The Impact of Historical Context on Indigenous Female Leaders in Education: A Comparative Analysis of Canada and the US

Educational disparities have long shaped the schooling experiences of the Indigenous people of North America. Since the 20th century, many Indigenous female leaders have stepped forward, using various methods of advocacy to improve Indigenous education. This paper seeks to compare the methods used by Canadian and American Indigenous female leaders in education. Through analyzing the cross-generational and cross-country historical context of indigenous leadership based on literature review, individual case analysis, the research reveals no significant links between the methods of advocacy and national contexts across countries. However, across generations, there were significant links in socioeconomic contexts and the methods of advocacy used. These findings highlight how shifts in social and economic factors influence Indigenous advocacy, offering a deeper insight into the forces that shape Indigenous leadership.