Native Strategies Services
The core competencies are complemented by our partnerships to provide solutions to fit your specific needs. Services include:
- Strategic Planning
We provide a process to assist in achieving your vision through use of a few tools that have a proven track record of getting results. Briefly described:
Institute of Cultural Affairs method (ICA) - The ICA method (Technology of Participation) has been used by Fortune 500 companies, and small villages in Africa, to collaborate and develop effective plans. After leaders determine the focus, key stakeholders are identified and invited to the session. A large adhesive fabric covers a wall and serves to display all of the ideas that will be generated. The stakeholders are seated at a number of round tables. The facilitator has them generate ideas individually and then discuss in their small groups. They write their best ideas in 4-7 words on half sheets of paper. In each phase below, they collaborate and participate in a process to identify:
VISION for a very effective criminal justice system
BLOCKERS that keep us from achieving that vision (very focused)
SOLUTIONS that realistically address those blockers
IMPLEMENTATION STEPS - isolate and break down each solution
During each phase, ideas are placed on the adhesive fabric in view of all participants. Similar ideas are grouped in columns, duplicates are removed, columns are named, and those names later serve as goals and objectives in a plan. A strategic plan takes shape right before the eyes of the participants in a fairly short period. A skilled facilitator can complete that portion of the process in four hours. The solutions above become the:
• Goals
• Objectives
• Implementation Steps
• Strategic Plan
• Next steps
• Leadership adoption of specific strategies
• Tasks assigned by leadership
If any one of the goals or objectives is complex, a separate planning process can be accomplished with the group or a smaller subgroup of stakeholders. - Community Collaboration
Nominal Group Technique (NGT) – When a project, crisis, or grant requires community collaboration, that task can often be accomplished using the NGT. The NGT provides an opportunity for community members to contribute and prioritize ideas to address a specific problem for consideration.
Tribal or community leaders would take the lead in introducing the need for the collaborative effort focused on a “question” that would guide the facilitated discussion. Example:
“What types of programs, facilities, or efforts should we as a community involve ourselves in, or start, to insure that we become and remain a “Safe Community?”
The facilitator uses the NGT process to keep participants on task and focused on the question. All participants have an opportunity to speak and present ideas that the facilitator writes on large paper posted on the walls. Ideas are not challenged or criticized. All have an opportunity to ask for clarification of the posted ideas and the contributor of that idea can respond to ensure each is understood.
All participants are given 10 adhesive “colored dots” and participate in placing those dots on their favorite ideas for a natural prioritization of ideas. The obvious benefits are collaboration without conflict, good ideas float to the top, all are heard, and the information is useful to tribal leaders who ultimately make the important decisions regarding which ideas are feasible.
• Seven Steps
• Generate Ideas
• Clarify
• Prioritize
• Compile
• Presentation to Leadership
• Leadership adoption of specific strategies
• Planning session to develop and assign tasks
These two processes and others have worked well in Indian Country and serve to involve the community in the planning process. The tools meet the expectations of the required planning process and extract the solutions from the people that are closest to the problem. The participants have “ownership” as they are key contributors. - Project Management and Plan Execution
Whatever process or skills are used, each goal, objective, or implementation step must be “owned” by someone (not a group) who is responsible to accomplish each task. Execution requires resources, a reasonable timeline with appropriate benchmarks, and someone responsible to monitor the overall progress (Champion of the plan). Everyone is expected to follow through on his or her responsibilities. If an “owner” is falling behind, those situations should be noted as “exceptions” and the person responsible for the overall plan should meet with the owner to identify the cause and offer assistance to keep the plan moving forward. - Organizational Assessments
We provide a process to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your organization, recommend best practices, and provide alternatives to improve the ability of the team to execute the vision of the administrator or Tribal Council.
The process includes a meeting with the leadership to determine the scope of the assessment, individual interviews with those leaders, interviews with employees, compiling or quantifying the data where appropriate, and interview leadership once more. The results are provided to the Council in a workshop retreat to assist in determining a course of action.
• Leadership individual interviews
• Employee interviews
• Quantified results - Emergency management
We can assist in evaluating the current threat environment, focusing efforts on events based on risk, and developing mitigation plans in advance of an event. We provide a strategic approach to prioritize risk, assess current capabilities, and determine needs; policy, plans, training, equipment, and exercises specific to your needs. - Crisis Management
We can provide assistance with pre-incident planning, additional personnel to assist with management of an event, post-event debriefing/strategy, and critical incident stress debriefing. - Grant Application and Administration
We can review and recommend specific grants to meet your specific needs and assist with the structure of the application, community and stakeholder collaboration, facilitation of meetings, writing the application, and ensure the completion of grant requirements. - Tribal Law Enforcement
We can provide assistance to develop the concept, selection process, hiring process, training, equipping, and deploying your security department or Tribal Law Enforcement. - Training
Training and curriculum development can be customized to your organization’s specific needs. - Public and Media Relations
Pending - Workplace violence policy and prevention
Pending - Facilitation of Challenging Workgroup
Pending
We have partners with expertise in public safety data integration, data mining, analytic software, executive protection, special weapons and tactics, and hostage recovery.
What sets Native Strategies apart from the rest?
My specialty is helping Native American communities achieve goals that appear impossible to the membership or leadership. They know their issues better than any consultant. I thrive in a challenging environment where historical conflict is an impediment to real progress.
My role, at the direction of the Tribal Council, is to facilitate a process to clearly define the vision, goals, obstacles, and solutions from the stakeholders. The plan takes shape before the eyes of the participants who become committed to the plan they built. I provide a structure for execution of the strategic plan through milestones, progress reports, and reporting by exception.
Other tools are also available for community collaboration and participation.
I have effectively facilitated:
- Tribal Council meetings
- Council retreats
- Organizational assessments to improve effectiveness
- Tribal membership to develop ordinances
- Land assignment
- Enrollment
- Built Tribal Law Enforcement capability from concept to deployment
