About Mumik

With over 25 years of research, strategic planning, and practice, Qaaġraq, through seeking elder & community guidance, developed philosophies of business which help improve the work of organizations serving Indigenous people.

Of course, there are many ways to measure success, from data, to profitability, to complying with a grant‘s expectations. In non-profit work done for Indigenous communities, the measurement should consider how the people experience our work. To be successful in this, we have to understand the people, their culrural values, their communication styles,  and their hopes for your work. We should start by listening, learning, and letting the local people guide the work. In this way, we can better meet their expectations and have true success. 

My definition of success is when the people in the deepest, darkest, and most hurting places, actually experience the benefits of our work.

2022 Harvard physician training, Kotzebue, Alaska 

*Mom once told me that our elders will patiently wait to see if an idea, a system, or an initiative will work. But after a while, if there still isn't positive change for our people, they’ll say,

“Atlaŋuġnaqsiruq”, which means, “Okay. It’s not working. Now it’s time to do something different.”

Another way to look at it is to google Einstein’s definition of insanity! 

This brings us to two questions:  

• WHAT do we need to do differently?
• HOW do we make those changes?

Organizations can evaluate and change some of their western approaches to working with Indigenous communities. Qaaġraq can help your organization do this.

2023 DLF Forum Conference, St. Louis, MO