Mentoring With a Time Horizon of Seven Generations

said braka 2:11 AM
Over the years, Harjo has also been a

mentor to Jodi Gillette, who is Lakota and a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Gillette served as senior policy adviser for Native American affairs under President Obama—a position she credits Harjo with helping her reach. Before she worked in the White House, she led Native American voter-outreach efforts in North Dakota, and during her time serving under Obama, worked to increase accountability for violence against Native American women and girls, among other things.

For The Atlantic’s series on mentorship, “On the Shoulders of Giants,” I spoke with Gillette about how Harjo’s support helped her get a job in the White House, what she learned from growing up on a Native American reservation, and how Harjo has led her to see the value of radical honesty. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/09/mentorship-jodi-gillette-suzan-shown-harjo/540753/