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As the 2024 election season draws to a close, we're facing a historic money year — nationally and locally. If Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz win the White House this year, the nation's highest-ranking Native American woman would become Minnesota's governor. That woman is Peggy Flanagan.
Hailed as one of Minnesota's rising stars and currently of the highest rank Indigenous woman elected to executive office, Peggy Flanagan is a politician, community organizer and Indigenous activist from the White Earth Nation. She has served as Minnesota's lieutenant governor since 2019 and is currently in line for the governorship if Tim Walz becomes vice president.
So what does this all mean? History could be made this November and help catapult the first Native woman—and by extension, long-overlooked Native issues—into the broader American public discourse. It's also perfect timing as we approach Native American History Month this November.
Although we are zooming in on politics in this section, entrepreneurs across the spectrum can learn something about positioning different leaders in the appropriate spaces and supporting their work and advancement throughout their mandate.
Flanagan needed allies like Walz and others to raise her voice and put her in positions where she could have an impact. We can all learn more about what it means to be better ally for those who are “first” in their space. Here are three alliance strategies that I recommend for myself diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consulting clients.
Let different leaders lead
There have been many firsts in the realm of politics in recent years. There was the first black president, Barack Obama, in 2008, then the first gay governor, Jared Polis, of Colorado in 2019, and potentially the first woman and Southeast Asian president, Kamala Harris, in 2024.
All of these great firsts had this in common: they had allies and partners who let them take the lead and shine. Peggy Flanagan has been a prominent leader in the DEI field for decades. In 2017, she helped form Minnesota's first People of Color and Indigenous Groups (POCI). She worked tirelessly to improve education, health and economic outcomes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in her state.
In addition, she has been a fearless advocate for the rights of indigenous people. While serving as a legislator, she sponsored a first-of-its-kind task force focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), a nationwide phenomenon where Indigenous women experience violence and disappear immediately afterward. Local police municipalities in many states often do not search for missing indigenous women or investigate their disappearances. Unfortunately, MMIW cases usually go unsolved. All of this means that when we allow diverse leaders to lead, they can do powerful things by raising awareness of issues that may never have crossed our minds. As allies, it is our job to lift up these leaders and amplify their work.
Beware of performative allyship
While many people want to take credit for recognizing the pioneers in politics and DEI and are proud to have supported them on their way up, the truth is that it can be a lonely journey for many leaders who have had to to realize their own dreams. They sponsored their own legislation and wrote it themselves with their own teams. They sat in rooms with decision makers where they worked hard to get colleagues on board with their bold new initiatives. They participated in many thankless events where they carried the burden of organization, leadership and management of single results.
Many people want to take credit for the work BIPOC has done by saying they were “there” at the event or wholeheartedly “support” the work of so-and-so leaders. But still, BIPOC individuals are often the people who have done all the work, and still, allies are nowhere to be found. Performance alliance it can often feel like pretending to be an ally when it's politically or socially advantageous, but not when real diligence, work and dedication are required – and the cameras and spotlights are off. Avoid falling into the trap of elevating leaders like Flanagan when it's most convenient you and not about the leaders and their causes.
Related: How brands can move from performing allies to actual allies
Become a success partner
What is most useful for the emerging leaders you want to support is not alone SAY you stand behind some causes, but to appear and prove. Support bills that improve health, education and indigenous rights. Talk about Flanagan's work in the public domain, thereby ensuring that colleagues who may be interested in those issues are aware of them. Donate to organizations and nonprofits that strengthen the work Indigenous leaders are doing to move the needle on change. It's not enough to say, “I'm for indigenous people's rights,” or do a land survey when you haven't done the work, spent the time, or put your money where your mouth is.
Final thoughts
No matter what happens this November, leaders like Peggy Flanagan are on the rise. When a person moves into higher office, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ officials who have been waiting for their moment to shine can finally rise up as well. The future is bright for a new generation of U.S. leadership that better represents the country's diversity while inspiring more just, equitable, and inclusive policies at the local and national levels.