I'm a big believer in participatory design, but it has come to my attention that for traditionally disenfranchised groups, and communities whose knowledge, experience and culture have been systematically subjugated (ie. the colonized; First Nations Peoples) participation is not enough. Until a balance is restored, these users need to lead the design of technologies and services intended for them.

I had the privilege to work with Susan Hansen (expert in culturally-sensitive design), Theresa Ardler (artist, researcher and Aboriginal woman of the Eora and Yuin nations), and a group of exceptional young Australian Indigenous university students, as well as many wonderful others at IPPE and Tobias Design.  

This paper describes our experience attempting to innovate a new process to scaffold "user-leadership" and take user empowerment to the next level.