Four Directions Indigenous Consulting
We provide consulting services and training around Indigenous governance, peacemaking, leadership skill development and healing from generational trauma tied to colonization.
ABOUT
Four Directions provides consulting services and training around Indigenous governance, peacemaking, leadership skill development and healing from generational trauma tied to colonization. While Four Directions has extensive experience in addressing community conflict, our leadership includes members of the Confederation of Ohlone people, so we have a special interest in supporting rematriation efforts. This typically involves specialized support and guidance provided to Indigenous communities, organizations, or individuals. It could also be a process of bridgebuilding for non-Indigenous organizations.endrerit.
Our Consulting Services
Our consulting services honor and uphold Indigenous traditions while supporting the development of effective governance structures, fostering peacemaking practices, and nurturing strong Indigenous leadership for the benefit of the community as a whole.
Indigenous Governance
Policy Development
Assisting communities in creating governance structures that align with cultural values and modern governance principles.
Capacity Building
Strengthening leadership skills and organizational capacity within Indigenous governance frameworks.
Conflict Resolution
Offering strategies and support for resolving internal conflicts and promoting harmony within communities.
Peacemaking
Traditional Practices
Incorporating traditional Indigenous peacemaking methods to resolve disputes and inspire healing..
Training and Workshops
Conducting workshops on peacemaking principles and practices tailored to Indigenous contexts.
Leadership Skills
Training Programs
Developing leadership training programs that blend traditional knowledge with contemporary leadership skills.
Coaching and Mentoring
Providing one-on-one coaching or mentoring for emerging Indigenous leaders.
Strategic Planning
Assisting in the development of strategic plans that reflect Indigenous values and community aspirations.
Cultural Competency
and Sensitivity
Education and Awareness
Educating non-Indigenous organizations or individuals on Indigenous governance structures, peacemaking traditions, and leadership styles.
Promoting Collaboration
Facilitating partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous entities with a focus on respectful collaboration.
Community Engagement
Consultation Processes
Designing and facilitating community consultations to ensure inclusive decision-making processes.
Empowerment Programs
Implementing programs that empower community members to participate actively in governance and leadership roles.
Rematriation
Consulting services with a focus on rematriation are particularly specialized and crucial for addressing the restoration of Indigenous lands, cultural artifacts, knowledge, and practices to their rightful Indigenous communities.
Rematriation
Policy and Advocacy
Developing strategies to advocate for policies that support the return of Indigenous lands, artifacts, and cultural materials.
Negotiation or Meeting Guidance
Providing support in navigating the complexities of rematriation processes, including negotiations with governmental bodies, museums, and institutions.
Cultural and
Spiritual Guidance
Ceremonial Protocols
Offering guidance on ceremonial protocols and spiritual considerations associated with the return of sacred items and ancestral remains.
Cultural Healing
Facilitating cultural healing processes for communities affected by historical trauma linked to displacement and loss.
Community Engagement and Education
Public Awareness
Helping to raise awareness among the broader public about the importance of rematriation and its significance to Indigenous communities through webinars, community art projects and more.
Community Workshops
Conducting workshops and training sessions to educate community members on rematriation processes, rights, and responsibilities.
Capacity Building
Organizational Development
Strengthening organizational capacity within Indigenous communities to manage rematriation initiatives effectively.
Leadership Training
Providing leadership training and mentorship programs to empower community leaders in advocating for rematriation.
Collaboration
and Partnership
Building Alliances
Facilitating partnerships between Indigenous communities, governmental bodies, museums, universities, and other stakeholders to foster collaborative approaches to rematriation.
Negotiation Support
Assisting communities in negotiating fair and equitable terms for the return of cultural materials and lands.
Long-term Sustainability
Strategic Planning
Facilitating discussions around long-term strategic plans for the sustainable management and stewardship of rematriated lands and cultural assets.
“To me cultural revitalization is about land and access to land so that future generations have the space to practice and share cultural ways.”
Charlene Eigen-Vasquez, Founder
Charlene Eigen-Vasquez (Ohlone, from the village of Chitactac) has been leading the Confederation of Ohlone People for almost thirty years. After working on legal teams for companies like Apple and Google, she decided to scale back and focus on her life’s passion. Eigen-Vasquez is dedicated to land back initiatives, land preservation and land restoration because she feels that these initiatives have a direct impact on the physical and mental health of community members. As a tribal member, she has a special commitment to the preservation of sacred sites, cultural preservation, and environmental justice. All of the services provided through 4D are meant to help tribes and their allies maintain healthy collaborations that will acknowledge generational trauma in order to build a stronger future for generations.
Charlene currently serves as Chairwoman of the Confederation of Ohlone People, she travels across the country providing peacemaking training and consulting on matters of Indigenous Self-Governance. She is the former Executive Director of the Healing and Reconciliation Institute, and a consultant for the Mediation Center in Minnesota. She has also served as a Professor at St. Cloud State University, Hamline University and California State University Monterey Bay teaching Ethnic Studies and Mediation courses. Finally, she is on the Executive team for Deep Medicine Circle as the Director of Land Back Programming and Indigenous Cultural Stewardship.
Charlene’s educational background has opened many doors as a community advocate and during her career. Charlene holds a BS in Human Service Administration, a Master’s degree in Mexican American Studies, with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Studies, and a law degree that took her to the Vienna School of Law in Austria.
Partners
Sovereignty 360
Leads Indigenous Peacemaking initiatives to support for legal practitioners and community members.
Confederation of Ohlone People
Local tribal non-profit, building bridges for the next generation. “We share our culture, re-educate community and inspire healthy environments so we may all thrive in shared spaces.
7th Generation Rising
Strengthening ancestral connections through ceremony, land stewardship and youth programs.
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