SPEAKER
Transforming Perspectives Through Story
Stories are not merely narratives; they are frameworks for understanding ourselves, our relationships, and the systems we live within. We learn about the world around us through story. The kinds of stories we are told, the way stories are told, and who determines what stories are important to be told. They hold the power to shape our identities, disrupt entrenched colonial structures, and illuminate paths toward equity, inclusion, and meaningful change.
Given the power of stories, how must we - as leaders, visionaries, scientists, artists, researchers, and innovators - recognize the responsibilities we hold to be in good relation with the storytellers and the stories they share with us? How might we care for and honor the stories, the storytellers and the communities they represent? How might changing the way we think about and act upon this understanding of the power of stories open the space for transformation and building new relationships with ourselves, each other, and the world around us?
Keynote Presentations
Dive into engaging discourses and narratives that can reshape the way we think and act. My specializations include:
Indigenous Evaluation
Discover how evaluation can be reimagined through Indigenous lenses. This keynote explores relational accountability, cultural safety, and decolonial principles, offering frameworks to co-create meaningful and values-driven evaluation practices that honor community voices and foster systemic change.
The Power of Story
Storytelling is a transformative tool for connection and understanding. This keynote delves into the significance of story in shaping our identities, relationships, and decisions, emphasizing the importance of building new relationships with the stories we have been told to drive innovation and equity.
The Stories We Tell Matter: The Courage to Show Up
Our stories shape how we show up in the world and interact with others. This keynote invites audiences to reflect on the narratives they carry, the impact of their choices, and the courage it takes to align actions with values. It’s an inspiring call to embrace authenticity and create space for meaningful transformation.
Indigenous Innovation
Indigenous innovation combines ancestral knowledges with contemporary practices to create solutions for today’s challenges. This keynote highlights the transformative potential of Indigenous approaches to leadership, creativity, and systemic change, encouraging organizations to reimagine innovation through relational and wholistic lenses.
When We Say Evaluation, It Isn’t the Same Thing
About the Film
When We Say Evaluation, It Isn’t the Same Thing is an animated short film rooted in a spoken word poem that invites viewers to reflect on how Indigenous and decolonial perspectives reimagine what evaluation can look like. The film disrupts dominant narratives and opens space for storytelling, accountability, and resurgence. (The film has a 6 minute run time.)
Ways to Engage
Host an Online Film Screening + Q & A
Host an online screening of the animated film followed by a live conversation with Gladys. This interactive session offers a chance to reflect on the themes, ask questions, and imagine new pathways for evaluation together.
Host Workshops (60–90 minutes, Online or In-Person)
Participate in a guided workshop using arts-based processes that bring the film’s concepts to life. Through poetry, storytelling, and creative expression, we will explore how evaluation can be a relational and transformative practice. These workshops are designed for evaluators, educators, community leaders, funders, and anyone curious about new ways of approaching learning and accountability.
Let's explore how we can create meaningful change together. Whether you're interested in reimagining evaluation through Indigenous perspectives, engaging with the transformative power of storytelling, or discovering Indigenous approaches to innovation, I'd love to connect and discuss how these conversations could resonate with your audience.
Previous Speaking Engagements
SEPT 16, 2025
Online, United States
Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country - Chronic Disease Echo Webinar
The stories we tell matter: Indigenous & decolonial evaluation work to support transformed futures
AUG 22, 2025
Walla Walla, WA, USA
Community Learning Days, Whitman College
Stories of Innovation: The Transformative Power of the 4Rs in Reimagining Higher Education
Invited Talk
April 15, 2025
Online, Canada
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth
Living into the Work: Decolonizing & Anti-Colonial Practices
JAN. 22, 2025
New York, NY, United States
American Museum of Natural History
Stewarding Stories for Change: The Four Rs of Cultural Storytelling
Invited Talk
NOV. 16, 2024
Sudbury, ON, Canada
Maamwizing Research Conference, Laurentian University
The stories we tell matter: Indigenous & decolonial evaluation work to support transformed futures
OCT. 25, 2024
Portland, OR, United States
American Evaluation Association 2024
Crafting an Anishinaabe Evaluation Framework: Co-Creation, Iteration, and Community Alignment in Evaluation Practices
“ We were so thrilled to host you and so heartened by the amazing turnout for your talk. I know people will be taking away so much from the experience and I’m eager and excited for our continued conversations. It will be lovely to track the ripple effects of your ideas through the work as we go! I’m sure there will be many. Looking forward to our continued work together.”
Karen Hammerness
Senior Director, Educational Research and Evaluation, American Museum of Natural History
