Circle Teachings as Ceremony and Research

This workshop will begin with an introduction to sharing circle protocols. This professional development training uses real-life examples and lessons learned in Indigenous performance measurement and evaluation.

Information will be relayed by sharing pictures, storytelling, and lived experiences in the field. This will be followed by a facilitated sharing circle. The intended outcome is to bridge Indigenous methodologies into evaluation practice by using sharing circles for data collection and analysis.

Indigenous approaches to holistic evaluations take into consideration the complex intersectional impacts of the environment, the community, cultural practices, traditions, as well as the existing processes and realities including environmental degradation, systemic racism, social injustice, and economic inequality.

Photos are able to visually capture progress, engage stakeholders with visual representation, provide qualitative aspects that are difficult to share in words, and used in storytelling. This workshop has been delivered online and in-person with overwhelming participation at the CES Community of Practice in 2021, Canadian Evaluation Society (CES) National conference in 2022, and the first Indigenous Evaluation Network (IEN) opening ceremony in February 2024.

This workshop will be facilitated by a certified Indigenous restorative justice circle practitioner.

Dylan Jenkins, Swampy Cree/Oji-Cree, York Factory First Nation, Manitoba, Two-Spirit Knowledge Keeper
Dylan Jenkins began his journey as a dedicated federal public servant 24 years ago, and has worked in the areas of Inclusive Innovation, Indigenous governance and administration, economic development, housing and infrastructure, education, social policy and partnerships, and Indigenous Cultural Competency training and development.

Dylan currently leads Inclusive Innovation at the National Research Council of Canada, and has served as Senior Executive Advisor on Economic Development, and as Associate Ombuds at Indigenous Services Canada. Additionally, in his role as an educator, Dylan was a faculty member at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario serving as a Professor of Indigenous Public Administration and Governance.

Over the past 30 Years, Dylan has been mentored by Wisdom Keepers and Spiritual Advisors from the Omushkego, Anishinaabe, Algonquin, Haudenosaunee, Tuscarora and Métis Nations, and as a sanctioned Two-Spirit Knowledge Keeper, and Storyteller, Dylan lives by and shares teachings imparted by his Elders, Teachers, and Guides.

Notably, in June 2024, Dylan supported Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister Marci Ien as the Two Spirit Knowledge Keeper to open the 2024 Pride Season and Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Marina Santilli
Marina Santilli is experienced in monitoring, reporting, and evaluation with the United Nations in the Middle East. She has served Indigenous peoples, nations, and communities in different policy and program evaluation capacities with the Government of Canada since 2017. She is motivated to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action in evaluation practice. She has worked with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation partners to advance Indigenous-led performance measurement and data collection. She is on the Planning Committee for the Indigenous Evaluation Network and is an active member of the Canadian Evaluation Society.