and, in particular, negotiated the forestry deals that brought prosperity to our community, she says. We started to get connected into the economy.During her second term as a Deputy Grand Chief, Archibald looked at increasing the number of women in leadership positions, which led to a multi-year project aimed at developing capacity, building leadership skills, and conducting leadership training with women across Nishnawbe Aski Nation. I became known as somebody who was not only inhabiting that space as the youngest leader at the time, but I was actually under-taking work that was having a positive impact in communities, particularly for young people and women, Archibald says. Thats always been the focus of my career, so I think thats why when people look to me and look to myArchibald is committed to leading from "a leadership. They could see that I had theseplace of love and care" which she says is accomplishments around working with womenessential during these timesand young people and in education.HEALING PATHIn terms of motivation, Archibald, who has a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Masters in Humanities, says she has spent her whole life walking a healing path due to intergenerational trauma from her parents residential school experiences. Particularly in my adulthood, I really was searching for healing and trying to understand why my dad never talked about residen-tial school, why he never talked about his childhood, Archibald explains. My dad was a mystery to me because of what he had gone through in residential school and losing both of his parents at a young age. But Ive been committed to my own personal healing journey, and to me, my leadership style is a result of that healing journey because when I do my healing then I become more whole and can do the work that is needed to help others on their own healing journeys.For Archibald, that healing journey is ongoing. I still have moments where I do self-care, she says. Im regularly involved in things like group therapy, counselling, ceremoniesthese are things that Im constantly doing in my life.This focus on self-care and healing also influences Archibalds leadership style, which she describes as heart-centred. Having a heart-centred approach is absolutely essential during these times we are in. It really means for me that Im operating with a sense of love and care in my heart, and thats what pushes me forward on this journey, she explains.It also means Archibald does not think about getting re-elected or what is the best thing to do from a political standpoint. Instead, she focuses her attention on addressing the needs of the people she serves: Im thinking about what are truly the best actions I can take from a place of love and care. That, to me, is what sets apart a leader from a politician.28Fall/Winter 2021'