Learning Story – What makes a good leader?
The Week of March 4th, 2025
What Happened?
We asked: What makes a good leader?
We heard:
“They tell people what to do and they listen.”
“They guide people.”
“I can be a leader by helping other people.”
“Prime minister is a leader.” -mayor, knight, mom and dad, alpha wolf
“What’s an alpha?” “It’s a leader of a pack.”
“Michelle’s dad is a leader. He’s a negotiator and talks to the people.”
We connected leadership to last week’s inquiry about maps and place names. Leaders have been changing the names back to the traditional names that were used prior to colonization.
We ended our morning circle by taking time to recognize how the Bushkids are leaders around the Bushkids site.
We set up an invitation to play with a tarp and puppets. We encouraged the Bushkids to create a puppet show throughout the day that they would be welcomed to share. Several Bushkids took the lead and demonstrated how to do this. Their gifts shone through when they shared their stories at the end of the day.
Why is it Important?
Dene Kede p. 179-180
“Know that leaders were role models.”
“Dene leader has to have wisdom, patience knowledge to handle alll responsibilities”
“Dene leader has to be sensitive to the needs of the people.”
By discussing how we are leaders in our small community, we help the Bushkids to identify and articulate their gifts.They are empowered to see how they can make change when they use their gifts. The Bushkids have the opportunity to be role models for the other Bushkids. In circle, we take turns speaking and listening to each other. We put our hands on our hearts to show that we have something to share and then pass it on to another Bushkid who has their hand on their heart. This requires the Bushkids to pay attention and be attentive to their friends and notice when they have something to share. This is an important quality of a leader.
What Does This Mean For Next Time?
Next week, families are welcome to join us for a feast to celebrate the Bushkids community. Stew and Bannock will be served at lunch and several Bushkids are excited to share their puppet shows. The Bushkids will be invited to take on leadership roles to help make the event a success! We hope to see you there.