Stepping into power

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Leadership.

With the ocean in front of her and Hatley Castle behind her, Marcia Turner listened to her ancestors. 

The moment was not just about her journey as a student, but a recognition of the path she had been walking for decades, dismantling systemic inequities, advocating for Indigenous rights, and supporting communities to create opportunities for lasting impact.

This one moment in time stands out in a lifetime of bumping into colonial systems and systemic racism. It was a turning point that would set a new course for Turner’s life and work.

“Tears trickled down, I thought this place doesn’t work for me. It’s very colonial – the curriculum and structures,” says Turner, Master of Arts in Leadership '19. “I thought to myself, ‘Why am I here?’ It was in that moment of reflection that I recognized life brought me there for a reason. I was meant to go to Royal Roads University – my ancestors brought me there.”

Deepening her leadership

With that grounding and reflection to build on throughout the program, she could see herself doing the work that was needed. 

The program offered Turner the opportunity to strengthen the values she holds as a leader and to explore how Indigenous and Western knowledge systems can work together to address inequities, dismantle white supremacy, and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Drawing on a lifetime of navigating complex systems, she deepened her ability to think critically and strategically while remaining grounded in relational practices and cultural teachings. This work informed her career path and continues to shape her partnerships with communities and organizations across Canada.

Turner is an award-winning systems change consultant and TEDx speaker. She is Gitxsan from the community of Gitanyow and grew up in Gitsegukla. She is from the Lax Gibuu (wolf clan) and Wilp Haitsimsxw (House of Chief Haitsimsxw) and carries the name Ts’ uu’malit, a leadership responsibility. She founded Daxgedim Haanak’ Consulting to work in partnership with Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to address the systemic racism and equity for Indigenous peoples and knowledge systems.

“When I think about what I do now, compared to what I was doing before the master’s degree, it’s really elevated me to a level of work I wanted to be involved in,” she says, noting she works with various types of governments and post-secondary institutions in BC and across Canada. “I wanted to be involved at a systems change level … and a lot of my work has shifted to exactly that.”

Learning to lead

As Royal Roads University marks the 30th anniversary of its Master of Arts in Leadership program, alumni like Turner demonstrate how its approach to systems thinking and being open to doing things differently translates into real-world impact. 

Turner’s journey through the program also illuminated how to navigate spaces shaped by colonial structures while remaining true to her values. She witnessed how change is possible when leaders honor culture, knowledge, and relational ways of working. The program encouraged her to explore new strategies and frameworks while drawing on lived experience, allowing her to strengthen her impact without compromising her integrity.

“I reflect on how much I’ve grown since the program. My time at Royal Roads reminded me that I carry the gifts, the knowledge, and the responsibility to lead in ways that support Indigenous Peoples and the generations to come. It affirmed that the work I do is connected to a larger purpose, guided by ancestors and grounded in culture to address inequities and systems change in a relational way.

"When I witness the strength of our culture – our teachings, laws, values, and practices – it reminds me of who we are as Indigenous People. It’s inspiring to see how we can lift up our ways of knowing, being, and doing, and apply them in today’s world. Decolonizing systems is a challenge I enjoy.”

Hope for future generations

A mother of four sons – her kwalayu, “my reason for every breath I take” – Turner sees both responsibility and possibility in her work. Growing up as the youngest of eight in her community, she faced schooling and systems that were not welcoming for Indigenous students, yet she carried forward resilience, knowledge, and the teachings of her ancestors.

“My hope for the future generation is they believe in themselves too. That they don’t hold themselves back based on their childhoods and high school experiences. That they don’t limit their lives. That they step forward and into their power.”

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Leadership.