Origin Leadership Consulting

03/24/2026

So proud of our team! We have just released our first custom course on Southern Michif Culture and Language. A deep Marsii to and for all the hard work and encouragement to bring this beautiful course to life!

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Southern Michif with our comprehensive course. Join us to explore the unique blend of Cree and French in this immersive learni

09/30/2025

Truth and Reconciliation Day

Today is not a holiday. It is a day of truth, remembrance, and responsibility.

We remember the children who never came home.
We honour the survivors who carry the weight of those memories.
We commit to a future where these truths are not forgotten, and where reconciliation is lived, not spoken.

Every child matters. Every step matters.

Remember the children. Honour the survivors. Commit to the future.

09/04/2025

Often, issues in the workplace go much deeper than individual team members.



"One of the most dangerous assumptions in any workplace: 'People Are The Problem.' When we hear that 'people are the problem,' often the real harm is caused by the structure. If someone seems disengaged, defensive, or resistant, pause before pathologizing them. Ask what conditions they’re navigating. Blame hides the real design flaws."

09/01/2025

In this series, we examine common phrases used in strategy, policy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, engagement, and leadership, and what they unintentionally signal to the people you’re trying to reach. Because language isn’t neutral. It shapes trust, power, and what gets built. 💫⭐



“Analyzing Signal Phrases Part 3: ‘Our Site is Accessible’ - Accessibility isn’t just a checklist; it’s a relationship with the people most impacted by design choices. This post explores what your accessibility language signals to people with disabilities and staff. ‘Our Site is Accessible’ What this phrase signals: You’ve met minimum standards, but may not have designed for actual lived experiences. What to watch for: Were people with disabilities part of the process? Did you test beyond checklists, such as for sensory overload, screen readers, and plain language? What to do: Center accessibility from the beginning, not as an add-on. Prioritize inclusive voices in design, decision-making, and evaluation.”

08/28/2025

‼️📣 Unresolved tension can have consequences on the individuals in your organization. Leaders have a responsibility to recognize this.



"Harm doesn't always show up loudly. In many rooms, people know something’s off long before it’s acknowledged. Tension lives in the pauses, the glances, the hesitations. Systems condition people to stay silent, to adapt, to minimize what they know is real. Leaders have a responsibility to recognize this. The work isn’t just about what’s said. It’s about noticing what individuals are afraid to say, and creating the conditions for truth to re-enter the space."

08/26/2025

⭐Most change models still center systems over people. This cycle reframes change as something relational, not mechanical. If your strategy skips the listening and rushes the co-creation, it’s not people-centered, it’s performative.



"The People-Centered Change Cycle - Listen: Make space for what’s unsaid, not just what’s shared. Repair: Acknowledge harm, shift power, and move at the speed of trust. Co-Create: Build together, not just with input—shape from the start. Sustain: Stay through discomfort. Make the change stick through relationships."

08/22/2025

Remember, everything is collaborative. 🌈⭐



"Consent is not consultation. Consent is not a form or a meeting. It’s a sustained and respectful relationship. If your process starts with, 'we’ve already decided,' then you’re not looking for consent, you’re looking for compliance. Learn to Pause Before the Plan."

08/20/2025

Language is a System: What Words Reveal About Your Organizational Culture
In this series, we examine common phrases used in strategy, policy, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, engagement, and leadership, and what they unintentionally signal to the people you’re trying to reach. Because language isn’t neutral. It shapes trust, power, and what gets built.



“Analyzing signal phrases part 2: ‘We Engaged the Community’ - When working with Indigenous Nations, language like “community engagement” can flatten responsibility, equity, and protocol. This post is about moving from outreach to relational governance. ‘We Engaged the Community’ What this phrase signals: You consulted people, but it may have been on your terms, timeline, and agenda. What to watch for: Was the process co-created? Did feedback change anything? Did the community voice shift the outcome? What to do: Move from extractive engagement toward relational governance. Make space for refusal. Budget for co-design. Plan to be changed by what you hear. We’re developing a Relational Indigenous Engagement Course rooted in consent, care, and community accountability. To be notified when this course launches, sign up through the link in the caption!”

08/18/2025

Too often, “Indigenous engagement” becomes a line item on an RFP rather than a genuine partnership. Over the past decade, we've seen organizations talk about inclusion, but stumble when it’s time to walk the talk. If you’re serious about working with First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and Urban Indigenous communities, here are three guiding principles that will move you from compliance to connection.

At Origin Leadership Consulting, we help you translate intent into impact, aligning your ethical leadership goals with Indigenous governance principles every step of the way. Ready to move beyond tokenism? Let’s start the conversation.

This post was written by Raelene Bergen, Founder & CEO of Origin Leadership Consulting. To learn more about Origin's journey and Raelene's personal journey, check out https://www.originlc.com/ and https://www.raelenebergen.com/



"3 Principles for Meaningful Indigenous Engagement - 1. Listen to Existing Strengths: Before proposing new 'solutions,' take time to learn what systems, protocols, and leadership structures are already in place. Acknowledge past accomplishments and build on community-led frameworks. 2. Build Capacity: Don't just check boxes. True partnership means co-designing programs, sharing decision-making power, and creating sustainable skills transfer, not dropping in consultants and walking away. Invest in training and mentorship that stays long after your project ends. 3. Embed Cultural Intelligence: One training session isn’t enough. Cultural intelligence must be woven into every phase, from governance and procurement to evaluation and reporting. Encourage ongoing learning, reflection circles, and regular feedback loops with community liaisons."

08/15/2025

Happy Friday! Always remember that quality always lasts longer than urgency.



"A reminder for organizations everywhere: What's built with care won't need to be rebuilt. When urgency drives the process, people get left behind. Most quick fixes are just well-designed avoidance. However, when the work is human-first, the timeline shifts. There’s room to ask better questions. There’s space to honour complexity."