For Flint-Lowe, whose background is primarily in health care, the academy broadened her perspective on Tribal governance, particularly the importance of strategic thinking, economic development and financial stewardship. She returned with a greater focus on making decisions that will create sustainable value for the Poarch Creek Indians and consider their long-term impact on Tribal Citizens, resources and sovereignty.

“Tribal leaders are making decisions today that can affect our citizens, our resources and our sovereignty for generations,” she said. “Good leadership is about asking better questions, understanding the data, considering different perspectives and making decisions that strengthen the Tribe over the long term,” said Flint-Lowe. 

Developed by faculty in Native American and Indigenous Studies and Native alumni members of Dartmouth’s Native American Visiting Committee, the Tribal Leadership Academy serves as a “proof of concept” for the broader Dartmouth Tribal Sovereignty Institute. Since its launch, the academy has brought together 45 sitting and newly elected Tribal leaders representing 43 Tribal Nations in a collaborative setting designed to exchange knowledge and explore issues affecting Tribal communities.

Equally valuable in this experience were the relationships Flint-Lowe built with Tribal leaders from across the country. Sharing experiences highlighted the common challenges facing Indian Country while reinforcing that each Tribal Nation requires approaches shaped by its own history, culture and priorities. The conversations gave Flint-Lowe new ideas and perspectives while allowing her to share her own experiences as a relatively new member of the Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Council.

“Being selected for the Dartmouth Tribal Leadership Academy was a meaningful experience for me, both personally and professionally,” Flint-Lowe said. “I came home with new ideas, new relationships and a much greater appreciation for the strength and diversity of Tribal leadership across Indian Country. And as a Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Citizen and someone serving in Tribal leadership, I felt a real responsibility to take advantage of the opportunity and learn as much as I could, to become a better leader for my Tribe and bring something valuable back,” she said.

That philosophy aligns closely with the purpose of the Tribal Leadership Academy, which encourages participants to build relationships with other Tribal leaders, governments, universities and community partners while applying what they learn to the unique priorities of their own Tribal Nations. Dartmouth’s investment in Tribal leadership continues to build on the institution’s historic 1769 charter, which included “the education of the youth of the Indian tribes” among its stated purposes. The new institute represents an effort to build on that history through sustained collaboration with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.

For the Poarch Creek Indians, Flint-Lowe’s participation provided an opportunity to contribute to the national conversation on Tribal governance while bringing new knowledge, perspectives and relationships back to the Tribe. For Flint-Lowe, the experience was ultimately about growing as a leader and Tribal citizen and applying what she learned to her service on the Tribal Council.