Our process isn’t a formula—it’s a living experiment, and through ECO-STAR North we co-create tools and methods that empower the next generation of Northern innovators to explore and build.
Understanding the ECO-STAR North Methodology for Innovation
No hero completes their quest alone, and no great idea is built by a single person. The ‘Team’ represents the circle of people—and relationships—you gather to bring your vision to life. This isn’t just about who is on the payroll; it’s about the full constellation of skills, wisdom, and connections that make success possible.
The key is to think in terms of attributes, not just individual names.
What kind of energy does your project need? Do you need a storyteller, a meticulous planner, a community connector with deep roots, or a wise elder offering long-term perspective? Your “team” might include mentors, advisors, community partners, and volunteers—all contributing unique strengths.
Be bold and expand beyond your usual networks. The most resilient teams are often the most diverse, bringing together varied life experiences and perspectives. It’s about weaving a group of people who are not only skilled but share a deep commitment to the project’s ‘why.’
What We’re Learning:
We are radically reframing ‘Team’ as a ‘Circle of Relations.’ Drawing inspiration from Indigenous governance models, this shifts away from hierarchy toward networks of mutual support. A “team” can include non-human elements—the land, the water, ancestral stories—as active collaborators.
For interdisciplinary artists and creative/culture sector workers, this approach is transformative. It fosters fluid, non-hierarchical collaborations, where a ‘team’ becomes a temporary collective—a ‘super-organism’ of artists, scientists, Elders, and youth—each contributing their unique wisdom to a shared creation.
ABOUT THE ECO-STAR NORTH PROGRAM
ECO-STAR North invites artists, educators, and community leaders to co-create a new path forward—where innovation grows from the land, the language, and the stories that have always been here.
This project launched in 2025 with generous support from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design Creative Entrepreneurship Program, Enterprise Development Group, The Arts Incubator Winnipeg, Art Borups Corners, the Manitoba Arts Council Indigenous 360 Program, The Labovitz School of Business and Economics at the University of Minnesota Duluth, the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts Projects Program, and the OpenAI Researcher Access Program.
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