41. Rebuilding Beyond Autonomy

Autonomy has become one of the most overused and misunderstood words in corporate reconciliation. In this episode, Dixie Crawford—a proud Barkandji woman, founder of Nganya, and expert RAP consultant—unpacks why autonomy is not the endgame it’s often made out to be.

Too often, autonomy is presented as a generous handover of responsibility to First Nations people, but without the decision-making authority, financial control, or structural backing needed to succeed. What looks like inclusion on paper can quickly become tokenism in practice. The result? First Nations employees and stakeholders are left carrying heavy expectations without the power to make change, leading to frustration, burnout, and disillusionment.

Dixie challenges organisations to stop equating autonomy with progress. Instead, she introduces the concept of structural partnership—an approach that embeds First Nations leadership and voices directly into governance structures, budget processes, and core business strategy. This isn’t about symbolic gestures or decorative authority; it’s about real, shared power.

This episode offers a blueprint for leaders who are serious about moving their RAP beyond symbolism and into substance. You’ll hear why simply “handing over the reins” isn’t enough, and how shifting to structural partnership creates pathways for genuine co-governance, stronger accountability, and more sustainable reconciliation outcomes.

What You’ll Learn

• Why autonomy without power creates more harm than progress

• The risks of tokenism and burnout in reconciliation efforts

• How structural partnership transforms reconciliation into shared power

• Practical steps to embed First Nations leadership in decision-making. 

Follow Dixie's work on LinkedIn Dixie Lee Crawford | LinkedIn

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